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George Winston's Northampton: Academy of Music concert will benefit local hospital and food bank / MassLive

September 13, 2012 is a day that Grammy Award-winning pianist George Winston remembers well. After performing in Sand Point, Idaho, Winston - a prolific, touring musician well-known in the Northampton area - was rushed to the emergency room and transferred to Los Angeles' City of Hope Hospital, receiving a bone marrow transplant two months later. Winston will return to Northampton on Friday night, bringing pieces of music written on the hospital's piano to life at the Academy of Music.

The pianist, equally known for his New Orleans-flavored R&B chops as his love for Scott Joplin-esque stride piano, recently caught up with the Republican to discuss the upcoming performance. "In 2012 I needed a bone marrow transplant and stayed at the City of Hope. There are people from out of town who stay there, walk to their appointments; I was practicing in the hospital auditorium's piano before I started touring again. There were songs that just kind of happened, and over time, I realized this is a record," said Winston.

According to Winston, the record, "Spring Carousel," was released in March and features numerous solo piano pieces with roots directly related to his stay at the hospital - a factor in his decision to have proceeds from the show directly benefit the hospital.

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