Originally published in the Pottsville Republican-Herald on May 28, 2022.
DREHERSVILLE — When Dave Kline’s Sinking Spring home was severely damaged in a 2019 fire, his community rallied to support him.
When Todd Gladfelter, a New Ringgold chain saw carving artist and Kline’s friend for 25 years, was paralyzed on his right side in an accident last November, it was time for the Berks County music legend to return the favor.
Kline organized Saturday’s Road to Recovery benefit concert for Gladfelter, and headlined it with his Mountain Folk Band. The concert of country, folk and bluegrass music was held in the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary amphitheater, which is decorated with tree trunk-sized pillars carved with forest animals by Gladfelter and his chain saw.
“It’s pretty special, you know,” Gladfelter said, “to have all these people here. It’s nice to see old friends come out.”
He said that his recovery has been slow, but he is moving forward.
“I’m doing a lot more standing now,” he said.
Gladfelter’s son Bryce wrote and performed a rap song, “Dad’s Song,” set to clips of his recovery.
“Six months ago, when I got the call about the accident, it was hard to believe that feeling would ever change,” Bryce said. “It was so intense. But because of you, it did, and now we’re here, and we made so much progress.”
The concert also starred Hawk Mountain Sanctuary trainees, including international students from Spain, Argentina and Italy. They wrote a song with lyrics about bird migration set to the tune of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler.”
Owen Kutz, 8, of Kempton, sang a song about being “a PA Dutch boy” and played guitar with Kline. One verse advertised Dietrich’s Meats and Country Store, Lenhartsville, where Kutz butchers meat on Tuesday with his dad and “pappy.” Kline introduced him to Todd.
“(He is) hardworking,” Kutz said. “He is a good guy. He jumped up there to carve all that stuff.”
Kline said that he and his fellow bands have been “called to serve in our time of need,” and were happy to perform for free. When he put out a call for bands to perform at the benefit, the setlist was filled in no time.
“I’m blessed with having a wonderful family of musician friends who I reach out to,” Kline said. “With musicians, it’s always good to give back.”
After the accident, someone sent Gladfelter a harmonica. It was a musical way for him to keep his lung capacity up. For the past two months, Kline has been teaching Gladfelter how to play it.
“I was pretty touched,” said author and blogger Cindy Ross, Gladfelter’s wife. “Coming up and teaching my husband to play was neat.”
Whenever Gladfelter felt like stopping for the day, Kline would say “try a little more.”
“I guess I was lucky that I could pick it up by ear,” Todd said, “and we would just play together … I think it’s kinda just like humming. Anyone can hum to a song, so that’s how I look at it. I’m certainly not a professional harmonica player, but it will just be a fun thing to do.”
“He’s been a wonderful student,” Kline said, “and today, despite his butterflies, he’s gonna roll up on stage and give us his debut! It’s been nothing but wonderful, nothing but goodness.”
Not only did the lessons keep Gladfelter breathing to ward off pneumonia, but they were preparation for a surprise performance at the concert’s finale. Speaking to the packed amphitheater, Kline recalled seeing Todd at Encompass Rehab in Reading shortly after the accident.
“He wasn’t moving too much,” Kline said. “It was alarming. But you can’t show that alarm to your best friend. You go ‘Rah rah, you can do it.’ ... He did it.”
Now it was time for what Kline called “the grand fie-nale.”
“Break a leg,” Ross told her husband as he wheeled himself to the stage to a standing ovation. Kutz removed his hat.
“I’m just a PA Dutch boy,” Todd said.
The PA Dutch boy played “Angeline the Baker” on his harmonica to the cheers of the crowd, surrounded by his artwork as well as countless friends and supporters. Gladfelter had created both.
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