After 50 years, DPAO ends summer concert series

For more than 50 years, the North Country has been home to an organization designed to help those with developmental disabilities and their families.

And for most of that time, it has brought in some of the biggest names in music as a way to raise money.

But as times have changed and concerts become more expensive, those DPAO shows will be no more.

“That’s the main thing, is helping the kids in the program. That’s why I’m still involved at my age,” Disabled Persons Action Organization founder Joe Rich said.

Rich started the Disabled Persons Action Organization in 1974. It’s designed to provide individual services for those in the North Country with developmental disabilities. And now, 52 years later, Joe has not lost an ounce of passion for this place.

“If you counted everybody, we impacted, it’s well over a thousand every year,” he said.

However, to keep the DPAO running, Rich needed to fundraise, so, he created a summer concert series. But it wasn’t just a local group playing in the park. He brought massive shows with the biggest names to little Watertown, New York.

“We did every imaginable show you can think of, altogether 300 major concerts,” Rich said.

From Brantley Gilbert, Willie Nelson and Blake Shelton to Keith Urban and even Reba McIntyre, the shows were a hit and made an impact that even Rich could not imagine.

“It was not only beneficial to the kids we serve, but it also put into the economy, at roughly $10 million a year,” he said.

But unlike Rich’s passion, the economy has changed. And this summer, after 50 years, these concerts are no more.

“$50,000 shows are now $400,000. We just don’t have the funds to do that,” he said, saying ticket and concession revenue would not make up for the overall cost increase.

So this year, DPO Foundation Executive Director Tricia Schwartz says the mission to keep the organization not only alive, but thriving, will focus more grassroots, smaller community events.

“We hope that people support us. We have a lot of people that rely on the agency, and, we’re here to stay,” Swartz said.

And while Rich will miss it, he says he only wants what’s best for the people in the DPAO building.

“I wish there was somebody out there who could say, ‘Hey Joe, I’ll back the show up and I’ll give you this much money to do it,’ but no one has come forward.

Rich says competition from nearby cities — including the amphitheater and free shows at the State Fair each summer — also played a role in the decision to move on.