After this London musician's gear was stolen, his community rallied to replace it

Longtime musician Jim Chapman spends his days bringing songs to crowds of Londoners at events, long-term care homes and the weekly concert series he hosts at the Unity Centre.

But when about $2,200 worth of music gear was stolen from his truck after a gig earlier this month, it put a wrench in his plans.

"It was upsetting to say the least. I can't work without that gear," he said. "It was very disappointing."

The biggest problem wasn't the cost, he said. It was replacing all his gear in a hurry, from microphones to pedals and a channel mixer, so he wouldn't have to cancel any gigs. But buying brand new equipment fast would cost thousands of dollars, and finding it used would take even more time, if he could find the items at all.

"I was really worried I wouldn't be able to find it," he said. He put a call out on social media with the list of missing equipment, asking if he could buy second-hand gear from anyone. That's when the surprises began rolling in.

"I was absolutely shocked," said Chapman, who's been inducted into the London Hall of Fame with his former band, The Bluesmen Revue.

One by one, people he knew from the music community stepped up to help. Some bought brand-new equipment, others tracked down the same specific gear and effects pedals he used, and others gave him money so he could pick up what he needed.

"It was just amazing ... I didn't expect that," Chapman said. "It kind of was like boom, boom, boom, boom... I was dumbfounded."

A lot of the generosity was passed on from people who attend the weekly Wednesday night concert series he launched at the Unity Centre about 18 months ago, highlighting local music acts that range from country to jazz to old rock 'n' roll.

Fellow musician Chet Risser is one of them who stepped up to help. He performs at the concert series from time to time, and was both saddened and angered after he heard Chapman's gear was stolen.

"People don't realize what that means to a person. That's essentially his tools of his trade, and he needs them. It's very expensive. And I was heartbroken to hear that that had happened," said Risser.

Risser sees the work Chapman does playing at seniors' homes and organizing the concert series.

"It wouldn't happen if it wasn't for him," said Risser. "It just goes to show how much people appreciate Jim and love him and would help him out in a situation, cause he'd do it for us."  

He said at the Wednesday concerts he gets to meet lots of people, and play music with his friends, whom he loves very much. "It's inspiring and it's good for me."