Fundraiser for saxophonist Mike Kuhn

My name is Pete Swan and I am putting this fundraiser together for Mike Kuhn. Mike is in a long-term rehabilitation center, dealing with the effects of a massive stroke. He has no movement on his right side and cannot get out of bed without assistance.

He is at the Sabino Canyon Rehabilitation and Care Center (5830 E Pima Street, Tucson AZ 85712) in the long-term patient area, room 307B, and would love to have visitors.

He can't receive the funds directly without adversely affecting his insurance, therefore, the money raised will be deposited in a fund, administered by Mark Nelson, former Pima College Performing Arts Head (music, theatre, dance) and a long-term friend of Mike's. The money will be used to pay for things Mike might need in the future. Some of those things would be:

Mike was the Pima College Jazz Ensemble director for 30 years, from 1990-2020 and developed the Popular Music in America course, which still has the largest enrollment of any music course at Pima. He taught and inspired many of the top saxophonists in Tucson.

Please consider contributing to this fund to give Mike an opportunity to move forward in his life. He may never be able to play the saxophone again, but he deserves our support to help him move in a new direction in his life and know that we care and appreciate what he has given to our community.

Saxophonist and educator Mike Kuhn was born on April 29, 1963. He was born and raised in Tonawanda, New York, just north of Buffalo. Kuhn recalls his home with much fondness. Kuhn’s father was and is a great lover of jazz, and it was his old jazz LP’s which Mike attached to especially “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Kuhn graduated from the State University of New York at Potsdam, in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. A Master of Music from the University of Arizona followed in 1987. Kuhn was the director of the Jazz Ensemble, and taught Jazz Improvisation, and various theory and history classes at Pima Community College. Kuhn won the Outstanding Adjunct Faculty award from Pima Community College in 1997 for his teaching excellence. Kuhn released his own album “Pride and Prejudice” in 1993, which consists of all original jazz. Kuhn played locally with local names and bands such as Sam Taylor, Blue Lizards, George Howard, Tucson Jazz Orchestra, Ed Delucia, Pete Swan, Anna Warr and Big Band Express. He backed Sam Moore, the Temptations, Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Belden, and Buddy Guy.