Michael Grimm ‘recovering well’; July 9 benefit set
The singer has not been able to sing. But Michael Grimm is showing improvement from his health scare about a month ago.
Grimm has been moved from a Las Vegas hospital to an out-of-state rehab center, his wife, Lucie, reports. The popular Vegas singer-songwriter and Season 5 “America’s Got Talent” champ fell seriously ill the day after Memorial Day, and last week he was moved to a private facility to treat his physical and mental health issues. The 44-year-old entertainer expected to be admitted for at least 30 days.
Lucie, Michael’s wife and manager, has shared no specific diagnosis of her husband’s health plight. She said in a post this past weekend, “Michael is recovering well … Medically, he’s looking pretty stable,” but the singer’s speech is “pretty weak.”
A friend brought a guitar to the hospital last week, but Grimm lacked the strength to play it. He is not yet walking on his own, using a cane for maneuverability.
In the face of what seems like a long rehabilitation effort, Grimm’s many friends in the entertainment community are galvanizing in support. Vegas showman Mark OToole’s “Michael Grimm: The Benefit of Love” show will be 4 to 8 p.m. July 9 at Veil at the Silverton.
Tickets are $50; go to silvertoncasino.com/entertainment for details. The event will be livestreamed for $25 at michaelgrimmmusic.com/livestreams. Details on who will perform during the four-hour event will be announced.
Grimm’s friend Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers is on board with a $5,000 donation to the campaign. South Point owner Michael Gaughan has matched that number — twice — with a $10,000 pledge. Medley and Bucky Heard are back at the South Point Showroom on Wednesday and Thursday night.
Lucie Grimm has established this will be a lengthy recovery period. She said, “He’s got a ways to go.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
