Elvis Costello Raising Funds to Help Artists Pay for Upper-Limb Medical Care

An Austin-based nonprofit aiming to help musicians pay for medical care needed on their shoulders, arms and hands has enlisted Elvis Costello for a solo benefit concert. The Musician Treatment Foundation announced on Tuesday that Costello will perform a two-hour concert, dubbed “Hits & Headlines / Waifs & Strays,” at the Paramount Theatre on Oct. 22, with proceeds going towards helping under/uninsured artists with upper limb problems related to their music careers.

The specific focus of the foundation is a first as it aims to fund orthopedic specialty care for musicians, while also educating them on how to prevent musician-specific injuries. The MTF also looks to conduct and publish research on the “unique diagnostic and treatment issues facing all musicians, and build a digital platform and surgeon network to care for musicians regardless of where they are touring in the world.”

Founded by surgeon Dr. O. Alton Barron MD, the foundation has a 14-member board that includes Costello and his wife, jazz singer Diana Krall, along with Artists Den creator Mark Lieberman and ABC News’ Robert Woodruff.

“It is a great honor to have Elvis playing such an integral part in this new effort to help musicians and keep the music playing,” said Dr. Barron. “His grace, humility, and strong belief in our mission is an inspiration to us all.”

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Costello added that the show — tickets go on sale Aug. 25 — will feature a collection of both hits and rarities.

“I never like to take my best known songs for granted and prefer to earn the right to sing them again in the company of songs that may be new to your ears but have become extremely vivid to me in my recent performances,” he said. “As the title of the show suggests, this is an evening of heart and humour. There will be something for everyone.”