The woman who brazenly attacked funkadellic soul music legend Lester Chambers on-stage during his July performance at Hayward Russell City Blues Festival has officially been charged with felonies, including Assault by Means Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury and Elder Abuse, according to the Hayward and Alameda County’s District Attorney’s office.
The 73 year old former member of The Chambers Brothers and the singer of influential hits, “People Get Ready”, “Uptown”, “I Can’t Turn You Loose”, and many more, was just revitalizing his career before allegedly being assaulted in front of a crowd of hundreds by 43-year-old Dinalynn Andrews-Potter on-stage after he dedicated “People Get Ready” to Trayvon Martin while the jury was in deliberations.
Just a day after his attack, the acclaimed singer spoke with American Blues Scene, and true to a decades-long career professing peace, continued to have nothing but love in his heart — though it was clear the attack would have a lasting impact on him as he talked about his feelings of not wanting to perform any more after the attack, and the nightmares he’s always had about things going wrong on stage, though he’s quick to add that this is one nightmare he never expected — but is now haunted by.
Just minutes before the attack, Chambers recalls a touching moment that he clearly savors and continues to look towards as a ray of hope. “This gentleman came up to the stage on Saturday and he told me, he says, ‘man I have to hug you and just tell you when I was in the military and I got hurt and was laid up, the only joy I had was the Chambers Brothers, Janis Joplin, and sometimes, a lot of Jimi Hendrix… we were all laid up in the hospital every day and couldn’t wait to hear these songs.'”
Lester, an uninsured musician, was rushed to the hospital following his assault, and now faces mounting medical bills and a continued, challenging recovery. To help contribute to Lester’s medical bills, a tax-deductable donation can easily be given to the Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, that will directly benefit Chambers. Donations can easily be made online: https://www.sweetrelief.org/donate/general-fund/, please add ‘Sweet Relief Lester Chambers Fund’ as the dedication.
