James Blunt Sings at Belleayre for the Dogs

By Tara Collins

The love of a furry companion and a passion for making things right in his name are what brings America’s #1-pop-hit-single artist James Blunt to the Catskill Mountains. Blunt, whose single “You’re Beautiful” is heralding worldwide acclaim, is headlining The Snuffy Suites benefit concert on May 28 at 7 pm. The Belleayre Music Festival, which normally kicks off July 4th weekend, is putting up the tent early to accommodate this season’s special performance. Blunt, a 28-year-old British soldier-turned-singer-songwriter, is appearing at the Phyllis Litoff Pavilion in memory of a nine-year-old dog named Snuffy. Money raised through Blunt’s concert ticket sales will benefit both the Belleayre Music Festival and The Snuffy Suites, a recently renovated six-dog kennel behind Shandaken’s Highway Department. Additional donations through a silent auction and merchandise sales will also bolster the till for the not-for-profit dog shelter. All this is thanks to a weekender Briard pup named Snuffy and his Phoenicia-bred master, Mary Gormley.



The Snuffy

“On October 11, 2004, two things happened—one happy, one sad,” remembers Gormley, vice president of A&R at Atlantic Records. “James Blunt released his debut album, Back to Bedlam, in the United Kingdom. And I put Snuffy to sleep that day.”



Earlier in the week, Gormley learned that Snuffy was suffering kidney, liver and thyroid failure. “I was having a hard time coming to terms with losing him. He wasn’t dying that day, but he looked terrible. He had a 103 degree fever and had lost 18 pounds. I decided I’d give him the weekend of his life. We had burgers and a campfire outside. He slept with me the first night; the other two nights, I slept on floor with him, as he was just too sick to get on the bed.” Gormley, the daughter of Phoenicia funeral director Gene Gormley, thought she was prepared. “I grew up around grief, but there is something about putting your dog to sleep,” said Gormley, “it’s pure grief. There’s no baggage attached. I took him to his favorite spot in the field by my parents’ Woodland Valley home. And there, laying on his blanket, with me by his side, my vet put him to sleep. It was gut-wrenching; I was devastated.”



That following weekend, Gormley read about a fundraiser for the Shandaken dog shelter. “I wanted to offer a donation in memory of my dog,” says Gormley. “I did and also donated a lot of Snuffy’s things to that benefit. Then, every time a friend, co-worker, artist or producer would ask if they could do anything for me, I would say I’m raising money for my local animal shelter.”



Jump forward six months and a wad of money later. “I get this call; they decided to name the dog kennels, Snuffy Suites,” continues Gormley. “I was so touched; I shared the great news with everyone who helped me raise money. At the time, I was working closely with my new artist, James Blunt, touring through Europe. We talked about Snuffy, the Catskills and my hometown. James wanted to visit; I jokingly said he could when he did a benefit for the Snuffy Suites one day. With a laugh, he agreed.” From then on, it became the pair’s running joke.

Blunt’s quick rise to fame sideswiped a visit last summer. “James got an appearance on Top of the Pops, which is like England’s American Bandstand. It was a huge honor and really promoted his single, ‘You’re Beautiful.’ All along, his career was skyrocketing. And I’d nudge him while waiting in the Green Room outside Oprah or Ellen and say, ‘You’re still doing my dog benefit, right?’ He never once said no. He’s hit it big, but he’s still the same James Blunt I met years ago. And he’s good to his word.”



The Singer

Blunt is the first British artist to top the U.S. singles chart since Elton John reached #1 with “Candle In The Wind” in 1997. He’s also the first Brit to top both Billboard’s top U.S. single and album honors since Rod Stewart did it thirty years ago. His “Back to Bedlam” cross-country tour of North America started in March and has sold-out every show to date. Even the tabloids recognize he’s got something special. One pop music magazine noted, “With more than seven million albums sold worldwide, Blunt is an artist whose audience has found him, embraced him, and spread the news…an artist who has built his following the old-fashioned way, by constant gigging and contagious word-of-mouth—fan by fan, week by week, month by month.”



Blunt’s album, Back to Bedlam, ranges from acoustic, stripped-down tracks to charged-up, band-driven numbers. Its songs chart a journey through Blunt’s life experiences, relationships, hardships, and aspirations. Produced by Tom Rothrock (think Beck, Elliott Smith, Badly Drawn Boy), Back to Bedlam is full of stories, vignettes and snatched moments, all told in Blunt’s passionate and unique voice.



Although clearly a huge influence on Blunt’s life, his army experience forms only one aspect of his work. The album’s '70s West Coast feel was reinforced by the decision to compose and record on original '70s instruments. For his part, James played as many instruments on the album as possible, partly to feel fully connected to the tracks and partly to create a truly individual sound.



The Benefit

Fast forward to fall 2005. “I’m listening to a message at home from a very sweet voice, asking about holding a fundraiser at the mountain,” says Mel Litoff, Belleayre Music Festival’s executive and creative director. “I wanted to strangle Tony Lanza (Belleayre’s superintendent). He knows better. We can’t do benefits for other not-for-profits, because we need to raise money each year for the Festival. But I called Mary back to politely explain our policy.” Then she dropped the bombshell. “Mary starts by saying she’s a VP of A&R for Atlantic and she’s got this up-and-coming artist. She got my attention. Then she offered to drop a couple CDs for me to listen to. So, I picked them up at Phoenicia’s Red Rooster; I listen, do a little research, and sure enough, this guy has the number one pop hit in Europe. We talked some more, worked it out, and now we’re putting up the tent in late May, instead of late June. It’s been a challenge to pull it together, but it will be a great concert. Mary promised me it would be the biggest thing to hit the Belleayre Music Festival; I think she could be right.”

Gormley agrees. “I give Mel a lot of credit. He was willing to take a chance on a phone call from some crazy dog lover leaving music CDs at a local restaurant. The hardest thing for me, so far, has been getting sponsors. But when you feel strongly about something, you go after it and everything else falls into place.” Individuals and businesses interested in sponsoring the Snuffy Suites Benefit should call Mel Litoff at 800 942 6904, ext. 406.



“I’ve also gotten incredible support from Atlantic,” adds Gormley. “They’re providing me with flyers, the radio department is coordinating with regional stations, we’re on the Web sites. I’m so incredibly lucky to have an opportunity to do something great for my community.” Gormley sees the benefit of doing good on a human level, too. “It feels really good to do something for your town,” she says of Phoenicia. “Growing up, my dad ran the ambulance service, was on the Catholic Parish Council, hospital board, and he’s currently the chairman of the Shandaken Eagle Day parade on August 26. Our family has always been involved in community service. It feels good to do it!



“For me, to take something so sad—losing Snuffy and turning it into something so positive—it has been a curious chain of events. I usually work with rock bands; but I got the chance to work with James Blunt whose music appeals to all ages. Then he agrees to do a concert despite his rise to stardom. The next piece of the puzzle falls into place when Mel Litoff agrees to do a benefit. And now, finally, this whole thing is coming together. Everyone at Atlantic has also pulled together; many of our executives are coming up for the concert. All our volunteers at the Suites, they’ve done wonders up there, with what little they have.”



Concert-goers can also purchase some schwag before the show. “We’re holding a silent auction in the lodge,” adds Gormley. “Items will be offered e-Bay, as well. So, if you can’t make the concert, you can still support the Snuffy Suites and get a few celebrity-autographed items.” Gormley called in all the stops and has a little something for everyone. Auction-goers can bid on a signed-CD from Death Cab for Cutie; signed books titled Marly & Me about the author and his dog; a signed Triumph the Insult Comic dog signed by Eminem; a signed Sports Illustrated by tsunami-survivor, supermodel Petra Nemcova; a backstage pass to meet Cyndi Lauper, and a pair of tickets for The Threepenny Opera. “We’re also selling fleecy blankets with Snuffy’s picture and the Snuffy Suite slogan…‘Dogs Rock—Adopt One!’ or ‘Cats are Cool—Adopt One!’”



Gormley isn’t shooting for the sky with this fundraiser, but she’s got plans. “Our goals are simple. We’re splitting the proceeds with the Festival since they are doing all the work. The shelter is pulling together an executive board with a financial person, a vet and a trainer to oversee the Snuffy Suites, training and adoptions. We also want to give back to the community by offering reduced-cost rabies and spay/neuter clinics for dogs and cats available to Shandaken residents.” The group also plans to build a dog run adjacent to the kennels. After all, dogs need to play.

After the concert, Blunt returns to New York City for a 6 am sound check for The Today Show the next morning. “He really is going out of his way to do this,” continues Gormley. “This has been such a life-altering community project and so many individuals have contributed at different levels, it would be impossible to name them all. But I really want to encourage everyone to come, have a good experience at this acoustic show, and enjoy an intimate evening with James Blunt.



James Blunt Benefit Concert for

the Snuffy Suites

Belleayre Music Festival

Sunday, May 28 at 7 pm



Tickets available May 1 only through www.ticketweb.com



To make a donation to The Snuffy Suites:

P.O. Box 67

Shandaken, NY 12480

thesnuffysuites@gmail.com



To make a donation to Belleayre Music Festival:

P.O. Box 198

Highmount, NY 12441

800 942 6904, ext. 406

www.belleayremusic.org

festival@catskill.net.



Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of

Highmount’s Belleayre Mountain. Located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain Region, the area is conveniently located off Route 28,

37 miles west of New York State Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston, and an easy two-hour drive from New York City. The Festival is also 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28, 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe, and 95 miles southwest of Albany.