Every Friday between May 7 and August 14, local jazz musician Johnny Pacey put on a small show in front of his home on MacLeod Avenue, collecting donations for the Dauphin Food Bank.
With his outdoor performances now on pause for the time being, Pacey has presented an $814 donation to the food bank.
“I raised $814.20, and it was a very happy moment to deliver that to the food bank, as well it was a very happy moment for me because I grew up on the food bank for many years as a kid.”
In addition to supporting the food bank, Pacey tells CKDM he appreciates the opportunity to share his love for music with the community.
“It blew my mind because I’d get families coming up, with small children. I have no idea who these people are but they’re coming out and setting up chairs — they’re sitting down and enjoying themselves. For me, that was the highlight, people being able to enjoy themselves.”
(Photo by Alex Dayawon)
Pacey says he was fortunate to have two businesses supporting him the entire way — the first being Callan with Cloud Nine Canna Supplies, and the other business being Corrina's on Main.
"They’ve been supporting me a lot. Corrina is my mother, and she’s been very supportive and always very proud of what I do — and I’m proud of her because we grew up on the food bank, and then my mom got tired of that and decided ‘let’s feed everybody else’, and to me, that’s amazing.”
The weekly shows on Friday night are now on hiatus, but after such an incredible response from the community, the gifted saxophone player says he has plans to bring the performances back in the near future.
“I went to stop at Adelina's Pizzeria, and they’re like ‘here you go, here’s a donation, I can’t make it to the show tonight’. To me that’s amazing. They’re supporting the cause. I want to keep this going. My girlfriend Carrie said I should do it next year — and I think I should do it every year. Why not?"
My girlfriend Carrie said I should do it next year — and I think I should do it every year. Why not?”
To hear more about Johnny's outdoor performance, passion for jazz music, and the food bank donation — a full-length interview with Johnny in the CKDM studios will be posted shortly.
