Widowed Sisters Create Musical Tribute

Keith Lebo and Jim DeSantie were very different men. Jim was more gregarious, always ready to crack a joke. Musician Keith was the performer, but he was more introspective. But what's remarkable are the ways Keith and Jim were the same.

Both married into the same family—Keith to Charlene and Jim to her sister Suzanne. Both were homebodies, preferring to spend time in their neighboring gardens. And tragically, both fell victim to pancreatic cancer.

Although Jim was diagnosed first in 2008, Keith died first, in August 2009, just five months after his diagnosis. Jim died a year later.

"We always thought Jim was going to pull it off," Suzanne says.

Charlene said, "If you saw him, you'd never believe he was sick. Anytime there was a little dip, he pulled it back up."

Given Keith's love of music, Charlene, Suzanne and Jim decided a benefit concert would be the best way to honor his memory. The three worked on it together, and the sisters carried on after Jim's death. Their hard work will come together Nov. 20 at the Westport Country Playhouse.

"A Night of Music" will feature two of the bands Keith played with: the Center Street Band and Shade. To The Max, Holden Truelove, Daniela Cardillo and Christopher Robin will also take the stage. All proceeds will go to pancreatic cancer research through Swim Across the Sound.

"People couldn't have been nicer or more generous," Suzanne said of the donations for the cocktail hour and silent auction.

When Jim died in August, the sisters decided to include a piece of him in the show as well. Off to one side of the stage, symbols of the two men will be spotlighted—a guitar for Keith and a flag for ex-Marine Jim.

But the curtain falling will not be the end of the story. Charlene received copies of Keith's CD and will make it available online, with the profits going to research. Made with Keith's band mate, John Young, the album is Keith's first release.

"[His music] was never quite perfect, not for him," Charlene said. "But when you listen to it, it's really very outstanding."

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