Pat “Lamont” Hayes, the co-founder and lead singer of the Lamont Cranston Band, is recovering after suffering his second stroke in as many years.
A GoFundMe created for Hayes , who launched band with his brother Larry and manager Rico Anderson in 1969, says he suffered a stroke on Dec. 9, and it has left him “severely incapacitated.”
A beloved staple in the Twin Cities blues scene, the Lamont Cranston Band has built a devoted fan base, traveling nationwide to perform with artists such as Jimmy Rogers and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
The fundraiser for Hayes says he had a mild stroke in 2023 before his latest, more serious stroke, since which has has struggled to walk or stand without help.
He is currently rehabbing in Excelsior, and. the band is coming together to raise money for his medical bills while he is on the road to recovery.
“The band is his only source of income, so with all of the medical bills and other expenses he’s facing, we thought it was time to reach out to all of our friends and fans,” Rico Anderson wrote in a GoFundMe organized for the bandmate. “For most, it’s embarrassing, but reality has had to set in for now. A lot of people have already jumped on board and have asked what they can do.”