BILLY VERA AND THE BEATERS ROCKIN' FOR CHARITY

Billy Vera and The Beaters performed at a special concert on November 5th, to benefit The Visiting Nurse Services in Westchester. The purpose was to raise funds for their home health care services programs. The venue was at The Women's Club at CV Mansion in White Plains, NY. The host of the evening was WFAS Radio personality, Jay Michaels. Vera is best known for his song, "At This Moment" (love ballad from the 80's TV sitcom "Family Ties"). It still receives heavy rotation on that radio station, and on other adult contemporary radio stations across the country.

Vera, was formerly a local Westchester native who used to live in Hartsdale, NY before moving to Los Angeles. I caught up with Vera in a phone interview at the Renaissance Hotel in White Plains, where he was staying during his homecoming visit to Westchester this week.

"That was my friend Ralph Newman's idea (organizer of the annual fundraising event for VNSW) and he asked me if I would perform and I said sure I'd love to, it would give me a chance to get back to my hometown and do something for a worthy cause, they need to raise some money to keep it going." "I went over to the offices and it's very impressive organization. They have several hundred nurses that they send out, sometimes four, five six or seven patients a day around Westchester so they do really good work." "I had come back last year to downtown Stamford and they had a "Billy Vera Homecoming Day" and I did a concert for 3,500 people and I was able to use a local band that had the same instrumentation as my L.A. band." "We rehearsed them and they were real good!" While he was here in town, he caught up with some old friends even some from high school when he lived here in Westchester. "I'm an old sentimental guy so I try to catch up with old friend when I'm here in my hometown."

He is known for his famous song "At This Moment" the love lost theme from the 80's TV sitcom "Family Ties." It is played during an episode where Michael J. FoxMichael J. FoxMichael J. Fox's character loses his girlfriend.

"That was one of the reasons why the public responded to it on the show. I had a number of songs on television shows and movies prior to that. But this was the first time there was ever that powerful reaction from the public. I think it was because the song was about "Boy Loses Girl" and that was the episode of the show. So they matched and there was a synergy there."

Vera gave a stellar performance and his voice was still strong. The audience was energetic and the performance was well received, especially when they stood up to give him a standing ovation at the end of his famous tune, "At This Moment."

One of the small highlights of the evening, was the chocolate fountain on the dessert table, which was used as fondue to dip fruit, marshmallows, and rice crispies treats! Yummy! Overall, a great time was had by all who attended, including myself!

Here's to a successful event, and hopefully another one next year!