Country rock group Copper Hollow, made up of mostly Queen Creek residents, is donating all of its profits to Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. So far, they have raised about $25,000 for the organization.
Their next performance is at Higley Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
Scott Schreiber, founder of Copper Hollow who has been a musician his entire life, was diagnosed with lupus and prostate cancer in 2019. The first cancer center he went to told him he had one year to live. He went to Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center for a second opinion and they told him they could do more to help him.
Schreiber wanted to give back to the organization, so he started recruiting musicians for a band to raise money for the cancer center.
“The whole idea of this project was 100 percent designed around supporting MD Anderson cancer research,” said band member Kerry Rose, lead guitarist for Copper Hollow. His wife, Diana Rose, is the lead vocalist. The couple are Schreiber's neighbors in Encanterra.
Both of them have been playing music for most of their lives, primarily in churches, and before Copper Hollow they saw Schreiber perform as part of a trio. The couple introduced themselves because they also love music and suggested getting together. Schreiber took them up on the offer and invited them over for an unofficial audition.
There are six members of the band and three additional team members. All of them except one live in the Encanterra community in Queen Creek, and the name Copper Hollow comes from a street in Encanterra.
“What we do is kind of a full band experience,” Kerry Rose said. “With the keyboards, bass and two guitars.”
Copper Hollow was ready to begin performing in 2020, but their concerts were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We just got together and rehearsed keeping chops going, waiting for the world to open back up,” Rose said.
Now the band has performed three shows so far, all during 2021. Their biggest was on Oct. 23 at the Encanterra Club. Over 400 people attended that performance and the band raised $18,500 for Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center.
"A lot of the people at Encanterra know us and they're very supportive," Rose said. "The people there are just so giving. If we wanted to do it again I'm sure they would support us again."
Their set is two hours and includes songs by Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, Dwight Yoakam, Gretchen Wilson, Lady A, Sugarland, Big & Rich, Trisha Yearwood, Gary Allan, Martina McBride, Blake Shelton, John Michael Montgomery, Alannah Myles, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Brooks & Dunn and Queen.
They have five shows scheduled through 2022.
Their primary sponsor for the show at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts, Michael Jangula of Emphasis Advisors, ensures they can donate all proceeds to Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center. Jangula has worked with Schreiber and his wife for a long time.
“Scott and his crew are good people,” Jangula said. “They’re great musicians, but better people.”
Copper Hollow is hoping to earn at least $70,000 for MD Anderson Cancer Center after all of their planned concerts.
Rose said during the band’s performance of “Stand By Me” Schreiber asks audience members who have had cancer to stand up. Then he asks anyone who has been a caregiver for a cancer patient to stand up. Almost everyone is standing by the end.
“Almost everyone’s lives are touched by cancer,” said Diana Rose. “That’s why supporting an organization like MD Anderson is a great endeavor for us to be a part of.”
Kerry Rose said that after the performances the band will have a discussion and decide if they want to create a new set list and continue performing or if they will be finished.
Tickets for the Copper Hollow show in February are available here.
Higley Center for the Performing Arts is located at 4132 E. Pecos Road in Gilbert.
