To the editor:

Whidbey Island is amazing. We have lived here since October 2007 and slowly the gifts of the island that can’t be put into words have been bestowed upon us and have sank down into the very air we breathe. To someone visiting Whidbey Island, this cannot be explained. One has to be here for awhile to begin to feel what this unique island has to offer.

So with all that said, little did we know as we began to plan for our Whidbey Island fundraiser for travel funds to help us get to Memphis to compete in the 2010 International Blues Challenge with 110 other bands from around the world, what kind of magic would spin.

We had held fundraisers in Oregon City and in Seattle, but none compared to what happened at Cozy’s on the evening of Jan. 9. A sold-out house with many more attempting to get in. An incredible crowd of folks smiling and dancing and wishing us luck; and a crowd of folks pouring out their hard-earned dollars to buy raffle tickets and buy silent-auction items. It was simply stunning. For me, it was history in the making, as I have never in all my years of music sold out a show.

Throughout the process of putting this show together, we have come to know that the magic that lives in the very ground of this island and the waters that surround it also lives within many, in fact most of the people who have made their homes here. I really don’t think one can live here for any length of time without having one’s heart change for the better.

With all that said, I must thank the following amazing folks in no particular order: Mona and Tony Newbauer of Island Angel Chocolates, Whidbey Island Arts Council, Natalie Hahn of Red Tail and Graphic Arts, Stephanie and Troy of Cozy’s Roadhouse, Brian Kelly and Patricia Duff of the South Whidbey Record, the South Whidbey Record, Leslie Kelly, Drew Kampion, Cherie Erwin of Living Green, Roy Brown and his sister Myrna from the Washington Blues Society, Ron Beatteay from Pixations.com, Clancy Dunigan from KSER, and each and every other precious soul (too many to mention), who donated raffle and silent-auction items, their time, energy and money to this cause.

Thank you all for sharing the huge kindness in all of your precious magic hearts.

Cee Cee James

Langley