We’re all going to die at some point, and the sooner that realization really hits home, the sooner we can live our precious lives to the fullest. With that in mind, please join me as I sing a wide variety of songs about many different aspects of death.

Don’t worry. This won’t be a depressing morbid look at death. In fact, I’ll be including several songs about the liberation we can feel when we realize our inevitable deaths give our lives meaning and open the door for us to be the best we can be.

Folk songs will be a big part of this program. But there will also be some 1950’s-style oldies but goodies, a children’s tune, a dramatic Irish song, and even some country touches. Plus a surprise or two. All with a link to death. Here are some clues: Danny Boy, Pete Seeger, John Prine, Sarah McLachlan, Tell Laura I Love Her, Eddie Fisher, Louis Armstrong, and Phil Ochs.

Our fast-paced lives and electronic gadgets often help us avoid even thinking about death. But at this concert, we’ll try to slow down and do something different. With a smile, a laugh, a story, and a tear or two, we’ll acknowledge death.

Admission is free. We’ll simply “pass the hat” for donations. I’ll be splitting the proceeds with the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Central Ohio, the sponsor of the concert, which encourages people to plan their funerals in advance, so they can be exactly what they want, more affordable, and not subject to financial manipulation in a time of sorrow and loss. More than 1,300 Central Ohioans are members of this non-profit group.

Contact: Bill Cohen, 614-263-3851 or billcohen@columbus.rr.com