Sax man hitting the right note to raise cash for local charities
A SWANSEA musician is money raised will go blowing his own trumpet towards Oakwood Children’s - or saxophone, rather - all Ward at Swansea’s in the name of charity. Morriston Hospital and
Steve Simmons, more Calon+ in Carmarthenshire. commonly known as Steve Sax, 55, has been a Calon+ marks its 20th professional musician all anniversary this year in his life since he picked up supporting the work of the sax as a teenager. Carmarthenshire’s Cardiac
Inspired by the huge Rehabilitation Service fundraising effort of the which operates out of late Sir Captain Tom both Glangwili Hospital in Moore, Steve has decided Carmarthen and Llanelli’s to post a song a day for Prince Phillip Hospital. 100 days to raise money Helping Steve with the for two causes. administrative side of the A Justgiving page has fundraising is close friend been launched and and fundraiser Marie Parton Steve has already - who met each other posted the first through their love of few songs on Swansea City AFC and the his Facebook fundraising they have page, where since done together. he records Steve said he was himself spurred on to post a song playing saxophone. a day for 100 days after seeing a breakfast TV All interview with the family of Sir Captain Tom Moore.
He explained: “He did so much good with his walking fundraising that his family were speaking on TV encouraging people to do something for 100 days and help raise money for whatever charity they wanted.
“It was sort of carrying on Captain Tom’s spirit and determination.
“So I decided to record myself playing sax and post a song a day, so far
I’ve done roughly half a dozen. Myself and Marie chose the causes because they are close to our hearts.”
The aim, he said, is to raise £1,000 which will be shared between the ward and Calon+.
“At the start of the pandemic I was doing requests for free for the frontline workers.
“I would play a song dedicated to someone on the frontline, whether in the NHS or elsewhere.
“So I did around 250 of those and I thought it would be a nice to do it for two chosen charities.”
The fundraising is being done during what has been Steve’s longest downtime without a stage to get out and perform on.
Steve has been a member of Dire Straits tribute band Money For Nothing for the past 20 years, but all touring was halted in March last year. He said: “I haven’t worked since the pandemic started, we had more than 200 gigs booked, all cancelled, so it’s been a long year.
“This fundraising effort has meant me going into my little recording studio at home.”