Proceeds from Bowzer’s Rock and Roll Sock Hop will benefit Kids of Childhood Cancer, supporting patients at Brenner's pediatric oncology ward and their families. One child who will be helped from the proceeds is 7 year-old Vinny DiGerolamo of Kernersville.
DiGerolamo became a big fan of Bowzer’s music after hearing his dad play the upbeat tunes before he got chemotherapy treatments. He also loves to watch Bowzer perform on YouTube.
DiGerolamo and Bauman met earlier this year. The performer said the concert is a tribute to Vinny's love of life.
“ You know the show’s on Saturday and Sunday happens to be his 8th birthday. The music that I’ve done for my whole career has been fun, upbeat, interactive, you know appeals to all generations and the show is going to be exactly the same as it always is. There is going to be a hula-hoop contest, and a dance contest, people will be doing the a hand jive. I’m the guy who sang “Born to Hand Jive” in the Grease movie, this will appeal to all ages.”
The Kids of Childhood Cancer foundation was started in 2009 by Vinny’s parents Sarah and Charlie DiGerolamo. Bauman said spending time with the family has impacted him personally.
“ Vinny’s just a great kid. A great kid with a great attitude locked in a mortal struggle and to see his courage, it is so inspiring it’s almost indescribable. The second person I want to talk about is his sister “Desi”. She is around 11 or 12 years-old and watching her with him, she is just so tender and caring with him and still such a kid.”
The concert begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Reynolds Auditorium in Winston Salem.
Tickets for the concert start at $15 and be purchased online through the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina or by calling the box office at 336-721-1945.
