The Anchor Recovery All Stars: Music And A Message

The Anchor Recovery All Stars actually got started around Christmas of 1999 in Rhode Island, with Frank Spicola and Jim Chapin playing guitar and Jim Gillen on flute, tin whistle and Native American flutes."We were dealing with women who were in various stages of detoxing, some quite ill," Jim Gillen recalls. "As we played and passed around the tambourine and such, we noticed that the women started to play along...A light went off in our heads that this was a way to reach folks." Gillen, Spicola and drummer Paul DaSilva went on to form the nucleus for Friday afternoon jam sessions at CODAC,which is an opiate treatment facility, Gillen estimating that over 100 musicians came and went. The All Stars fame gradually spread, leading to gigs at treatment centers, nursing homes and community events, eventually winning them the designation of official band for RI Rally 4 Recovery, which marks its 10th anniversary next September. "We play a variety of music," Jim Gillen explains," Pretty basic blues, rock and roll, world, jazz,percussion and some Native American flute songs."These days the All Stars lineup still includes the original three -Gillen,Spicola and DaSilva - along with Nick McPhail on lead guitar, "Boxcar Ed" on bass, and vocals by Leslie Miller as well as occaisonal guest appearences by Doreen Collins of WJAR TV's "Unreal Deal" show. The band still sponsors an open mike nite on the last Friday of the month at Anchor in Pawtucket. They never charge for their performances, but they do accept donations to help cover expenses.

According to Merriam Webster's dictionary, the word recover means: "A return to a normal state of health, mind or strength." What makes the All Stars unique is the fact that Gillen uses his talent as a storyteller to motivate the audience: " I also throw in a story or two...and we mix in a recovery message, showing people that its OK to follow their dreams and be part of something."

The Recovery All Stars brought their message to Mathewson Street United Methodist Church in Providence for a performance on December 1 , World Aids Day, which got rave reviews from the audience. "Why we are different," Jim Gillen points out," Is because its about more than music, its about engagement, giving back to the community and allowing people to live their dream or at least chase it."

The next time you hear that the Recovery All Stars are playing a gig, go check them out or, if you're interested in hiring them, contact Jim Gillen at 401-261-1446 or check out www.anchorrecovery.com.