Chicago Sun-Times
mobile | email edition | printer friendly | email article

Autos
Reviews & more
Homes
Homelife news
Careers
News & advice
Subscribe
Customer service
Yellow Pages
Local search

News
Columnists
News Archive

Musician giving shout out to Ted Nugent's 'Ma'

June 7, 2006

BY KENDRICK MARSHALL Staff Reporter

While rocker Ted Nugent is out of the county performing in Finland, his late mother may have a benefit concert of her own.

Palatine musician Eric Kinkel is spearheading a campaign to honor Marion Nugent with a tribute and fund-raiser. "Ma" Nugent, as her friends and family members called her, was a prominent local music writer in the 1980s. She was 61 when she died in 1989.

She "may have passed away 17 years ago, but her impact on the people she touched continues to have a life of its own," said Kinkel, who is promoting a tribute concert at Durty Nellies Pub in Palatine on Sunday.

Kinkel, who has known the Nugent family for 20 years, also wants the city to name a street for Mrs. Nugent and place a monument and plaque in her name at a park down the street from Durty Nellies.

Kinkel envisions a 1,200-pound stone mounting that would cost up to $2,000.

He said he talked to Palatine Mayor Rita L. Mullins about the project, but Mullins said that although she had discussed the issue with city officials, there is no timetable for voting on the project.

"I want to get this done, no matter what," Kinkel said.

Even though Marion Nugent was not a musician, she loved to listen to her son's music and the music of other bands and she befriended musicians and fans alike, Kinkel said.

Ted Nugent, who is still a popular hard-rock performer, had No. 1 hits including "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Give Me Just a Little" in the '60s and '70s.

Kinkel said some fans will never forget his mother's impact on their lives since the Nugent family moved to Palatine in 1965. "She visited local clubs and concert halls in both the U.S. and worldwide, impacting those she came in contact with,'' Kinkel said.

Wrote for local music publication

For his part, Ted Nugent offered a statement through his Web site, tednugent.com, about how much his mother meant to him during his career: "My beloved mother, Marion Dorothy Nugent, provided immeasurable positive support, a glowing sense of humor and was my role model for being happy and buoyant."

Marion Nugent gained local fame in the '80s by writing for the Illinois Entertainer, a Chicago-based music publication that lists band performances and provides its readers with the latest music news.

Her column was the brainchild of editors Guy Arnston and Ron Ramelli, who wanted her to respond to readers' questions about the music industry and social issues.

"Dirty" Dan Buck, who is slated to perform at Sunday's 8 p.m. fund-raising event with rock band Deluxury, said his relationship with Marion Nugent is one reason the band decided to join the cause.

"We were one of her favorite bands,'' Buck said. "We used to hang out together after shows and just have a good time."

Buck said she was always around to give advice to musicians and make sure they gave their best efforts during their performances.

"She would always tell us to give it our all and make her proud," he said.

"Ma Nugent Remembered" tribute concert will take place at Durty Nellies, 180 N. Smith St. Tickets are $15 at the door.

kmarshall@suntimes.com


 
 













News | Sports | Business | Entertainment | Lifestyles | Classifieds

Visit our online partners:
Daily Southtown      Suburban Chicago Newspapers      Post-Tribune
Pioneer Press      Star Newspapers


Copyright 2006, Digital Chicago Inc.