West Hartford resident Alan Friedman will be bringing the iconic band ‘The Immediate Family’ to a fundraiser for the Asperger/Autism Network.

Submitted

People don’t always say “CPA” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll” in the same sentence, unless they’re talking about Alan Friedman, CPA, Connecticut’s bona fide “CPA to the Stars.”

And on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13 and 14, Friedman, a West Hartford resident, is bringing some of those stars to the TELEFUNKEN Soundstage in South Windsor, CT in the form of “The Immediate Family,” a rock ‘n’ roll supergroup currently on tour.

The event is a combination of a CD Release Party of Friedman’s five solo albums and a benefit for AANE, the Asperger/AUTISM Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

“I wanted to celebrate the release of my albums, because many local musician friends participated on them, but I didn’t want it to be all about me, I wanted to devote the weekend to a greater cause, to helping an organization that truly deserves our support,” Friedman explained. “In full disclosure, we have family affected by autism, and my daughter Erica Remi is employed as the Director of Development by AANE, so it was an easy decision to dedicate the weekend to support their research and programs,” he said.

Friedman and his wife, Beth, have been residents of West Hartford since 1979. He is also the guitarist in the all-CPA rock band “The Accounting Crows,” which has performed in Blue Back Square as well as many other West Hartford locations and for events.

Friedman is the managing partner of Friedman Kannenberg, CPAs, which was located in West Hartford from its inception in 1985 through 2008, and now has its office in of Farmington, CT, and a life-long guitarist and songwriter. The practice is nationally renowned in the music industry, serving artists, venues, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, publishers, and recording studios. Although Farmington is a quiet town tucked away in a river valley, Friedman’s client list reads like the proverbial “Who’s Who” in rock and roll, with modern-day pop stars such as Andy Grammar, Julien Baker, Kevin Devine, Frank Turner and Johnny A to name but a few, as well as venerable classic rock acts such as the band Living Colour, King Crimson, singer Bobby Kimball (Toto), guitarist Steve Hackett (Genesis), Greg Phillinganes (keyboardist and musical director for Michael Jackson/Stevie Wonder/Eric Clapton/David Gilmour and The GRAMMYS), drummer Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Chicago), bassist Doug Wimbish (Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Seal, Carly Simon), vocalist Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones), drummer Chuck Burgi (Billy Joel, Hall & Oates, Meatloaf, Rainbow), guitarist Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree), drummer Jonathan Mover (Alice Cooper, Joe Satriani, Aretha Franklin, The Tubes), guitarist Tommy Byrnes (Billy Joel), drummer Johnny Rabb (Collective Soul), and guitarist Earl Slick (David Bowie) among many others.

The Immediate Family are among Friedman’s newest friends and clients. They are a unique group of iconic musicians who have played together for decades but never as their own band. Known for their long, illustrious careers backing up such Hall-of-Fame artists such as James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Stevie Nicks and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel, drummer Russ Kunkel, and bassist Leland Sklar have come together, along with guitarist Steve Postell, to perform their own songs as The Immediate Family, a band that can legitimately be called a supergroup. The powerhouse rockers have toured nationally and in Japan. The band has just released their latest album, The Immediate Family, which debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Blues Chart and features the singles “Fair Warning” and “Divorced.”

The Saturday, Nov. 13 program features a live performance of highlights from Friedman’s five solo albums, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., Set One performed at 7 p.m., a dinner and silent auction at 8:15 p.m., and Set Two at 9:15 p.m.

The band, “Alan Friedman and Friends,” will feature a rotation of the various local and national musicians who performed on the recordings, with The Immediate Family in the audience and at dinner.

Sunday is a clinic and concert featuring The Immediate Family, with doors opening at 1:30 p.m., and a 2 p.m. fireside chat and interview of The Immediate Family members conducted by Alan and his son Todd Friedman, followed by a short refreshment break at 3:30 p.m., and a musical performance of The Immediate Family at 3:45 p.m.

“Tickets have sold briskly but there are still some seats remaining for both dates,” Friedman reported, “so for those who want to enjoy a pair of private concerts featuring some of the best local and national talent in rock ‘n’ roll while helping a very deserving cause, this is your chance!” Tickets are available at: https://telefunken.ticketspice.com/alan-friedman–friends.

AANE (Asperger/Autism Network) is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which helps people with Asperger’s or similar autism spectrum and neurodiverse profiles build meaningful, connected lives. All of the net proceeds from the weekend’s events will be donated to AANE. Learn more at aane.org

TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik is located at 300 Pleasant Valley Road in South Windsor, CT.

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