Joe Chithalen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Francis Joseph (Joe) Chithalen (November 17, 1967-May 1, 1999) was a Canadian musician. He was a bassist for a number of bands in the Kingston music scene of the 1990s, most notably Weeping Tile and The Mahones.

On May 1, 1999, Chithalen died in Amsterdam shortly after a Mahones concert, from ingesting food containing peanuts. His former Weeping Tile bandmate Sarah Harmer wrote "You Were Here", the title track from her 2000 solo album, in memory of Chithalen.

After his death, the Joe Chithalen Memorial Music Lending Library was established in Kingston, Ontario by some of his friends, and past bandmates. The Library provides instruments and lessons to young musicians who can't afford them. Some of Chithalen's own bass guitars sit in the lending Library, and are frequently loaned out for performances.

Each year, a fundraising concert is held called 'A Joe Show' to raise money to expand the Library.