I honestly don't remember when I first met Mac Leaphart, only that it was during a function put on by those champions of local music at Awendaw Green. I do remember two distinct things about that first encounter. First, since it was either fall or winter at the time Leaphart was wearing a denim jacket with sheep wool lining, and nearly every time I saw him perform outside after that he was wearing that jacket. The other thing I remember is how much of a natural he seemed like playing in front of the crowd that night. He'd had plenty of practice up until that point, playing in the local band Five Way Friday before going on to do his own thing. I remember being immediately impressed by his songwriting ability, especially the song "Confederate Roses." He also performed well with other musicians, really any other musician that cared to jam with him. Check out this performance with Occasional Milkshake, Doug Jones and Danielle Howle at The Windjammer a few years back. That's Mac with the acoustic guitar, tearing it up as usual.
I know it sounds like I'm talking about the guy like he's dead. Thankfully, he's not, although there were a couple of things that occurred last year that might very well have brought on death under a certain set of circumstances. First, after having headaches more and more often last year, Leaphart had an MRI done on the advice of a neurologist. The results were like something out of a bad Lifetime TV movie; a brain tumor about the size of a plumb. The thing obviously had been there awhile to be able to grow to that size, but had only recently started physically affecting Leaphart. All parties involved acted swiftly. Leaphart had surgery to remove the tumor late last year, and has been on the mend since. Given that the surgery involved was obviously of the brain variety, there is obviously going to be some extensive down time involved. Given that Leaphart's main source of income is as a touring musician, this latest turn of events definitely puts a crimp in his earning ability. A car accident in the middle of all of this didn't help matters.
Fortunately for Leaphart there is a huge group of fellow musicians and music industry types ready to lend a hand. On January 28 more than a few of those folks will gather at the Charleston Hippodrome adjacent to the South Carolina Aquarium for a fundraiser for Leaphart that celebrates his music via live performances and filmed tributes. The whole thing is the brainchild of two guys who know Leaphart well; Ben Bounds and Joel Frank. I'll be attending, and if you enjoy Leaphart's music - or even if you've never heard of the guy - you should come out to. With a bill that includes artists and bands such as Five Way Friday, Mark Bryan, Shovels & Rope, Jamie Resch, Doug Jones, Danielle Howle, John Wesley Satterfield, Luke Cunningham, Ryan Bonner, and quite a few others, it's going to be a great night of music to honor a truly great guy. Leaphart hopes to be back to performing by this spring, but in the meantime it's heartwarming to see the music community step up for one of their own.
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