A newly created organization for which Grammy Award-winning musician Micki Free and fashion designer Heather Roberts serve as the Founders/Directors—aims to provide musical instruments to children in underserved communities, helping them develop skills that foster creativity, social connection, and emotional well-being.
The foundation successfully wrapped its inaugural celebrity fundraising event “The Shirts Against The Blouses”® Mini Golf Tournament, at KISS World Mini Golf inside the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas (February 25). It was attended by an array of rock and roll artists, including guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS) and drummer Eric Singer (KISS), as well as the foundation’s sponsors. At the red-carpet event, The Musical Beginning Foundation Humanitarian Award was given to both KISS founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, accepted on their behalf by Kulick. See the list of attending celebrities and tastemakers as well as the sponsors below.
“The Shirts Against The Blouses”® Mini Golf Tournament pays homage to the iconic basketball game between Prince, Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, and Micki Free, which was immortalized in a famous Chappelle’s Show sketch. For a glimpse into the original game, read this story from Esquire. At KISS World Mini Golf, two teams, The Shirts and The Blouses, competed against each other and the winning team was The Blouses: Count’s 77 band, Stoney Curtis, Jeff Tortora, John Zito, Barry Barnes, and Tommy Paris.
“Heather and I were truly honored and humbled as our celebrity guests, friends and family showed up and showed out at the fundraiser!” says Free. “Heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors…this is just the beginning at The Musical Beginning Foundation, we strive to make a difference musically in kids lives!! Remember always…Music is the Medicine.”
Celebrities and Tastemakers included:
•Bruce Kulick (KISS)
•Eric Singer (KISS)
•Todd Kerns (Slash’s band)
•Brent Fitz (Slash’s band)
•Phil Soussan (Last In Line, Ozzy Osbourne)
•Les Warner (The Cult)
•Alex Grossi (Quiet Riot)
•Phil X (Bon Jovi)
•Patrick Vitagliano (The Bones)
•Jeff Tortora (Blue Man Group, Tinnitus)
•Stoney Curtis (Stony Curtis Band, Count’s 77)
•Count’s 77
•Jeremy Spencer, (Knuckle Heads, Five Finger Death Punch)
•Peter Summit Ross (Crashing Wayward)
•King James (Tribute to The Godfather James Brown)
•Alistair James (Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses)
•Ira Black (BulletBoys, Lizzy Borden)
•Dr. Meg Brucker (whose husband, Dr. Brad Brucker, is on the foundation’s board)
•Lonn Friend (author, “Planet Rock”)
•Sally Steele (director, producer, “Vegas Rocks”)
•Staci Layne Wilson (film director, author, “Rock & Roll Nightmares”)
•John Katsilometes (Las Vegas Review Journal)
•Aaron Kai (actor, painter)
•Ron Mancuso (The Bootlegger Italian Bistro)
•Jason Strange (Rock’n Vodka)
Sponsors: (*denotes in attendance)
*Trish Bowden – Mysterium Music
*Christina and Patrick Vitagliano – KISS World Mini Golf
*Michael Politz – Food & Beverage Magazine
*Michele Tell: PR%F the Magazine
*Brian Seliba – Need Merch
*Bob Diehm – Guitar Center
*Adam Rains – Golden Tiki
*Ava Berman & Carlos “Big Daddy” Adley – Fremont Country Club/Backstage Bar & Billiards
*Loren Roberts, Treasurer, The Musical Beginning Foundation
*Mitch Schneider, Secretary, The Musical Beginning Foundation
The event was catered by Lindy Lu’s Kitchen. One highlight of the culinary feast was the blueberry mini pancakes which were based on the pancakes Prince originally made after the original pick-up basketball game with Prince, Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy, and Micki Free.
In many schools, art and music programs are often the first to be cut due to budget constraints. Roberts and Free believe music is not only a creative outlet, but also essential for childhood development and mental health. Participants in the event will be helping bring the power of music into the lives of children who need it most, inspiring young talent, and giving them the tools they need to thrive. “Our foundation believes that, whether using music as a therapeutic outlet or professionally, ‘Music is the Medicine,’ say Roberts and Free.
“I feel I’ve been blessed in my musical career,” says Micki Free, “and it’s time to give back. Most indigenous, urban and impoverished families, like mine when I was growing, didn’t have the means to buy instruments for their children. I was lucky my Uncle Frank came to my aid and bought me my first guitar. The Musical Beginning Foundation will be our Uncle Frank to many kids—that is our goal.”
“As a child I played clarinet in school, which was a meaningful experience for me,” says Roberts. “Art has been incredibly important to me throughout my whole life. As a graduate of Parsons School of Design in NYC, and someone who has enjoyed a career in the world of celebrity costume design, I was lucky to have been immersed into fields that allowed me to express my creativity. Children today don’t have as much access or opportunities when it comes to the arts, and I am hopeful that I can be a part of creating positive change in their lives through The Musical Beginning Foundation.”
For those who wish to make financial contributions or donate musical instruments to The Musical Beginning Foundation, contact 725-231-3509 or go here: https://www.themusicalbeginningfoundation.org/
