RAPID CITY - Area musicians will gather together to help one of their own this Sunday, Oct. 21, with a benefit from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Viking Hall in Canyon Lake Senior Center, 2900 Canyon Lake Drive.

Music for dancing and listening will be performed by New Horizons Jazz Band, Easy Sounds, Black Hills Jazz Band and Stringbean Family Band and Friends. Verne Sheppard will serve as emcee.

There is no admission charge, but donations will be accepted.

The event is a fundraiser for local musician Stringbean Svenson and his family, who lost their Hermosa home in the flash flood Aug. 17.

Svenson was performing the night of the flood. His wife and children were gone as well, and they arrived home to find their home damaged beyond repair.

A longtime presence in the South Dakota music scene, Stringbean Svenson learned to play music from his father, Jack, who played fiddle and banjo. As a high school student in 4-H, Svenson won honors with his music, playing at the 4-H Club Congress in Chicago.

When KOTA TV began the Hoedown Jamboree in the mid '50s, the Custer County agent called Gene Taylor, hoedown host, to let him know about Svenson's exceptional talent. After an audition, Svenson was invited to play the hoedown and radio programs.

Svenson became a regular on TV and radio, and South Dakota old-timers may remember his many personal appearances with the KOTA Cowboys, headed up by Buddy Meredith, Bob Haley and Lowell Sterling.

Svenson performed with the popular Whiskey River Band for years, as well as at the Custer County Fair Sunday morning church service in front of the grandstand.

He recorded many CDs in his studio, which also was destroyed by the flood.

To help them rebuild their lives and property, all proceeds from Sunday's benefit event will go to the Svenson family.