Local band, Midwest charity bring music to troops overseas

A local band will rock this weekend to raise money to send musical instruments to troops serving overseas.

The 208's will play Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208 at 121 N. Douglas Ave. The $10 donation at the door will help send instruments to troops deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

The money raised will go toward Operation Happy Note, a Minnesota-based organization that has shipped more than 2,800 instruments - from guitars to violins to kazoos - to servicemen and women around the world.

Steve Baker and his wife Barb founded Operation Happy Note, though it wasn't something they set out to do. Rather, it all started in 2005 when they sent Barb's son, who was serving in Iraq, a guitar for his birthday. One of his friends wanted one, too, so they sent another.

Word spread quickly from there, and servicemen and women now are able to submit their requests for instruments directly through operationhappynote.com. Many of the instruments themselves are donated for the cause.

Steve Baker said the only limitation is size. He was just talking to someone who wanted a cello, but they compromised and sent her a violin instead.

"The only thing I haven't sent is a full-size bass, a piano, or a full set of drums," he said.

But Baker did say shipping costs have risen considerably since the charity started. The average cost to ship a guitar in 2005 was about $27.50; it's now up to $42. In 2008, the group spent $21,000 on shipping.

Mike Conover, of The 208's, said the band had a similar event last year and raised about $1,100 for the cause.

The group, named after the local American Legion post, consist of friends Conover, Mike Diesing and Ray Herr. Herr was the former guitarist of band Ides of March. They play mainly 60s covers from the likes of Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones.

Other musicians will also be featured at the event, which runs 6 p.m. to midnight.