Veterans Memorial Hospital benefit to again remember musician Pat Dougherty May 9

For a third consecutive year, Bandmates, Brothers and Friends (BBF) will reunite in Waukon for another night of musical entertainment to benefit the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation. This year they welcome the regionally known JayR Brink Band, who will close out the musical line-up that night, all to be held Friday evening May 9, from 6-11 p.m. at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion.

The BBF band began this benefit three years ago to raise funds for the Veterans Memorial Health Care Foundation in honor of Dr. Bill Withers, who worked for 50 years as a local physician in this community. Dr. Withers passed away this past September at the age of 90, but his sons, Bill Jr., Jim and John, and the other band members all agreed to return this year to again benefit the hospital foundation, but also to celebrate the memory their late father with the community.

BBF will again also remember their late guitarist Pat Dougherty at this event, the only deceased member of these four local bands which included Rising Sun, Horizon, Jackson Junction and Deep River that now make up BBF. Pat was a key member of these bands with both his guitar and vocals.

Event organizers will again have Pat’s guitar on display this year at the event, as well as memorabilia provided by the Dougherty family.

“Pat always had an interest in guitar and music. He had his first guitar at age two and called it his ‘doo loo,’” explains Pat’s mom, Janice Dougherty. “He could sing ‘King of the Road’ at a very young age. He took lessons from Mr. Searcy, then a member of school district music faculty, but was mostly self-taught. He was so talented when it came to music and playing different instruments, even a mouth organ. He could hear a song on the radio and play it immediately on his guitar.”

Pat remained active in music for 39 years, playing in many additional bands throughout his life including the Buckaroos, Country Ramblers, County Line, Lil’ Dale, Doyle Bro-Cheyenne, with Mule Skinner and Stone Bridge being his own bands.

Pat’s brother, Dave Dougherty, will be playing the drums again this year in honor of his brother.  Many of the BBF returning musicians played with Pat and include Bill Withers, Jim Withers, John Withers, along with Gary Hesla, Bob Bechtel, Dave Dougherty, Brad Prestemon, Todd Pickett, Joel Anderson, Keel Clemmens and Jamey Lideen.

“All 11 guys from BBF said ‘yes’ again this year, so there’s a ton of excitement about being back,” states Bill Withers, Event Coordinator. “If you think about the bands these guys were in across the tri-state, some dating back over 40 years, and each musician being available for a single night each of the last three years… it’s truly special and almost a miracle.”

Free-will donations will be accepted at the door that night, as well as online at the veteransmemorialhospital.com website or through the QR code here, to benefit the Veterans Memorial Hospital Health Care Foundation in the purchase of equipment for expanding the Infusion Outpatient Services and local Chemotherapy.

“There’s a love and commitment to doing this benefit due to our friendships, the memories around the music and venues we’ve played over the years, and yes, an incredible cause,” adds Withers. “How could you not support local healthcare in your hometown?”