Celebrating LIFE

The sign above the door reads "Closed temporarily due to illness." But if passersby only knew ... this store isn't just any store. It's TD's CDs and LPs -- a local record shop widely known for years as the center of Bloomington's local music scene. The owner, Tom Donohue, is battling cancer -- and an attempt to remove a liver tumor last week failed. But as his fight against the relentless disease continues, so does his support network of friends, families and customers.\nTo benefit the man behind the records, supporters of the long time store owner are arranging benefit concerts throughout November to feature local bands while helping their ailing friend fight piling medical bills ... and show just how much he's appreciated by the community.\nThe shows follow a mid-October event event at Bear's that raised nearly $650.\nNobody has supported local music like Donohue.\n"You can walk into his record store any time of the day and hear records written and recorded right here in Bloomington and see flyers plastered all over his walls advertising local shows," says Kenny Childers, organizer of one concert and a musician in participating bands Brando and The Mysteries of Life. \nAlong with Childers, many local musicians who recognize Donohue's importance in the local music community have jumped on board for the shows, which begin Nov. 15 at Vertigo and conclude Nov. 26 with an eight to ten-band lineup at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, where all ages can attend. \nThe bands to headline the Nov. 15 Beatles tribute say they came together after Donohue's medical situation forced him to close his store. With his friend facing increasing medical bills, Childers decided to solve the problem the way Donohue does -- with music. \nFriends even offered to help keep the shop up and running for free. But while the store doors remain closed, friends of Donohue's flock across the way to Soma coffee shop where a sort of "healing crane" scene fills a box labeled, "For Tom," with the winged creations. The effort, sparked by Bloomington resident Sallie Moore, draws from an ancient Japanese tradition. If 1,000 cranes are folded in the name of an ailing person, the sick will supposedly be healed. The birds, which have migrated to Donohue's hospital room, foster hope that Donohue will soon return home.\nLocal musicians share fond memories of Donohue's store, on Kirkwood Avenue. They muse over his unceasing commitment to Bloomington's local music scene. \n"It's a small store, but it has thousands of recordings, most of them are scattered all over the place, however, if you ask him where a certain CD is, he knows exactly where it is, that's part of the fun of his store," says Josh Bennett of Angus Heartburn and Brando.\nBennett retains memories of Donohue as a great person and says that covering a Beatles song in Donohue's honor will be especially meaningful.\n"When my daughter was born in November of 2000, Tom gave me a CD called Bedtime with the Beatles, with symphonic renditions of Beatles songs," he remembers.\nAside from being a good friend, his peers say Donohue feverishly worked to get the word out on local music. His store was always playing local music, and he always took the time to mention local shows and bands, that were otherwise neglected, to his customers.\n"When our label wasn't helping us, Tom stepped in and helped to promote our album anyway he could," says Chris Kupersmith of local band UVULA.\nBennett had a similar experience.\n"He played our CD all day and night when it came out. He kept our poster up all year," Bennet says. "He does this for every local band. He really works day and night all about music, going to shows and promoting shows as well as his store."\nArea businesses helping out with the upcoming benefits include All Ears, Discount Den, Laughing Planet, Nick's English Hut, Rhino's All Ages Music Club, Roadworthy Guitar & Amp, Scholar's Inn, Soma Coffee House, The Video Saloon and Yogi's Grill & Bar.\nDonohue also worked outside the notorious CD store, manning his own radio show on WFHB, a local Bloomington radio station. \nJim Manion, programming director and a good friend of Donohue's, remembers Donohue before cancer struck.\n"Tom did a number of things for WFHB; he was a tireless volunteer for anything we needed. He was best known for his late night radio show, which he played pretty much anything he wanted and he also hosted a successful Sunday morning show as well, featuring world music," Manion says.\nA good friend of Donohue's, Manion joked about getting old in a predominantly young man's game of rock and roll.\n"You know, I'm almost 50 years old and when I would go to a show I always felt good because I wasn't the oldest guy there," Manion says. \nDonohue is set to have another year on Manion next week, as his 54th birthday rolls around Nov. 22. Perhaps happy birthday cranes are in store.\nOrganizers say the benefit concerts have wide commercial appeal even for those who may not be familiar with Donohue and his store.\n"The idea for a Beatles night was really first of all a way to try and draw as many people as possible to help Tom," says Jake Smith of The Mysteries of Life and The Vulgar Boatmen. "It's hard to pick songs to play -- the Beatles are notoriously hard to cover, mostly in terms of the vocals which are so hard to duplicate." \nDonohue is a guy who labors nonstop for local music. His store, kindness and hard work have touched the lives of musicians and music lovers for over a decade. TD's, CDs and LPs is a one of a kind local record store that put music first above anything else. According to Childers, Donohue has a similar philosophy in his own life. \n"Tom is someone who knows music. He is non-materialistic, genuine and wise, and it makes you feel good to buy music from him," Childers says. \nDonohue is currently being treated at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.