Long about 1970 there was an arrival at St. Mary’s Hospital. A young couple that lived just off Leonard on Houseman Street across from his parents house brought this kid in to the world who would one day return….after having a thing or two to do with “vinyl records” over the course of his life. Vinyl, became cassettes, then cd’s, then MP3’s, then it all went back to vinyl. Where did that kid fit in the middle of it? Well, he played them, helped tens of thousands get sold for artists and through that…he lived out all of his dreams. Music has that effect. There are other too who can tell a story about it…they come together annually to share theirs to benefit that very hospital foundation. Michelle Rabideau is the President of the Saint Mary’s Foundation and she’s here to tell us all about it.
Vine and Vinyl was originally the idea of another guy who had a thing or two to do with vinyl at one point. Kevin Matthews proposed the idea of story tellers, telling their stories and how Trinity Health played a role in their journey. Kevin has been very open about his struggles with MS. People seemed to dig it…a lot, so Ralston Bowles gave it a shot. Ralston might not have the name recognition as wide as Kev, but..he’s a remarkably incredible musician and HIGHLY respected in his circles. He fought cancer and won with Trinity Health. Let’s add in hip music being spun….on vinyl of course and even some incredible comfort food to accompany the evening….along with multiple story tellers from the past, and you’ve got this years Vine and Vinyl happening at The Big Room at Silva Grand Rapids September 10th.
From the press release – “Vine & Vinyl returns in 2026 – reimagined to spotlight the powerful stories of healing, hope, and human connection at Trinity Health. Guests will enjoy handpicked vinyl sets from a local DJ, curated wines and craft beverages, and elevated bites, all woven together with meaningful storytelling from patients and caregivers. It’s an evening designed to spark conversation, celebrate resilience, and connect our community around the mission of compassionate care.” The idea is that you walk out of the place filled with inspiration, belief in human accomplishment over some of the largest hurdles anyone could face, and maybe pretty well stuffed too with the meal. Sounds like a perfect evening to me.
Tickets! The must have item for any event. Tickets benefit the programs and community outreach Trinity Health does in Grand Rapids. While this is our first feature with Trinity in Grand Rapids, our partnership goes way back….and I promise you this…like any truly humble organization, Trinity Health just does the work and doesn’t spend all day bragging about it or patting themselves on the back for it. Core values are investing in the communities and people they serve. It’s a fact.
Get those tickets! CLICK HERE. Get some friends in on it. Go listen this year. Has Trinity Health helped you though some tough times? Could it be you up there telling the story? Hey, look not all hero’s wear capes you know. Our sincere thanks to Michelle for taking a short bit of time today to come on and say hi and get us in on the scoop!
We are proud to partner with Trinity Health Michigan as a sponsor.
on August 4, 2026
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