The day I first had my head shaved at a St. Baldrick’s Event, I thought of how routine this philanthropic act was. I just sat there. My dear friend and radio show co-host at the time, Tricia McCrone, who is Wayne Newton’s sister-in-law, shaved my head.
The night of that shaving, I went to “Absinthe” at Caesars Palace afterward. I learned this was no routine endeavor. Everyone asked what the heck happened to my head. The real gift is that when you are shaved, you tell the St. Baldrick’s story to anyone who asks, “Why did you shave your head?”
Total strangers will put their hands on a shaved head when they would never mess up a coif. You collect hats. You save on shampoo and related hair-care products. You become gray over the years. And you become part of this powerful community.
The shaving event is the cornerstone of our efforts to raise money and awareness in the fight against childhood cancer.
‘All Vegas, All Night’
My participation started that day in 2013 at New York-New York’s Nine Fine Irishmen. I felt it would be a silly one-off donation as we emceed that day’s “big shave.”
Instead, our commitment has grown, like so much mane, continuing from 6 to 11 p.m. Monday at The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center. “All Vegas, All Night” is once more a birthday celebration/St. Baldrick’s fundraiser, a night of music, songs and artists themed for water/aquatic elements.
We ask for a donation of $25, all of which goes to St. Baldrick’s — and that is a silly value for a show of this caliber (I know, because it is my business to know show calibers).
Go to thecomposersroom.com to purchase and to support. We are also accepting donations on-site. Please do not bring birthday gifts. Donate instead.
The devastatingly funny comic/actress Luenell is performing this year’s shave-down, after The Wayner did so last year. Kenny Davidsen is back as music director, Kelly Clinton-Holmes returns as host, and a multitude of singers and a few speciality headliners are set to appear.
The growing list of vocalists includes Clint Holmes, Franky Perez, Keith Thompson, Mark Shunock, Chase Brown, Julian Miranda, Paige Strafella, Chris Marion and Stephanie Calvert, Sujana Chand, Lannie Counts, Tyriq Johnson, Chris Phillips of Zowie Bowie, John Di Domenico, Rita Lim, Enoch Augustus Scott, Joe DiNunzio, Kelly Vohnn, Sandy Knights, Christian Phifer, David Tatlock, Seth Robichaux, Kevin Mullinax and Christine Shebeck.
Highlighting the night are The D.C. MagicTones, reunited with the support of legendary illusionist David Copperfield.
Attendees can purchase specialty drinks (including one specialty zero-proof beverage whose light blue color matches my ’67 Cougar). Also offered are curated selections from TCR’s food menu.
A national effort
The St. Baldrick’s national campaign was launched in 2000. The Foundation has awarded nearly $370 million nationwide and is the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants in the country.
McMullan’s Irish Pub owners Brian and Lynn McMullan hosted the first Baldrick’s event in Las Vegas in 2007. The McMullans lost their 2½-year-old daughter, Kyra, to a brain tumor. Brian will be on hand at Monday’s event.
This night serves as the kickoff to the New York-New York shaving event at Nine Fine Irishmen on March 14, where I’ll be an emcee. We have many supporters in this valley-wide barbershop. Khourys Fine Wine & Spirits will host a fundraiser on March 21, and Founders Classical Academy of Las Vegas will host one on March 28.
The event is filled with frivolity, and sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of why we are there. St. Baldrick’s is the big “why” here. Internationally, more than 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. In the U.S., more children die of cancer than any other disease — more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies and diabetes combined.
We combine our efforts, both musically and financially, with this in mind. Hope to see you Monday, or at any shave in March.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.