The Musician Treatment Foundation (MTF) assists in providing surgical and nonsurgical care for the shoulder, elbow, and hand injuries of uninsured and underinsured professional musicians so they can maintain their livelihoods and keep the music playing for us all. MTF is dedicated to fostering a world that cares for its injured musicians regardless of their ability to pay.
On average, professional musicians spend over 90% of their time performing live on the road, away from personal and medical support systems. Injuries can arise at any moment from the repetitive intensity of playing instruments and from unexpected accidents. With this in mind, we are a unique nonprofit – in design, scope, and breadth – that facilitates and funds upper limb treatment and continuity of care for needful musicians at home and on tour.
We couldn’t provide this necessary care without the support and talent of musicians such as the ones in today’s live stream recap, Elvis Costello and Allan Mayes. Elvis Costello is a founding board member of the Musician Treatment Foundation (MTF), and long-time English singer-songwriter who has won multiple awards in his career, including two Grammy Awards. Allan Mayes is an avid supporter of MTF and a veteran musician from Liverpool, England with over 40-years’ experience in the industry.
Allan Mayes and Elvis Costello
In 1971, Allan Mayes formed the band Rusty, which was initially a three-person group that featured Allan Mayes on guitar and vocals, Alan Brown on bass and vocals, and a singer named Dave Jago. Later that year, Allan met 17-year-old Declan MacManus, presently known as Elvis Costello, at a party on New Year’s Eve where they quickly hit it off and played music together. The next day, Elvis had joined the band.
Mayes and Costello are longtime friends since the ripe age of 17 & 18 and have many stories over the years that cemented their friendship. Learn more about these brilliant musicians and their love for music and the lifetime friendship they gained along the way! Watch their Happier Musical Hour stream here.