Singer/songwriter Danny White hopes to invoke some Christmas spirit in his end of the year shows. His long list of benefits since the beginning of 2001 includes a special Christmas show on Friday, December 21, at the Bulkhead. White and the Keyport club brought the "Toys for Tots" group, run by the United States Marines, to collect gifts for disadvantaged children.

White shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen, and many other local artists, at the Tradewinds Second Annual Light of Day concert last month. The event was a benefit for the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation (www.pdf.org) and a celebration of local booking agent Bob Benjamin’s birthday.

Benjamin was diagnosed with the disease four years ago.

According to White, benefits have more meaning since the occurrences of September 11. "I think everybody wants to support their fellow Americans," he said.

White recently re-recorded his original "Freedom, Come to All (Right Now)" with a full band. The track is available through his website (www.jinee.com/dannywhite) or at Jack’s Music in Red Bank. The song, whose full proceeds go to September 11 funds, can also be heard on G106.3 FM.  White said this song flowed out of him quickly. "It was real fast, everything about it," he said, "The chord changes, the melody." Most lines were written on a spur of the moment as his pen hit the paper, except for the line in the song saying "freedom is our right." White put some extra effort into wording that correctly. "Freedom is something we have to fight for," he said. "I decided on using ‘freedom is our right’ because we are the beacon of freedom.’"

White approached the second Light of Day concert with sensitivity, but wanted to help divert people’s minds from what our country now faces. The mission was accomplished with straight-out rockers and mellow mind movers. White purposely added "Find What You Need" to his set to help revive spirits. "That’s what we’re doing right now," he said. "We need to find a solution for everything that happened on September 11. I think everybody felt the same way when they sang it back to me. I think we’re always looking, but now after September 11 especially."

White has built a solid following from touring the east coast. His last tour went from Charleston to Boston. He is working with his band on a five-song EP to be recorded in different stages, instead of all at once. He plans on going in some different musical directions on this release and wants to get the band more involved with the material. "This time, I purposely didn’t finish them (the songs) off, to see what they can bring," said White.

In a year that tested the country's spirit, White has asked his fans to show their support. Anyone attending the Bulkhead’s (59 A, West Front Street in Keyport) Christmas show was asked to bring a gift to drop in the Toys for Tots barrel. With the help of White, and the many other local bands who rush to help local causes, our community can look forward to a prosperous 2002.