Lexapalooza: A Benefit Jam for Lex
September 15, 2008
7:00 pm
Jonathan's Restaurant
2 Bourne Lane Ogunquit, ME

Earlier this year Lex Romane -- the longtime Ogunquit resident who with his partner Joe Riillo has been entertaining Southern Maine and New Hampshire ski country for nearly three decades -- suffered a serious medical emergency in the form of a life-threatening infection. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery twice to drain abscesses. The infection was aggressive and recovery was slowed by complications, so Lex was in the hospital for 26 days -- and then recovering at home under Visiting Nurse care for another month.

Fortunately, Lex is back on his feet making a full recovery and again playing his guitar and singing for his fans. The bad news is that, like working musicians all across the nation, Lex cannot afford individual health insurance and has not accumulated an adequate rainy-day fund. In other words, even though he is physically on the mend, this episode was a financial disaster for Lex.

Lexapalooza is a benefit concert/jam organized by a group of Lex's diehard fans and supported by many of the restaurants and community members who have enjoyed his entertaining over the years. The evening will be structured as a rolling jazz and blues jam session, featuring a long list of Lex's pals from a lifetime of picking and singing, including Woody Allen.