Benefit for Atlanta Hunger Relief Fund
To raise money for the Atlanta Hunger Relief Fund, Dr. Dan Appelrouth will be performing Broadway tunes 3 p.m. May 31 at Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, N.E. A minimum donation of $10 is requested, and 100 percent of the money raised will be donated to organizations that feed Atlanta’s hungry. Information: www.danappelrouth.org.
Retired rheumatologist Dan Appelrouth believes that music can help heal the body. His singing is helping to feed Atlantans without enough to eat. Appelrouth was only 57 years old when a second heart attack prompted him to walk away from his Atlanta medical practice. For his second act, the classically trained singer started the Atlanta Hunger Relief Fund and gives 100 percent of the donations and the money he raises from the sale of his CDs and concerts at retirement homes, churches and synagogues to groups that serve the hungry. (He covers the expenses for the Hunger Fund.) Now 71, Appelrouth has raised more than $161,000 through his nonprofit and hopes to hit the $200,000 mark by year’s end.
Q: What do people need to know about hunger?
A: Hunger is silent. Your next-door neighbor could not have enough food for their family for the week and they seem perfectly fine. Their pride won't let you know they are hungry. The most difficult time for school-aged children is in the summer because they don't get breakfast or lunch at school. We have hungry Atlantans in need and I want people to be aware of that.
Q: How did you get interested in hunger?
A: In the 1980s, my synagogue had a representative to the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Hunger Walk who left and asked me to step in. I did that for four or five years. I also co-chaired the Hunger Walk for the Atlanta Jewish Federation for four years.
Q: How did you connect hunger and music?
A: A voice teacher said, "You need to make a CD.'" We picked out 18 songs. I decided to combine my love of music and the needs of the community.
Q: How long have you been a singer?
A: I have always been a singer. In college, I was in the glee club and the chorale. I started voice lessons in 1966, my first year of medical school. I still take them.
Q: What kind of songs do you sing?
A: I sang German lieder, then Italian and classical English music, but the audiences I had, which were typically my friends, did not like that. Now I sing only Broadway tunes. I always had piano accompaniment for my concerts. Then eight years ago, I had band backup. My son said, "Dad you can't go back." Now I sing with a band when I give a big concert.
Q: Do you have favorite Broadway tunes?
A: I really love Cole Porter — "Begin the Beguine," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "Night and Day." I really love jazz and the blues. I do a lot of Frank Sinatra tunes. Sinatra, my gosh, he was superb.
Q: Did you ever think of just singing and skipping the medicine?
A: I did dream about it but I guess I was more of a realist. Rheumatology was a very good fit for me. I had patients with me for 25 years and I knew their whole life story and their family's life story. I did have a piano in my office.
Q: Did you play for your patients?
A: No just for myself.
Q: So you believe that can music help people heal?
A: Absolutely. I feel that music is the way to connect to our soul. When I give a concert, I tell people to listen to music that you love at least 20 to 30 minutes a day. You will be healthier.
Q: How does raising all this money to help feed hungry people make you feel?
A: I am so passionate about educating people about Atlanta's hunger problem as well as collecting money. Some of the organizations that I sing for can't really pay me much. Still, last year I collected $25,000. This year, I hope to raise $50,000. I want to raise as much as I can and I am always looking for new venues to perform.
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