Huckleberries: Music plays on in CdA

Chris Guggemos of Handshake Productions enjoys the atmosphere as The Bobby Patterson Band performs “rockin’ blues” in the background in downtown Coeur d’Alene Tuesday evening. (D.F. Oliveria/SR photo)

Huckleberries Thursday:

You wouldn’t know that Chris Guggemos of Handshake Productions had survived deep waters, as he worked the crowd at his downtown Coeur d’Alene concert Tuesday.

For 26 years, the Coeur d’Alene man has provided free summer concerts at three Kootenai County locations or more. The 26th year was in doubt when cancer, surgery and treatment caused Chris to lay low last year.

Chris has made no secret of his courageous battle with cancer, during the 2016 concerts and on his Facebook page. Many concert-goers knew of his struggle, including the six or so that called Handshake Productions this spring when Chris failed to publish the 2017 schedule.

Chris tells Huckleberries that the callers were tentative. They said something like: “Hello. I see that the website still has last year’s concert info. I know that the guy running the shows had cancer, and I’m wondering if he’s OK. And will there be concerts this year?” Chris would respond, “I am the cancer guy, and I am recovering nicely.” Relieved, they would tell Chris that he had been in their thoughts and prayers.

Chris was unable to provide the concert update as usual due to technical difficulties with the local website host. Finally, he got things ironed out, posted the new schedule – and the shows have gone on. Full column here.