Various Artists - Christmas to Cure Cancer 3 / Various

This is a charity CD and project that we started in 2001 to help raise money for cancer research. As of the fall of 2005, we've raised over $145,000 for cancer research during the holidays the last three years by soliciting donations in exchange for our CD, as well as organizing benefit concerts. Here's our story: I have always loved Christmas music and I love my friends Cody, Lorne and Corrina and their talents. Back in 1997, I proposed the idea of recording a Christmas album just for the fun of it. It would be a way to preserve their talents and to share it with family and friends. Lorne and Corrina made the suggestion that we consider having Cody do the recording engineering. Cody had been dabbling around with a six-track tape recorder, and Lorne had been impressed with the overall quality. The idea was to upgrade Cody's equipment and do most of the recording in his garage studio. Around Thanksgiving 1998, we went shopping at CA House Music in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Over the years, we've repeated our shopping trip to add new equipment and upgrade technology. In 2001 we moved up to recording straight to a Mac, all digital using Emagic's Logic Audio software and plugins. This is the same DAW setup that Dave Clo has in his studio in Nashville. This works out great for collaborating on projects as we can just e-mail music files to each other. Cody built an isolation booth for vocals and acoustic guitar. The first song completed was 'Christmas Letter.' Lorne played guitar and Cody did the rest. I was really impressed. I got even more excited about the possibilities of the types of music and quality we could produce. At the beginning of 2000, we were faced with a challenge that threatened the life of our best friend and ultimately shaped this project into what it became. Lorne was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer in February. A yearlong battle ensued. After six months of chemotherapy, followed with radiation treatments, it looked like Lorne would be out of the woods in November. But, more complications developed that left Lorne's six-foot frame at 120 lbs. Water around his heart and right lung were a result of excessive radiation. Following treatment, he was released from the hospital to go it on his own. I'll never forget sitting at the Bob Evans in St. Clairsville, the last weekend in April 2001. Dave Clo was visiting from Nashville, and the three of us were watching Lorne slowly stuff down a huge breakfast. After more than a year of having his appetite diminished, this was a memorable occasion. Three months later, he had gained 50 lbs., and looked and acted more like the old Lorne. From the very beginning of Lorne's battle, his wife Corrina never stopped believing the Lord would provide. The church and community pulled together with prayers, fundraisers and food. They watched the kids when needed, held a fundraiser at the Brightwood Golf Center Putt-Putt course, and hosted a spaghetti dinner from the Junior-Senior Youth Group at Park Christian Church in Dennison, Ohio. This helped raise money to assist with the bills while Lorne was unable to work full time. Corrina continued to pray that this experience would not be wasted and would one day be able to help others going through similar circumstances. Lorne also received support in another form. Cody Romshak, Jeff Beadle, Kelly Clark, Curt Stoyanovich, Ronny Colbertson, Dan Kidd, Chuck Merkle and Keith Lucas all shaved their heads prior to Lorne's chemo treatments. Chuck, Jeff, Dan and Keith had Promise Keepers ball caps made with 'Lorne's Team' printed on the back. The hats were provided for moral support. In November 2000, the doctor told Lorne the cancer was in remission and he could resume eating dairy products. Corrina suggested he incorporate them back in his diet slowly. That evening they went to dinner and Lorne had a milkshake, cheese sticks, cheeseburger and cheesecake. He said the only side effect after that meal was extreme joy. On Labor Day weekend 2001, Lorne, Cody and I headed down to Dave Clo's home studio called 'Camp David' in Nashville to record 'Santa Claus is Hangin' Round,' 'Run Run Rudolph,' and 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.' We spent four, 12-14 hour days in the studio and had a blast... just like old times... Aereon was back together in the recording studio. These are three of my favorite songs on the CD. They all have a more 'live' feel to them. We recorded the bulk of the music as one take and later edited and added as necessary. One astonishing factor of this trip was that we got Cody out of Ohio, let alone Piedmont. This was his first trip to Nashville, and other than being homesick, I think there was a part of him that wanted to stay. (Probably to help organize Dave's cluttered studio.)? Written by Mark Puskarich "A Christmas To Cure Cancer 3 "This is our third CD released in October of 2006 and here's an update on our progress: We started CD number three in November, 2005 by opening up the new studio that Cody designed and built in the building next to my Mom's house out near Cadiz, Ohio. The new studio is awesome and served us well. Cody did an incredible job and I love spending time in there. Which is good, because I do spend a multitude of hours there working on this project. Dave Clo again played a huge role in this release with arrangements for many songs and pulling in some top notch Nashville talent into his studio with the likes of Matt Slocum from Six Pence, None the Richer and Shane McConnell and our mainstay on piano, Chris Dauphin. I also have to recognize Mitch Fox, Jan Roll, Dan and Penny Allison as well as Corrina VanFossen for all the time they put into this project again. It's nearing six years now that Lorne has been cancer free. And we continue to thank God for that. He's still touring with Mike Albert and the Big 'E' band as they play well over 50 shows a year. Lorne also plays with Acoustic Grace and in his church praise band. His son Sam, is becoming quite the musician himself. He's on here playing Sax, Piano, Drums, Guitar and Bass Guitar as well as singing. Soon we'll just let him do the whole CD and I can get back to doing many of the leisure things I gave up when I started this project...like more beach time. Or as Jimmy Buffett would say "Back To The Beach". I will never be able to thank Cody enough for all he does for the project, for building the studio, the recording engineering and his unbelievable voice. He is truly amazing and I am not only blessed to have him as part of the project but even more blessed to have him as a best friend. Cancer research and treatments continue to increase the chances of survival when discovered early. It's this progress that motivates us to work as hard as we can to help speed the discovery of a cure. "For all my efforts in producing this CD, I dedicate it to my brother-in-law Claudio DiBartolomeo, and Heather Pick of Columbus, Ohio. Claudio lost his battle with cancer on November 10, 2004 which left a huge void in the community of Hilton Head Island, SC where he was not only a great father and husband, but a beloved youth soccer coach. Heather is fighting her second battle with cancer, which is diagnosed as incurable. I hope and pray that with our efforts we can help change that prognosis for her". - Mark Puskarich.

1) Dig That Crazy Santa Claus
2) Santa Baby
3) White Christmas
4) Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
5) It's Christmas Time
6) Why Can't Every Day Be Like Christmas
7) Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow
8) Little Drummer (And Guitar) Boy
9) Santa Done Got Hip
10) I'm Gettin' Nuthin' for Christmas
11) Christmas Is
12) Gift
13) O Holy Night
14) How Can This Be Christmas?
15) Hark the Herald Angels Sing
16) Man with the Bag
17) Santa Fuzz
18) Christmas Song
19) Have You Heard the News?
20) Strange Way to Save the World
21) What Are You Doing New Years Eve?