Serving Whitman County since 1877
Schmuck Park will be the site of a benefit concert by the Hankers on Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. Admission will be by donation with proceeds going to support the Whitman County Hospital’s purchase of a 3D Tomosynthesis scanner.
Keith and Julie Layne Green Niehenke and their band, the Hankers, will perform in Colfax Sunday, May 17, at 2 p.m. in Schmuck Park, with admission by donation. Playing country and Southern rock, the band brings a lot of fun and energy to their concerts. The band will be set up at the picnic shelter, and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, chips, drinks and other snacks will be sold, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Keith and Julie both grew up in Colfax and took Suzuki violin lessons together as children. Keith made the transition to country fiddle and spent many years playing with the Doo Wah Riders and backing some of the biggest acts in country music.
The Niehenkes are donating the concert to support the 3-D Mammography Tomosynthesis Fund with Whitman Community Hospital Foundation. Cancer detection and treatment are close to their hearts. Julie survived thyroid cancer that was growing on her vocal cords and considers it a miracle that she is able to sing. Her sister died a year ago from thyroid cancer.
Donations can be sent to Whitman Community Hospital Foundation, 1200 West Fairview, Colfax 99111, with checks marked “Tomosynthesis Fund.”
The Foundation has donated $75,000 for the 3-D mammography equipment and has pledged to match community donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000. Besides easing the cost to the hospital, which is also buying a new MRI machine installed in the hospital ground floor, community support places the hospital in a good position to receive other grants.
Keith has performed in the United States, Canada and Europe, opening for such acts as Chris LaDoux, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry, Brooks and Dunn, LeAnn Womack, Reba McEntire, Big and Rich, and many more.
Niehenke is also an accomplished guitar, mandolin, banjo and harmonica player. He has played for the American Country Music Awards.
Julie and Keith kept in touch over the years and met again when the Doo Wah Riders were playing in Sun Valley and Julie went to the concert. Keith picked Julie out in the crowd. Julie experienced culture shock when she moved to Los Angeles and was soon singing with Keith’s band.
The Niehenkes returned to Whitman County when their twin boys were small, and Keith began working at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. Keith was the fiddler with a bachelor’s degree in electronics, and at his mother’s urging, completed a degree in network engineering and administration four days before she passed away.
Julie sang with the band before the twins were born and has continued singing. Keith played with the Kelly Hughes band when he was right out of college and plays a few dates with that band still.
Keith’s first fiddle contest was the Northwest Regional Fiddle Contest in Spokane Valley. This spring, twin sons Cash and Rye competed for the first time, and their accompanist on guitar was their proud father.
Lead guitarist Greg Stephens has played professionally and toured all over the world. Bass player Seth Humphrey, the band’s “eye candy” for the audiences, is fun and spunky. Gary Hassler on drums completes the band. Greg and Gary have toured with the USO to Japan and Korea. They have been opening acts for Martina McBride, Marty Stuart, George Jones and Craig Morgan. Seth has opened for George Jones, Brad Paisley, Tracy Lawrence and Josh Turner.
Keith and the Hankers will also be playing at the Colfax Concrete River Days Saturday, July 11, at Schmuck Park from 2 to 5 p.m.
They will also play for the town street dance in Oakesdale during Old Mill Days at 8 p.m. on the same day.
“The Foundation is so pleased that Keith and the Hankers volunteered to do this benefit concert for the Tomosynthesis Fund,” said board vice president Mark Johnson. “They are incredibly generous to give a concert.”
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