Banastre Tarlton needs our help!

Hey all, this is Jane Ponte and I’m trying to raise some much-needed financial assistance for my old friend Banastre Tarlton. Although I no longer live in MO, Ban and I have stayed in touch—mostly over social media—and I recently heard that he was in a pretty bad car wreck (that was not his fault) and his awesome custom van was totaled. Even worse is that his right wrist was broken and he cannot work as a result. Presently he’s in awful pain due to a mix-up over his meds from the hospital, and although that can be worked out, what can’t be undone is all the revenue he is missing out on due to his inability to gig right now.

Those of us who know and love Banastre know that he has selflessly donated countless hours of his time helping the less fortunate or forgotten creatures of a good portion of mid-Missouri, rescuing and fostering animals and finding homes for them, and playing all over MO in assisted living centers and nursing homes, entertaining folks who seldom get visits or have no family; sharing music and time with them simply because he cares and he understands that music is a powerful elixir that brings people joy and comfort. Due to his injuries and the loss of his custom van that he used to transport his equipment, he is losing out on at least 2 months of income and has had to cancel all of his gigs and appearances throughout the state until he is able to play again.

We all know that many musicians rely solely on gigs to pay their monthly expenses and that they show up consistently to bring camaraderie and good times to all. Banastre is a born entertainer who I’ve known since I was a teenager; he’s been doing this for 50 years (at least) and his undownable spirit and the gifts he’s brought to his community are beyond measure. He needs a hand up right now and he’s deserving of every penny, just to get him through this hurdle and help him keep the lights on and allow him to fully heal until he’s back in the saddle again. Please help if you can—no amount is too small and it will all go directly to Banastre. Thank you in advance for helping Ban—he would never ask for this for himself but he needs and deserves this help and it will make a huge difference for him. Much love to all—no exceptions. (The way Ban would want it.) ❤️