Coldplay’s Chris Martin Among the Musicians Participating in Virtual Benefit Concert for Local Singer-Songwriter Hal Walker

Local singer-songwriter Hal Walker has been mostly bed-bound and unable to make music due to a severe case of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

To help raise money for his medical bills, some 25 musicians, including Coldplay’s Chris Martin of Coldplay, will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, as part of a virtual benefit concert dubbed A Love Song for Hal. Other notable acts include multi-instrumentalist Eric Noden and singer-guitarist Tracy Grammer. 

Walker also has a GoFundMe page.

A portion of the funds raised will also go to support the Open Medicine Foundation in its desperately needed ME/CFS research. 

Before this illness rendered him almost entirely bed-bound and in need of full-time care, Walker wore many musical hats. He taught Ohio children to play the harmonica, directed the Summit Children’s choir and curated the Cuyahoga Valley Concert Series.

“It’s been devastating to watch Hal’s health decline so rapidly, and to watch the huge loss he’s facing as he doesn’t have the strength to make music,” says long-time friend and concert organizer David Ford. “We certainly want to raise money for Hal’s care, but it’s also so important to raise awareness about this brutal illness. It has wreaked havoc on Hal’s life, and we want to support more research and understanding.”