HARLINGEN — Andy Chapa had a promising career in local music circles. He sang and played guitar, bass and drums.
All of that changed three months ago in a matter of moments.
On Feb. 17, the musician was driving back from Arroyo City with his left arm on the window sill of his car. Also in the car were two friends, Deborah Cortez and Scotty Davidson. Chapa lost control of the vehicle and it began rolling over.
When it came to a rest, Chapa was missing most of his left arm.
“I woke up and there was blood all over the place,” Chapa recalled. “Deborah told me to calm down or I would bleed to death. Then she got a jacket and used it as a tourniquet.”
Davidson was unconscious in the back seat with internal injuries, Chapa said.
“Deborah’s knee was torn open and I could see the bone,” Chapa said.
She managed to get to the nearest farmhouse and get help.
“If she hadn’t been there I’d have bled to death,” Chapa said. “She saved my life.”
Blood tests confirmed that Chapa was sober at the time of the accident.
Local musicians are banding together Saturday at Boog-A-Dee Boo’s Burgers & Brew, 1302 Morgan Blvd. for a benefit to help Chapa with his medical expenses.
With tongue firmly in cheek, the benefit is known as “Lend a Hand.”
“We’re his friends and we love him,” said Jake Snyder one of the organizers of the event. “We’re not about to cut him any slack. Andy’s being a real good sport about this.”
The funds will primarily go toward a prosthetic arm for Chapa.
“That’s our main focus,” Snyder said.
Any money left over will go to a special drum kit on the order of Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen. Allen also lost his left arm in a car accident.
Allan’s drum kit is synthesized with regular drum pads on the right and pads operated by foot pedals on the left.
Without such a kit, Chapa doubts he could find work with any other group.
“Most bands already have their singers,” he said. “I need to have an instrument to bring to the project.”
Chapa and Snyder played together for several years in the Philosopher Dave band, which will stage a reunion for Saturday’s concert.
Even though he is still healing and in a great deal of pain, Chapa said he works part time as a janitor at a veteran's clinic.
“It pays me less than $500 per month,” he said.
So far, both Social Security and Medicaid have refused to help him, Chapa said.
“They say I’m not disabled,” Chapa said.
Barbecue plates will be sold at the venue from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and are available in advance at Boog-A-Dee Boo’s or during the event.
Other activities include an auction and a raffle. Snyder said donated items may be dropped off this afternoon at Boog-A-Dee Boo’s.
Snyder said volunteers are needed in the following areas during the event: selling barbecue tickets, TABC certified alcohol servers, and stage crew.
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LEND A HAND, the Andy Chapa Benefit will be held Saturday at Boog-A-Dee Boo’s Burgers & Brew, 1302 Morgan Blvd, Harlingen. Admission is free. Barbecue plates will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $5. An auction and raffle will be held during the event. Proceeds will go to pay for a prosthetic for Chapa who lost his left arm in a February car accident. The music starts about 2 p.m. Bands scheduled to play include Philosopher Dave, John Harley and the Bayview Bushriders, Emilio Crixell, Gov’ment Warning, Frogs Ribbit, the Earthtone Players and the Ram Deneese Trio. Free. 956-412-8868
