Elton John's guitarist to host fundraiser for Lupin Hill School

Photo courtesy of Max Hoetzel THEIR SONG—Young musicians will perform at a benefit concert on April 26 at The Canyon in Agoura Hills.Their band, The Rolling Tones, will share the stage with a star-studded line-up of musicians from the Elton John Band. Band members are E.J. Ball, Christopher Reilly, Ari Weintraub, Juliet Johnstone, Remington Richling, Ben Babylon, Zoe Hoetzel and Charlie Johnstone. Davey Johnstone, the lead guitarist in Elton John's band for 35 years, will join other seasoned professionals and a bevy of youth musicians at The Canyon club on April 26 for a concert to benefit Lupin Hill Elementary School.

Johnstone has organized benefit concerts for the Calabasas school on three other occasions, but this year's show promises to carry a little extra zing with its auction of star-studded goods and other surprises.

Johnstone isn't the only Elton John musician slated to entertain the crowd at the Agoura Hills music club. Other John band members tapped to perform are guitarists Bruce Watson and Guy Babylon. Ken Stacey of Ambrosia fame, and Wendy Wagner, the voice behind most Disney productions including Hannah Montana, will offer lead vocals.

Davey Johnstone Max Hoetzel, a musician who was instrumental in organizing the Lupin Hill benefit concerts with Johnstone, said he will perform three duets with Johnstone—on banjo and electric guitar.

The Lupin Hill Tiger Chorale, comprising 80 student singers, will perform under the direction of the school's music teacher, Peggy McClintick.

The sons and daughters of some of the legendary rockers will perform in a band called the Rolling Tones.

Charlie Johnstone, 10, will play keyboards, and his sister, Juliet, 14, will wow the crowd as the band's drummer. Hoetzel's daughter, Zoey, a freshman at Agoura High School, will play the electric guitar. Ben Babylon, 11 and Remi Richling—the youngest performer at 9— will also play guitar. Other young Rolling Tones include Lindero Canyon Middle School musicians E.J. Ball, Christopher Riley and Ari Weintraub.

While the concert is meant to raise funds for Lupin Hill arts and music programs, Johnstone says the money could also assist in other areas.

"They just need money—period," he said. "The idea is for the money to go to music and art programs, (but it can go towards) whatever is necessary."

Johnstone hopes the concert will be as successful as previous shows that were conducted in a healthier economy. He hopes to raise $40,000 for the school.

Two guitars—a Fender and a Takamine acoustic—that are signed by Elton John and his band will be up for auction. A Brazen Electric guitar signed by John and Billy Joel, and a signed harmonica used by Joel on his famous album, "Piano Man," will also be auctioned. The harmonica has real Bill Joel DNA, Johnstone joked.

Other items planned for the auction block include shirts, caps and "other goodies" from the NBA, Johnstone said. A baseball signed by legendary player Willie Mays ball will also be up for bid.

Jim Moret from the Entertainment Channel will serve as master of ceremonies for the evening.

"We hope that this show will fund at least in part the arts and music programs at Lupin Hill," Hoetzel said. "And thanks to the wealth of great talent that loves to work with Davey Johnstone for an event like this, I think we will have another great night of music."

Donors include Agoura Music, Instrumental Music, Malibu Makos Surf Camp, Cottontail Ranch, DW Drums, and even television weather man Fritz Coleman, "who is personally delivering a basket of goodies from NBC to my house," Johnstone said.

Back in the day

Johnstone auditioned for Elton John as a mandolin player in 1972 and has been with the great one ever since. Besides mandolin and guitar, Johnstone plays the banjo and sitar. He co-wrote 20 songs with John and lyricist Bernie Taupin, including the classic hit, "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues."

For the past five years, Johnstone has worked with John in Las Vegas. The show will close April 22, but neither John nor Johnstone will have much down time. In May, the Elton John/Billy Joel concert tour will continue and perform in several famous outdoor venues including Wrigley Park in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston.

"We're booked through 2011," Johnstone said.

Tickets for the 6 p.m., April 26 concert are $20 in advance and $25 at The Canyon club door on April 26.

You can also send an e-mail to rlwerner @sbcglobal.net.