A press release went out on PR Newswire today promoting Matthew’s upcoming Memorial Concert, which means it shows up on Yahoo! and lots of other sites. The concert is scheduled for June 19th, 2003 in Oakland. Please distribute this far and wide.

MEDIA ALERT: Attention Bay Area News, Music, Entertainment Editors

MEMORIAL CONCERT FOR LOCAL MUSICIAN, MATTHEW SPERRY, TO BE HELD JUNE 19
Members of Bay Area New Music scene to perform at Oakland’s Club 21 in memory of well known bassist; Concert will raise funds for Sperry’s widow and two year old child; Oakland Police still seeking eye witnesses to fatal accident

OAKLAND, CA – June 12, 2003 -One of the Bay Area’s brightest musical lights, bassist Matthew Sperry, was killed in a traffic accident on June 5. Members of the SF Bay Area New Music scene will present a benefit concert at Oakland’s Club 21 on Thursday, June 19 in support of Matthew’s wife and their two year old daughter.

Sperry was struck down by a truck while riding his bicycle at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 5th at the intersections of Powell and Vallejo Streets on the Oakland/Emeryville border. Oakland Police are still seeking eyewitnesses to the accident.

Sperry recorded with Tom Waits, David Byrne, and a host of musicians from the SF Bay Area New Music scene. He was most recently featured in the Victoria Theater’s production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

MATTHEW SPERRY MEMORIAL CONCERT DETAILS
Date/Time: Thursday, June 19th, 8:00 pm
Location: 21 Grand, 449 B 23rd Street, Oakland, CA, (510) 444-7263 21Grand@21Grand.org
Admission: A scale of $5.00 to $50.00 is suggested at the door; no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds to benefit Matthew Sperry’s wife and two year old daughter.
Performers include:

Ashley Adams
Aaron Bennett
Angela Coon – Jenya Chernoff – John Shiurba
Philip Gelb
Phillip Greenlief
Vinny Golia
Morgan Guberman – Andrew Voigt
Brett Larner
Scott Looney
Moe!
Dan Plonsey’s Daniel Popsicle
Scott Rosenberg
Dave Slusser – Ron Thompson duo
Damon Smith
Matt Sperry Trio (Gino Robair, Matt Ingalls, Tim Perkis, John Shiurba)
Christopher Williams
Francis Wong

For more information contact:
Phillip Greenlief, Evander Music
(510) 652-7914
pgsaxo@pacbell.net

About Matthew Sperry
Matthew Sperry was a noted solo and ensemble performer as well as an in-demand session player. His music spanned several genres, from improvised New Music and jazz to klezmer and subterranean pop and he recorded with a broad range of musicians from all corners of the United States and Europe. Sperry’s extensive discography includes performances on Tom Waits’ recent albums, Alice and Blood Money, Anthony Braxton’s Six Compositions, and David Byrne’s Feelings. Most recently, Sperry was the bassist in the Victoria Theater’s production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” For a complete bio, visit: http://www.oneroom.org/mattsperry/resume.html. A memorial Website has also been set up at www.birdhouse.org/blog.