House Concerts marks 10 years By Sophia Fischer [email protected]

or the past decade, Russ and “It’s such a wonderful, intimate set- ple get started, such as Severin Julie Paris of Oak Park have ting, like being in a cozy coffee Browne and James Coberly Smith, Fremoved their living room shop. I feel like I’m back in college who played the first house concert furniture once a month so that again,” said Kathy Toomayan of in February 1997; Laurence Juber, scores of people could come over Oak Park, who was attending her the lead guitarist for Paul and enjoy live music. first house concert. McCartney’s band Wings; and Wendy Waldman, a singer, song- On Saturday, January 20, more than Unlike previous concerts, in which writer and producer who has written 100 music lovers filled the couple’s the voluntary $15 donation per for , home to mark a milestone — the guest went to the performer, the and (“Save the 10th anniversary of Russ and Julie’s musicians donated their time to Best for Last”). House Concerts. It was the cou- support Oak Park High School’s ple’s 102nd monthly concert. band program. Guests contributed The musicians repeatedly thanked $20 each, raising more than $2,000. the Parises for providing a venue “It’s our way of promoting wonder- The Parises’ son, Michael, a junior for musicians. ful music that’s out there that at Oak Park High, has been in nobody gets to hear,” Julie Paris district bands for the past six years. “You sure don’t find all that cool said. “You never know what’s music on the radio, now do you going to touch someone. Music is “How wonderful that Russ and Julie folks?” Waldman said during her magic.” pulled this together, that the artists set. “I love what the audience takes donated their time for the school. back from the music.” This concert was a celebration of It’s tremendous,” said Oak Park music, friendship, history and the Unified School District board mem- Eric Lowen and Dan Navarro importance of school music pro- ber Jan Iceland, who attended the performed despite Lowen’s amy- grams. In the audience were veter- concert with her husband, Steve. otrophic lateral sclerosis, which has an and first-time house concertgo- disabled him. The duo has written ers, former house concert perform- Oak Park’s new band director, music for Pat Benatar (“We ers, friends and family. Daniel O’Brien, in the audience Belong”), the Bangles and the with his wife, Tracie, also Temptations. Lowen promised the “They’ve had such a great variety expressed appreciation. Parises that he’d be at the anniver- of performers over the years,” said sary concert “no matter what shape longtime guest Susan Kaye of Oak Rather than featuring one or two I’m in” to show his appreciation for Park. “A big part of it is the acts, as past concerts had, a lineup their support. warmth and hospitality of the Paris of nine acts performed. They family.” included artists who helped the cou- —Continued on next page —Continued from prior page

“Eric was diagnosed three years ago, and it’s been an emotional experience for us,” Julie Paris said.

Russ Paris thanked their three sons- Daniel, Michael and Joshua — and the family’s neighbors for supporting the program. Many were in the audience.

“Before our kids were old enough to help move furniture we knocked on neighbors’ doors for help,” Russ Paris said.

“We have a close neighborhood and for us it’s been a really nice social thing,” said Janet Robertson, who lives across the street and has attended the concerts for many years with her SOPHIA FISCHER/Acorn Newspapers husband, Scott. AT HOME WITH MUSIC - Russ and Julie Paris, who host monthly acoustic performances in their Oak Park home, commemorate the 10th anniversary Russ Paris has been a music lover of Russ and Julie’s House Concerts. Friends Wendy Waldman, far left, and Severin Browne, far right, help them celebrate. since childhood when he collected 45 rpm records of hit songs. As an adult, couple quickly learned that musicians Others who’ve played in the Parises’ he found enjoying live music a chal- were “real people with families, sto- living room are Jim Messina from the lenge. ries and lives.” They hosted the per- '60s band Buffalo Springfield and the formers in their home, becoming close '70s band Loggins and Messina; and “It was a real ordeal. Finding and pay- friends with many. , who’s written songs for ing a babysitter, fighting traffic and and recorded with Neil Young, crowds, paying for tickets and park- “This helped our kids to accept people Ronstadt and others. ing. And you never got to meet the of all different backgrounds and musicians,” Julie Paris said. types,” Julie Paris said. The Parises’ thick scrapbook docu- ments the musicians who’ve played at Everything changed in 1996 after the Fifty people attended the first concert. their home over the years. Julie Paris couple attended a CD release party Now the pair are known as the gurus is known for her homebaked treats and concert in a friend’s backyard. of house concerts, receiving requests which guests and musicians enjoy Severin Browne, a former Motown from musicians daily and booking acts while mingling during intermission. artist, was the featured singer/song- a year ahead from all over the country. Russ and Julie Paris visibly enjoy the writer. The couple invited Browne to An e-mail list of 850 recipients music, sharing a dance during con- perform in their home, and Russ and receives a monthly newsletter and certs. Julie’s House Concerts was on its way. concert invitation. The couple have helped others start similar programs, “As much as we do for others, we get “For that first concert we walked and were instrumental in founding the it back in spades,” she said. around the neighborhood handing out western chapter of Folk Alliance, invitations to people we didn't even which fosters folk music and dance. The next house concert, Saturday, know,” Julie Paris said. February 10, features award-winning “These musicians travel around the songwriter Richard Berman. Her parents were nervous about the country, usually performing in bars, couple holding concerts in their home clubs, singing over other activities,” For information, visit: because they thought musicians were Julie Paris said. “They're not used to http://www.houseconcerts.us “strange people with long hair.” The people sitting quietly, listening.”