From the Nashua Telegraph's Encore magazine, 3/4/10:

Friends since grade school, Louis Gendron and Michael Cusanelli hadn’t spoken in 20 years.

After reconnecting on Facebook, they found they still shared much in common: careers in the entertainment industry, a love of music, children of their own and families that have been touched by the diagnosis of autism.

On Friday, March 12, these connections will come together in a benefit concert, Acoustic for Autism, at Studio 99 in Nashua. The show is the result of more than a year of research, dedication and passion put forth by these two friends.

When Gendron’s daughter was diagnosed with autism in August 2008, he decided to begin learning more about the disorder and the emotional and financial burdens that often accompany it, and he became determined to do something about it.

Thus began the Acoustic for Autism project.

“I wanted to do a benefit show from the get-go,” Gendron said, but he found organizing a concert was “a bit more difficult logistically” and opted to start work on putting together an album.

Gendron had connections in the music industry, and a number of musicians expressed interest in being a part of the project.

There came a point when production of the album began stalling, and around this time, Gendron and Cusanelli reunited. The two met for lunch, and while catching up on the previous 20 years, they began talking about the Gendron’s project.

Cusanelli, experienced in sales and marketing at Worldsound Records, a music-management company, decided to get on board as executive producer for the “A4A” album.

“His expertise in the music biz really helped get this album out,” Gendron said.

Gendron and Cusanelli collaborated, lining up musicians for the album by reaching out to their respective contacts. They compiled the songs using music they loved that fit the project, Gendron said.

“We didn’t want the songs to be specifically about autism,” he said, “we wanted to reach a broad audience.”

The resulting 12 tracks highlight positive messages of strength and perseverance.

“I think anybody listening to the album can get something out of it,” Gendron said. “I worked hard on the sequencing of the songs, to have it flow together.”

The track lineup was complete and the talent of Matt Mahurin, who has created music videos for U2, Metallica and Tracy Chapman, was enlisted to create a unique illustration for the CD cover.

“When we had the CD done and were ready to release it, (Cusanelli) wanted to release it digitally,” said Gendron, citing concerns about the environmental impact of production and manufacturing costs.

The initial release in the fall of 2009 was digital, but, after a large demand, they began offering CD sales in January.

The project was funded almost entirely out of pocket, Gendron said, with Cusanelli putting up much of the money for the manufacturing. The album is now offered at Bull Moose Records, Newbury Comics, Best Buy and Amazon.com. All of the proceeds benefit autism charities. Copies of the CD will also be available for purchase at the Studio 99 show, benefiting the Autism Society of New Hampshire.

Gendron said they wanted to maximize the amount of money that goes to charity, and they have local sales and live shows that target local charities.

“It’s nice knowing that the money is going back to your community,” he said.

Cormac McCarthyAdditionally, ticket sales for the concert will be donated to the Autism Society.

The concert is their first based on this project and, Gendron said, in keeping with the community-oriented spirit, they wanted to hold it in New Hampshire, since it’s where he and Cusanelli are from. While Cusanelli has since moved to Connecticut, Gendron still calls Wilton home.

Mike Morris, of Strafford, one of the musicians performing at the concert, says he’s looking forward to a night of “firsts.” He has never played at Studio 99 or with fellow musician Cormac McCarthy. Morris, a friend of Gendron’s, was asked to participate in the event, but wasn’t able to contribute to the album.

“We had tried to coordinate our efforts a couple of times, but this was the first one that worked out,” Morris said.

McCarthy, of Maine, will also perform a full set at 99, and his track “This Beautiful Place” is on the “A4A” CD.

On choosing the two performers, Gendron said, Morris is “kind of bluesy,” while McCarthy is “a little more country.” Gendron “thought it would be great to have two different styles of music” and have both playing full sets in one night.

“I wanted to pick a smaller, more intimate venue” for the performance, Gendron said, and when he saw what Elise MacDonald was working on as director at Studio 99, he found what he was looking for.

“I reached out to Elise,” Gendron said, because “I really liked the fact that she was supporting local musicians.

“Music is always going to be a live thing. People are drawn more to the overall experience.”

Gendron says he hopes to do more shows, as well as another album: “We still have a long way to go as far as education about autism goes.”

Beth Eisenberg can be reached at 594-6431 or beisenberg@nashuatelegraph.com.