OCEAN CITY – The first Blues on the Bay for Charity event will be held on Sunday at the Crabcake Factory Bayside with the Kelly Bell Band playing its only show on the shore to benefit a family who lost their home to a fire in June.
Kelly Bell and Friends will be performing acoustic live at Crabcake Factory Bayside located on Route 54 in Fenwick Island this Sunday, Aug. 3, from 2-6 p.m. to benefit the Hampton-Boyce family.
On June 22, at approximately 3 a.m., the Hampton-Boyce family suffered a fire in their home in Frankford, Del. Linda Hampton’s son, Brian Boyce, and his wife, Crystal Boyce, along with their two children, Connor, 3, and Tristen, 5, all lived together. At the time, Crystal’s younger sister, Morgan Hewett, and her daughter, Isabella, 2, were also living in the home until she could find a permanent place to live.
The home burned to the ground leaving the family with nothing, including the loss of their beloved pets. The destructive fire came after a couple years of tragedy the family had already suffered.
On Nov. 20, 2012 Brian and Crystal Boyce’s third son passed away of accidental suffocation at the age of five months old. Their second son, Connor, was born premature with severe birth defects and had undergone emergency surgery in May to correct a blockage in his intestine.
“Through everything they have stayed strong and together as a loving hard-working family, and always opened their doors to anyone who needed help,” a family friend, Hazel Koltuk, wrote on the family’s fundraising page. “But last night [June 22] they were dealt another blow. Their home and everything in it burnt to the ground. Thank you God everyone got out alive, but with only the pajamas they were sleeping in. Tristen … cannot understand why this has happened. Not only has he lost his home, all his clothes and his favorite toys, but also his beloved pets … Despite all that life has thrown their way, they stick together and nothing can tear them apart.”
The benefit is aimed to help the family and should be popular because of the live music.
“Kelly Bell rarely plays the shore anymore, so this is a cool chance to reunite me and Kelly who have been working together for over 20 years,” said Crabcake Factory USA CEO Johnny Brooks, who first started working with Bell at his former Terrapin Station. “The fire was brought to my attention, and Crabcake Factory has always been involved in charity events, so with our new location on Route 54 I thought this is a great opportunity for us to get out into the Delaware community and no better way to do it than to have Kelly Bell perform.”
The Kelly Bell Band from Baltimore has been voted the Best Blues Band in the Mid-Atlantic Region 12 years in a row. Formed as a backup band for Bo Diddley, the Kelly Bell Band has been playing, recording and entertaining fans for over 20 years. The band released their debut album Phat Blues Music in 1998 and many equally successful live and studio recorded albums have been released since then.
Donations will be accepted at the door for the family. The event will include a local business raffle, 50/50 raffle, and clothing for the children will be accepted at the door. Boys clothing size 5/6 and 2T are needed as well as boys shoe size 8 and 13 toddler. Girls’ clothing size 2T and girls shoe size 6 toddler is needed.
“All proceeds that we get will be given right to the family,” Brooks said.
For more information on the family and how to help, visit the Hampton-Boyce Family Fund Facebook page, or visit the family’s fundraising website at http://www.gofundme.com/ap10f8.