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RELIEF PITCHING: Last year a number of...

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RELIEF PITCHING: Last year a number of top musicians, including Pearl Jam, Lou Reed and Soul Asylum, came together for concerts and the “Sweet Relief” album to benefit L.A. singer-songwriter Victoria Williams, who was stricken with multiple sclerosis. Now Williams is returning the favor to the music community.

In addition to paying for her expensive medical treatments, Williams used some of the benefit money to start the Sweet Relief Foundation to help pay for crisis health care for musicians who, like her, are uninsured. Contributions from record companies and private parties have brought the fund up to $250,000, says Williams’ manager, Danny Heaps.

A committee consisting of Williams, R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, T Bone Burnett, Don Was and Michael Penn has begun evaluating applications for grants and loans up to $15,000.

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“There’s kind of a vacuum there where musicians are concerned,” says Williams. “When I got sick everyone was so beautiful to me that I thought I’d like to start something that would be ours, for musicians.”

Williams continues to feel the impact of the disease, which attacks the central nervous system, but treatments have been effective and she’s been able to keep an active recording and performing schedule.

She has just finished recording her new album, “Loose,” which will be released by Atlantic-distributed Mammoth Records in October. Guests include Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner and Williams’ husband, Mark Olson of the Jayhawks.

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