Janet Beaman was a singer of jazz and gospel, a songwriter, and had a
couple of albums to her name. But to many area musicians, she was better known
as a relentless advocate on their behalf, as both a booking agent, teacher and
an organizer of events throughout western New York.
Ms. Beaman, who was 52, died Sunday after a battle with cancer.
"She and I were as close as you can get. We've known each other for
20 years, working together musically," said Gian Carlo Cervone, who opened
his house to her as a kind of hospice for the final six weeks of her life.
"For the last four weeks or so," he said, "when she couldn't be
alone, her family really stepped up, visiting her, so she wouldn't be alone at
any time."
Among the local performers who she handled most recently through her
agency, Janet Beaman Musical Services, were local blues legend Joe Beard, The
White Hots, The John Cole Blues Band, Katie Ernst and Nancy Kelly.
"She was well known here in Rochester as a supporter of live music
and musicians," Cervone said. "Particularly singers. She would put on
what she called vocal showcases, four or five singers. Each person had a spot,
then they all did something together."
Her personal motto was "Always B 4 Real," Cervone said.
"That's how she approached things; she always told the truth. What she
said you could always count on. And that's what she was with everything,
whether telling you about her medical condition or whatever. A lot of people do
that, but she did it all of the time.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110721/NEWS01/107210324/1002/NEWS
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