Fund-Raiser for Musicians Will Honor Jackson Browne

There will be a statuette awaiting Jackson Browne on Sept. 17 when the Orange County Musicians Foundation holds its fifth annual fund-raising concert. In a new wrinkle, the foundation, which issues grants to help pay uninsured local musicians’ emergency medical bills, is starting the Pioneer Achievement Recognition Awards to honor significant figures who perform on the Orange County music scene or who, like Browne, got their start here.

Browne, up for an achievement award in the pop/rock category, and nine other honorees will get invitations to the concert, and if they don’t make it, their awards will be sent to them, said Greg Topper, the foundation’s founder and president.

The other inaugural honorees are:

* Jann Browne (no relation) for country music and songwriting.

* Dick Dale for his surf-guitar innovations.

* Mark Davidson, a pianist, for jazz.

* Jose Feliciano for Latin music.

* James Harman for blues and songwriting.

* Righteous Brothers--Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield--for pop-soul music.

* Barry Rillera for blues guitar.

* Joe Tatar, pianist, for nightclub performance.

“I’m acknowledging people who are of and from Orange County and contributed to the music scene all over the world,” said Topper, a piano-playing rock oldies bandleader who has been a favorite in Orange County clubs for more than 25 years. “I’ll do about 10 of these [awards] every year until we run out [of honorees] and get down to people like me, and then we’re done,” he said with a laugh.

He said the foundation currently has about $20,000 available for grants, having disbursed about $7,000 in the past year. Grants of up to $1,500 are available to full-time professional musicians who are Orange County residents and who find themselves facing emergency medical expenses (including insurance co-payments) not covered by insurance.

The Sept. 17 concert, starting at 3 p.m. at the Atrium Marquis Hotel in Irvine, will feature brief performances by 14 separate acts. Entertainers include Jann Browne, Dewey Terry (of the old-line R&B; duo Don & Dewey), the Missiles of October and soul singer Derek Bordeaux. (714) 362-4200.

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CHANGES: Warren Renfrow has taken over as the bassist in One Hit Wonder, a slot that had been open since January when founding member Randy Bradbury left to join ‘60s hard-rock guitar hero Wayne Kramer’s touring band. Fans of the local grass-roots alternative rock scene know Renfrow from his tenure with another hard-driving band, the Cadillac Tramps. He also played recently in Cisco Poison.

In another personnel change by a strong local contender, Joyride has enlisted John (Bosco) Calabro as its lead guitarist. Calabro, whose credits include a stint in the venerable Orange County punk band D.I., replaces founding member Mike McKnight.

Joyride’s Steve Soto said McKnight decided he couldn’t keep up the heavy touring schedule that Joyride plans to follow and left on good terms. Calabro arrived in time to play most of the guitar leads on Joyride’s recently finished third album.