Rock star helps put together benefit concert for Simi Free Clinic
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Cherie Currie

Simi Valley resident and musician Ron Whitaker has been a fan of Cherie Currie of The Runaways since the 1970s, when he saw her perform with the all-female rock band.

The two became friends. And when Whitaker wanted to do something to help the Free Clinic of Simi Valley, he immediately thought of Currie.

“She was the first person I thought of because she’s just a beautiful human being and great singer and actress,” said Whitaker, a guitarist formerly with Voodoo Church.

Currie was the lead vocalist for the legendary group, which included rocker Joan Jett. Currie left the group and went on to star in films with Jodie Foster and Demi Moore. She and some of the other band members were featured in the 2004 documentary “Edgeplay.”

Before Currie committed herself to the fundraising event, she wanted to tour the free clinic. She was impressed with the number of services the clinic provides and how it helps everyone no matter what their income.

“I’m happy to do it,” said Currie.

Since agreeing to help, she and Whitaker have been busy planning Free Aid Live for Nov. 12 at the Key Club in Hollywood. The event will include a concert, an online silent auction and celebrity guests who’ll sign autographs.

Among the celebrities scheduled to appear are actors Robert Hays of “Airplane!” and Airplane II: The Sequel;” Donna Pescow, star of “Saturday Night Fever;” and Kent McCord from “Adam-12.”

Artists slated to perform include The Knack, Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow, Martha Davis of The Motels, Ian Mitchell from Bay City Rollers, Fishbone and Currie, along with a band that will include Whitaker and his nephew, guitarist Jake Hays.

“This is going to be a night that everyone will remember,” Currie said.

In addition to helping old friends and a charity, Currie has taken up chain-saw sculpture these days. Some say she’s one of the best artists around. She and her fiancé, William Tower, are among the artists donating carved-wood sculptures–– Tower a 5-foot eagle and Currie a life-size guitar.

Among the silent auction items Currie and Whitaker have managed to obtain are an autographed Yamaha guitar from Lee Ritenour, the Quay Lude suit worn by Fee Waybill of The Tubes and an autographed guitar by Steve Lukather of Toto.

Currie said they still need auction items from the community. For information, visit their website at www.freeaidlive.com.

Whitaker even enlisted the help of trumpeter Kevin Miller. Miller, who owns a painting business, won’t be playing but painting the clinic inside and outside. He’s donating the materials and his services so all of the money raised will go directly to helping people get the services they need.

Whitaker’s sister, Cherie Lynnae, knows firsthand the importance of the free clinic services. She visited doctors there several years ago when she became sick with the flu. The help from the staff impressed her so much that she later volunteered as a medical assistant. The longtime Simi Valley resident is now helping to promote the event.

Lynnae said the services offered by the free clinic, including the new dental clinic, are more important than ever because of the governor’s proposal to restructure Medi-Cal and fix an annual cap on adult dental services.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and the Key Club at (310) 274-5800.

The Free Clinic of Simi Valley has provided medical services, legal aid and family counseling to anyone regardless of income since 1971. Earlier this year, the clinic added free dental services.

For more information or to schedule a dental appointment, call the clinic at (805) 522-3733.