Chris Dellinger is a Denver music hero. The guitarist has played in Colorado bands for more than thirty years — his current combo is Lola Black, named for his partner in love and rock — and remains a much-respected booster of the local scene. As a co-owner (alongside Black) of Parker’s Wild Goose Saloon, he made sure that area acts of every description got a chance to shine alongside touring performers from around the country.
But now Dellinger is fighting for his life, personally and professionally. In late 2025, he learned he had prostate cancer, and on February 22, shortly after publicly announcing his diagnosis, he and Black were blindsided when their business partner suddenly shut down the Wild Goose. The venue, located at 11160 South Pikes Peak Drive, remains closed and there are no current plans to reopen it.
This double blow would have floored a lesser couple. But Dellinger and Black aren’t ready to surrender — and neither are the many friends and colleagues they’ve collected over the years. Dellinger is attacking his healthcare challenges with every ounce of his energy, even as a two-day fundraiser dubbed Chris Fest is being assembled for later this spring with the goal of helping defray medical costs that are growing by the day…