By the time Plant City musician Andy Snow realized his house was on fire July 20, all he could do was watch. After five hours of fighting the flames, Snow had lost everything and suffered a heart attack in the process.
It was one of the darkest days of his life, but the proverbial silver lining will come this weekend. Keel and Curley Winery and Andy’s friends Jimmy and Etta Lindsey have partnered to create the Band Together Benefit for Andy Snow fundraiser, which will take place from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 18, at the Plant City winery.
For $10, supporters can enjoy a Southern meal of chicken, cole slaw, salad, baked beans and sweet tea. Patrons also will enjoy live entertainment by DC Country and the Music Ranch Band. Raffle tickets also will be available for 25 items. Among these items is a $400 guitar, donated by Guitar Center, in Lakeland.
“We were heart-broken when we heard,” Keel and Curley Winery Assistant Manager Megan Maguire said. “He lost everything. He’s lived there 34 years.”
“He’s such an outgoing, good-hearted person, who has helped a lot of people,” Etta Lindsey said. “Now, it’s time to give back to him.”
The Lindseys have known Snow for 43 years. Jimmy and Snow were in a band together in the 1970s. After Snow took a 30-year break from music, it was Jimmy Lindsey who eventually enticed him to take the stage once again.
“They told me what was going on with the benefit, and it just kept growing and growing,” Snow said. “It amazed me how many people are supporting it. Plant City is just a great town with great people.”
THE FIRE
Snow never will forget July 20 — the day a TECO power pole fell and blew a transformer. Three trucks responded to fix the problem. Snow’s home on Wilder Road was one of the homes affected by the outage.
When Snow got the OK to turn the electronics on inside, he turned on a couple of lamps. But, the lamps didn’t light up. Back outside, Snow flagged down the only truck that hadn’t left yet. They told him to check his breakers and take note of any damage done to any electronics, so he could file a claim with TECO.
When Snow went back inside, his lights were on.
Snow was standing outside, when he heard the loud pop of 17,000 volts coursing through his 2,600-square-foot home. Within seconds, a dark cloud of billowing smoke was rising from the south end. Snow ran inside to save his Shih Tzu and grab his keys and cell phone. When he realized his car was still in the carport, he ran to remove it; his little dog trailed behind.
Once the truck was a safe distance away with his dog tucked inside, Snow tried to go back in the house to save three vintage guitars and some of his other music equipment. But, the flames were moving too fast, and the smoke was too thick.
Forced to stand outside and watch his home burn, Snow suffered a heart attack. Snow was taken to South Florida Baptist Hospital and then flown to St. Joseph’s Hospital.
It took five hours for the fire department to extinguish the flames.
Snow returned to half of a home, with severe smoke and water damage. He lived at his daughter’s home before setting up an RV on his property. He still doesn’t have electricity.
Snow’s ballpark estimate of the lost inventory inside the house totals $50,000, including $14,000 worth of musical equipment.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
Band Together Benefit for Andy Snow
WHEN: Noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 18
WHERE: Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 W. Thonotosassa Road, Plant City
COST: $10
DETAILS: Enjoy a chicken dinner and live entertainment by DC Country and the Music Ranch Band. Items will be raffled off, and proceeds will benefit Andy Snow.
INFORMATION: (813) 752-9100