Chris Cain - Blues/Funk & YMCA of Hagerstown Fundraiser

Chris Cain was born in San Jose, California in 1955. His parents were huge music fans and shared their love of blues, jazz and popular songs with Chris. His African American father and Greek mother had a huge, shared record collection, which fascinated Chris from an early age. Chris was three years old when his father first took him to see B.B. King. His father gave him his first guitar at age eight and Chris learned lick after lick, song after song. He’d listen to his father’s records over and over until the music had seeped into his soul.

Cain formed his first band in 1986, and, in hopes of getting more gigs, released his first album, Late Night City Blues, on the locally-based Blue Rock’It label. Almost immediately, everything changed. Booking agents came calling and Chris began touring Europe. The album received four W.C. Handy Award nominations (now the Blues Music Awards) and the offers to perform kept rolling in.

With his 2021 Alligator Records debut album, Raisin’ Cain, Cain’s star began to rise even higher. Press, radio and the public all agreed that Cain was, as Blues Rock Review stated, “a classic, sophisticated, soulful virtuoso…He seamlessly combines blues, jazz, funk, and soul.” Cain received four 2022 Blues Music Award nominations, including for Album Of The Year and Best Guitarist.

On his recordings and on stage, Cain plays his beloved Gibson ES 335 guitar named Melba that he’s had since 1990, and plugs it into his equally beloved Music Man RD 112 amp that he’s had since 1987. Melba, well known among Cain’s most ardent fans, is prominently featured in the new book, Gibson ES Believers, part of the Vic DuPra Believers Series.

Cain has toured all over North America and made repeated trips around the world. He’s performed at the Chicago Blues Festival, The Doheny Blues Festival, The Philadelphia Blues Festival, The Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, and many others. He’s played concerts and festivals (and often taught workshops) in Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Ukraine, and more.

Now, with Good Intentions Gone Bad, Cain will find his largest audience yet, as his good musical intentions continue to pay off. According to Kid Andersen, there’s no better blues player working today. “Chris Cain is the rarity whose blues prowess is so undeniable that he has gained everyone’s approval. Ask any of your favorite guitar players who they think are the greatest living masters of the instrument, chances are they will all have Chris Cain at the very top of their list.”

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The YMCA's annual campaign plays a crucial role in supporting its mission to strengthen communities and improve the lives of individuals and families. Donations to this campaign directly fund a wide range of programs and services that the YMCA offers, such as youth development, healthy living initiatives, and social responsibility efforts. These contributions allow the YMCA to provide scholarships, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their financial situation, have access to vital resources like after-school programs, fitness classes, summer camps, and more. By supporting the YMCA's annual campaign, donors help foster a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and opportunity for everyone in the community, making a lasting impact on those who need it most

The YMCA of Hagerstown provides programs and services in the areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility to all members of our community. We are a cause-driven organization that believes in order to bring about meaningful change in individuals and in our community, we must be focused and accountable. That’s because a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health, and our neighbors. The goal of the Y is to be a premiere provider of community-based programs and services that meet the needs of people throughout their life span.

The Y does not to turn anyone away from our programs and services regardless of their inability to pay. In 2019 the Hagerstown awarded over $150,000 in financial aid right here in our own community. Our financial assistance program allows participants to pay fees based on a sliding scale.

We measure the success of our cause by how well we engage communities in the focus areas of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Our programs, services, and initiatives enable kids to learn and grow, prepare teens for college, offer ways for families to have fun together, and empower people to be healthier in spirit, mind, and body.

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