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'SONGS FOR SPRING' Songs for Spring: Friends hold benefit for Ashland musician Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 27, 2015 at 8:44 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 27, 2015 at 8:44 PM » Social News Last October, Ashland musician Peter Spring was felled by a massive stroke while alone in his bathroom. He lay there for three hours before his brother found him and rushed him to the hospital. The consensus was that Spring, then 64, with his entire right side paralyzed, would never walk or do much of anything again and would best be in a nursing home. His friend, fellow musician and rehabilitation doctor, Jeff Solomon nixed such ideas and put him in rehab, where he bent his will and time to making amazing progress — and is now walking around freely and able to do many manual tasks, as his brain gradually works its way around the new world of neuroplasticity — teaching undamaged parts to do new tasks. To celebrate his path to recovery and to bring in much needed funds for rehab and other medical needs — and to replace much lost income — friends are staging a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at Temple Emek Shalom. It features the popular local bands Rogue Suspects and Living on Dreams. The last function to heal following a stroke is the speech center, which uses a fourth of the brain, says his brother and housemate John Swinnerton, who interprets various words as Spring tries to assemble a sentence. “The brain rebuilds itself over time,” says Swinnerton, “and if a person doesn’t have the motivation, the brain won’t respond. It’s like an athlete finding the will and strength to build the brain to handle new challenges — and that’s what Peter has.” Recalling the 2010 movie, “The King’s Speech,” Spring says his struggle to regain verbalization is much like that of George VI of Britain, even down to the bursts of profanity to clear out the speech pathways and gather energy for the task. His longtime friend and fellow gig musician, Dave Young, points out Spring’s compassion that led him, after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, to go there for five years and rehabilitate countless scores of guitars, pianos, horns and other instruments to help get depressed local musicians going again. He also held music camps for children. The year before, Spring suffered the loss of his son Stephen, 21, to cancer, leading Spring to set up a foundation in the boy’s name to receive grants for the Katrina project. “Peter was ripped open from that,” said Young, “and wanted to help displaced musicians and others in New Orleans.” Haltingly, Spring said he collected 75 old instruments in the Ashland area and made four trips with a U-Haul to get them to New Orleans. Of Spring’s recovery, says Swinnerton, “They just didn’t expect it. Peter outdid every benchmark by far and blew past every expectation.” Young, a former paramedic, adds that he knew Spring was on track in the hospital when he sang songs and Spring was able to be spot-on with harmonizing. On the local music scene, the men are known for their work with Jerry Attrick and the Pacemakers, Shabat Shirah Ensemble, the Bar Misfits Klezmer Band and other groups. The brothers live with their 100-year old mother, Betty Swinnerton, and care for her. Spring is eligible for Social Security, Medicare and some forms of disability, which present a bit of a maze, says Swinnerton, that they are trying to work through. Spring has been seeing a rolfer and reports, “I’ve been very responsive. It’s done everything I could and I’m very thankful for it and for everything.” Spring will be at the benefit concert, his first appearance in public and will do what he can musically at this point in recovery — play the tambourine. Donations may be sent to Peter Spring, 292 Orange St, Ashland. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 27, 2015 at 8:44 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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