Light of Day Foundation Festival Fights Parkinson’s Disease

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The Light of Day Foundation uses music as a vehicle for change, raising close to $6 million for Parkinson’s disease organizations. Lynne Ward
The Light of Day Foundation uses music as a vehicle for change, raising close to $6 million for Parkinson’s disease organizations. Lynne Ward

By Stephen Appezzato

RED BANK – Music lovers and community supporters can kick off the new year by listening to local artists while joining the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

Light of Day Foundation’s annual weeklong festival – featuring over 100 artists at 14 venues – begins Jan. 7, and includes a celebration known as Bob’s Birthday Bash at the Count Basie Center for the Arts Jan. 14.

The Light of Day Foundation started in 1998 when close friends gathered at the former Downtown Café in Red Bank to celebrate the 40th birthday of their friend Bob Benjamin. Benjamin, a prominent figure in the music industry, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in late 1997.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking.

“We decided to throw him a birthday party to pick up his spirits and show that we all cared,” recounted Tony Pallagrosi, the foundation’s executive director. “We were a bunch of close friends who were very interested in Bob’s situation and helping him tothe best of our abilities.” Instead of giving him birthday gifts, Benjamin asked that his friends donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation. That evening raised over $2,000, inspiring Benjamin and fellow music industry veterans Pallagrosi and Joe D’Urso to form the Light of Day Foundation. According to the organization’s website, “the goal is to raise money and awareness to help defeat Parkinson’s, and its related diseases, within our lifetime.” Using their wealth of experience in the industry, the founders looked to music as a vehicle for change, hosting concerts to raise proceeds. The first Light of Day concert was held at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park in 2000, featuring local artists and even a surprise performance from Bruce Springsteen.

Since the first concert, the annual Light of Day event has grown into a multi-day festival and an internationally recognized tour. Through a grassroots effort of musicians, music fans and benefactors, the foundation has hosted events across three continents, raising close to $6 million for Parkinson’s organizations.

“We’ve been doing it a long time, and we grew very organically. We had a wonderful collection of music business professionals, sound people, lighting people, venues and, of course, a great stable of musicians that we can draw from,” explained Pallagrosi.

Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin flanked by longtime friends Tony Amato, front man of Boccigalupe & The Badboys, and his wife, Marsha. Lynne Ward
Light of Day founder Bob Benjamin flanked by longtime friends Tony Amato, front man of Boccigalupe & The Badboys, and his wife, Marsha. Lynne Ward

Among the main recipients of the festival’s fundraising is The Parkinson’s Foundation. “We’ve had a relationship from the very beginning, and they’re the oldest Parkinson’s disease charity and research organization in America,” said Pallagrosi. The Parkinson’s Foundation was organized by William Black, founder of Chock Full O’Nuts coffee company, after his close friend was diagnosed with the illness.

Other organizations that have a close relationship with the Light of Day Foundation include CurePSP, a leading nonprofit in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases, and The Joan Dancy & PALS (People with ALS) Foundation, a Monmouth County-based organization that was founded in memory of Joan Dancy by the late Terry Magovern, Springsteen’s longtime right-hand man.

“They’re a local organization that deals with PSP (progressive supranuclear palsy) and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) patients on a personal level, their families and making sure that they have necessities that they can’t necessarily afford,” Pallagrosi said.

This year’s birthday bash will be hosted at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, featuring performances from John Waite, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers, Willie Nile and more.

“Light of Day has become a family gathering for all of us to use our talents for a worthwhile cause, while having a hell of a good time doing it,” said Joe Grushecky, lead singer of Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. Grushecky has participated at the festival for 23 years.

In the days leading up to and following the main event, concerts will be hosted across the tristate area, several of them in Asbury Park.

“The night is a great night of music, fundraising, awareness and fellowship,” said Pallagrosi.

Tickets and the full lineup to the Light of Day Foundation’s concerts can be found at lighofday.org.

The article originally appeared in the January 5 – 11, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.