Dr. Thom McGorey, a 1981 graduate of Immaculate Conception High School and currently a physician/musician from Watertown, WI will be performing a very special Christmas music show at two Elmhurst locations on Sunday, December 15th. He will be at Nu Crepes, located at 115 W. Schiller Court, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and then at Fitz’s Spare Keys, located at 119 N. York Road, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
His show, entitled, “A Classic Rock Christmas” features McGorey performing on acoustic guitar and singing a wide variety of popular holiday tunes in the style of famous classic rock artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, Bon Jovi, Roy Orbison, the Beach Boys, Eagles, Elvis Presley and many others. He also includes some songs with more of a country feel from artists like John Denver, Alabama and Amy Grant, along with some more “traditional” Christmas tunes. McGorey even sports a full white beard and Santa costume to add to the festive spirit of his show.
Dr. McGorey (a.k.a. the “Rock ‘n Roll Santa”), has embarked on an ambitious project of performing 25 shows in 25 days in an effort to raise money for the victims of the tornado that destroyed many homes in the small Central Illinois town of Washington, IL on November 17th. The Elmhurst shows will be stops #16 and #17 on his tour, which will take him to towns throughout Wisconsin and Illinois, as far north as De Pere, Wisconsin and as far south as Normal, Illinois. Money will be raised primarily through a free-will offering collected from patrons attending the shows, but there will also be raffles and/or silent auctions conducted at each show to help raise additional funds. Many of the venue owners are also contributing generously to the fund.
Dr. McGorey’s passion for this project stems from his having spent four years as a Chemistry teacher and Coach at Washington Community High School from 1986-90, before leaving to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. He took the news of the tornado and images of the destruction quite hard and felt compelled to do something special to help the people of Washington begin to heal and recover from the terrible damage to their homes and town. Since June, Dr. McGorey, has been performing a monthly music show in Watertown to raise money and support a different local charity each month and decided to use his musical talents to do the same thing for the people of Washington, IL – only on a much larger scale. While he knows that the money he raises through his tour will only be a drop in the bucket of what will ultimately be needed, he hopes to also deliver a message of love, hope and support during this season of giving to the people of Washington – many of whom have no home in which to celebrate Christmas this year.
Dr. McGorey is currently employed as a hospitalist physician with the UW Department of Medicine and is the Director of Hospital Medicine at UW Health Partners Watertown Regional Medical Center in Watertown, WI. He has also been an Associate Medical Director for Rainbow Hospice Care, Inc. since 2003.
Dr. McGorey hopes to see many ICHS alums at one of his performances to show support and contribute to his fundraising efforts. He invites you to “Come on out for some good music, good food, good friends and to help support a great cause!” and asks you to please be generous and remember the people of Washington, IL as you plan your holiday spending – for it is only through giving that we truly receive. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!