JaneEthel Benefit for Movable Feast

JaneEthel wants to help the hungry.  A self-described Lexington 'character,' she tells me she's a "short fat lady with long white hair and lots of Stevie Nicks fringed shawls." On January 28, she will perform her "last show" at the Kentucky Theatre with proceeds to benefit Movable Feast.

Jane Ethel Johnson is originally from Jackson, in Breathitt County, has been in Lexington over thirty years, but has never forgotten her roots.  "I am blessed to have friends all over.  I used to drive here to Lexington to play music and sing back in the early 70's when all the hippies played and danced at The old "Station House" , the "FreeWheelin' ", and other memorable old hang-outs."

She also sat in with the Metropolitan All Stars . . . "Nick Stump, Rodney Hatfield, David White...all of whom have bands of their own now. (Nick Stump Band, Tin Cup Buddah, and Big Maraccas, respectively)  I used to slip in and sing with Roger Bondurant down at the CCI a lot back then, as well. I'm expecting all four of 'my boys' to be [at the Movable Feast event] too!"

"My One Woman show, entitled The Last Show, involves my singing and playing piano, performing MOSTLY original compositions that I have written.  Some are ballad-like songs, speaking to what we see in life...but I like to think my songs are taking it a bit 'further,' but I have no particular genre of songs that I've written. Whiskey Mama is a bad-ass blues number. ... Once, when I had finished a gig, two dudes came up to me and told me I was a female John Prine!  One of the nicest compliments I've ever had, as I consider him a true poet. "

"The Last Show" will be at the Kentucky Theatre on the last Thursday in January, Jan. 28th at 7pm.  $15/$20 door.  Can call 252-2867 or pick up tickets in advance at the Kentucky Theatre/  Probably will run about an hr. and 15-30 minutes...TOPS.   ALL proceeds go to Movable Feast 

She emphasizes how she became involved when she heard of Movable Feast in years past. "When a dear friend of mine, Michael Thompson, told me why he started this organization, it broke my heart.  Michael was dying from cancer and I was occasionally staying with him during the day when his life-partner was at work. We talked a lot. Strange, how conversations become less trivial when someone you know is dying.

During that time, he explained to me that he had once lived next to a young man who was dying of AIDS.  Back then most people died rather rapidly, as treatments were not yet evolved to the point of saving...or at least lengthening lives.

One day Michael saw the coroner outside and they were taking the boy's body out of his apartment.  "Michael assumed the young man had died from an  AIDS -related illness, but was informed by the coroner that the boy had actually died of malnutrition. Not the "wasting syndrome." He had very simply just starved to death. He had no phone, most of his family and friends had abandoned him when he contacted the virus that no one understood...and greatly feared.  The boy was just too sick to get out of his bed and go ask for help, for food."

"Michael said, This is ridiculous! Someone living so close to others and they starve to death and nobody even knows or cares? Insane!'  He soon thereafter started Movable Feast and despite his also living with AIDS, he worked non-stop, delivering meals and maintaining the organization, until he was no longer physically able to do so himself.  Movable Feast now delivers hot, nutritious meals to both AIDS patients and other patients affiliated with Hospice of the Bluegrass.  They usually provide around 125 meals a day!"

"I believe my talent helped me emotionally for many years, just as an outlet for expression. There was a time when I desperately needed that outlet - just my piano, me and my songs took away a lot of discouragement and pain. Fat girls don't always have it so easy. Well, other than the fact that they get plenty to eat!" 

JaneEthel says she now wants to give back to others, "and doing what one loves for a charity one so strongly believes in is a no-brainer.  I'm honored to be affiliated with Movable Feast for this event, and they have been very kind in relating the same to me."

JaneEthel loves to tell stories and believes, "Truth is often more tragic, and surely more humorous than fiction".  And one man's junk is another's treasure.