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Artscene Cubamenco concert fighting cancer By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 35 · Friday, May 14, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Juno Award-winning guitarist is returning to Oakville -- where he got his musical start and where he will do much more than just entertain an audience. Platinum-selling recording artist Robert Michaels will stage a Cuban and flamenco music concert Saturday, May 15 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts to benefit pediatric sarcoma research. The concert is a tribute to a young member of his family. Seven-year-old Aliyah Maio, a relation of Michaels' on his wife's side, is undergoing radiation and chemotherapy at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children to treat a rare form of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. Because the tumour is in a sensitive area behind her eye, Michaels said, doctors are unable to remove it through surgery. Instead they are shrinking it through the treatments. Ironically, the youngster was already helping other children with the disease before she even knew she had it herself. Before she was diagnosed with cancer, Aliyah and her mother encouraged her school friends to cut their hair during Angel Hair for Kids Day at the school. The hair is used to make wigs for children who have lost hair due to a medical condition or treatment. "I just thought what can I do and I thought maybe have a benefit show and raise some money for pediatric sarcoma research," Michaels said. "Just as she was trying to help out, it's kind of ironic and sad at the same time, that she's the one who would need the services of it." In the mid-1990s, Michaels performed regularly at Paradiso Restaurant in Oakville. His first album was titled Paradiso and when it began selling well, he stopped performing at the A SUBMITTED PHOTOS INSPIRING: Young Aliyah Maio who is undergoing chemotherapy treatment of a rare form of cancer, has inspired musician Robert Michaels to perform a fundraising concert Saturday, May 15 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. restaurant and instead formed a band to tour with and promote the album. The album went platinum in Canada. The concert was originally scheduled to promote his latest album, Cubamenco, which is a play on the words of Cuban and flamenco. It was when his wife's young cousin became ill that he added the fundraising component to the concert. He said, "She is such a happy and vital kid who is facing this ordeal with courage. I'm hoping to have Aliyah at the concert, though that will depend on how strong she is on that day as she goes through her chemo." Michaels will play guitar and sing at the concert. He will be accompanied by percussion, bass, string instruments, dance and vocals. Michaels' music is a blend of Latin, Flamenco, Spanish, Cuban and South American. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $45. For tickets or more information, visit www.oakvillecentre.ca.