Earth, Wind & Fire members donate to drummer John Paris after critical cardiac emergency
Drummer John Paris was hospitalized following a cardiac incident before a concert in San Francisco, prompting fellow band members and friends to contribute to a GoFundMe campaign.
A cardiac incident forced Earth, Wind & Fire drummer John Paris into emergency care moments before a joint performance with Lionel Richie at San Francisco’s Chase Center, resulting in the concert’s cancellation. Paris is receiving treatment surrounded by family and the support of fans. Fellow band members Gary Bias and Myron McKinley donated $200 and $500 to a GoFundMe page created by Honey Cone founding member Shelly Clark.
Additional contributions came from collaborators Grecco Buratto, former Chicago vocalist Jeff Coffey, and manager Atron Gregory, among others. The campaign also seeks to help Paris’s wife, Kathy Merrick, a Honey Cone member, manage travel, lodging and other unforeseen costs. To date, the fundraiser has collected over $41,000 toward its $50,000 target.
Why it matters
The story highlights the health challenges faced by touring musicians and the community response to support them.
In this story