Special band

Special band

By: KRISTEN COPPOCK (Tue, Sep/18/2007)

Kim Montalvo wants people to know that dreams really can come true.

Anyone who doubts that notion can look to her as living proof, she said. It has been almost seven years since she received the kidney transplant that vastly improved her quality of life. That surgery came after a long time of uncertainty spent on an organ donor list, while undergoing regular dialysis treatment. With Montalvo's condition deteriorating due to kidney disease, a transplant was her only hope.

But, for the Mount Laurel resident, a hope of receiving a donor kidney wasn't her only dream to come true.

After being on dialysis for four years and facing other serious health problems, including dropping down to 87 pounds at one point, Montalvo is now in good health and following her longtime desire to sing professionally. As the lead singer in the Special K Band — the “K” stands for kidney — she is sharing her dream of making music with Daniel Caruso, a drummer and backup singer.

He also happens to be her kidney donor.

Once a casual acquaintance, Caruso repeatedly offered to donate one of his kidneys, but Montalvo turned him down. She said that she wanted to take her chan-ces on an organ donation list rather than put Caruso, a husband and father to two children, at medical risk.

However, the Sewell man secretly went through a battery of medical tests to see if he was a match for Montalvo. And after being disappointed when a hospital claimed to find her a kidney, only to place the organ with another recipient, Montalvo opt-ed to take Caruso's offer.

It wasn't until after the transplant that the Special K Band was formed. Montalvo said the idea came from her husband, Bob Kinslow. A court reporter by day, Montalvo said that it had been her longtime dream to sing professionally. She had performed in community theater, recorded demos and spent some time in New York City honing her musical skills. Then, her kidney problems began developing.

With the success of the Special K Band and a new lease on life, Montalvo said, “I feel like I'm just getting started.”

As the core members of the band, Caruso and Montalvo perform together with other musicians, playing about 15 to 18 gigs per month, according to the pair's estimate, as a duo, trio, quartet or six-piece unit. The band has released a CD of original recordings and works to raise awareness for the nonprofit Gift of Life organ donation assistance program, as well as a message of hope.

The band performs regularly in Atlantic City casinos, and frequently plays music for crowds in area bars, restaurants and clubs, in addition to being hired as the entertainment for private parties. Curtin's Wharf in Burlington City, Flying W in Lumberton and Taylor's in Cherry Hill are among the local venues where the Special K Band can be seen.

On Saturday, the band is bringing its act to the Col-lingswood Festival in Camden County from noon to 1 p.m. and then at Harrah's in Atlantic City from 4 to 8 p.m. Other upcoming events include performances at Tango's lounge at the Tropicana in Atlantic City from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 24 and Sept. 27, and at Ott's On the Green in Washington Township, Gloucester County, on Nov. 28 starting at 9 p.m.

The sets played by the Special K Band are mostly cover songs, but there are original compositions in the mix too. Caruso said the songs come from a wide range of genres and eras, such as “throbbing disco” and “hard-hitting rock and roll,” but all are designed to get the crowd moving.

“Every tune we do is a dance song,” he said.

In addition to more typical gigs, the Special K Band performs regularly for Gift of Life and organ donation awareness events. Montalvo said the group has become the unofficial “house band” for Gift of Life.

“They've been so good to us, and we believe in the cause,” she said.

Through the Special K Band, the two core members of the group also have collaborated on songs, penning the group's signature tune “Gift Of Life.” Montalvo said she is hoping the song gets adopted as an “anthem” for the Gift of Life donor program, as well as other organ donation groups.

The band's first CD, which also is titled “Gift Of Life,” was produced by a fan who had seen them perform regularly and wanted them to accomplish more. In addition to the title track, there are seven other songs, all of which are written by either Caruso or Montalvo. All of the songs were inspired by the pair's experience with organ transplantation.

“You want your songs to mean something. This was really a labor of love,” said Montalvo. “Everyone can relate to these songs. They're about everyday life.”

Released in late 2005, the CD is dedicated to the Gift of Life program, and the organization receives a portion of the money made from sales. The Special K Band sells the CD during performances and through the group's Web site, www.specialkband.com.

Caruso, a former painting contractor who now works as a certified massage therapist, played in bands for most of his life. A musician since the age of 12, he previously played on cruises, including the Spirit of Phila-delphia, and in numerous theater orchestra pits.

Through music, the pair bonded beyond the typical donor-recipient relationship, but Montalvo said she and Caruso weren't always such good friends. Long before the transplant, they met through a mutual relative — her husband's sister is married to his brother.

“We both share a love of music and started to talk about it,” Montalvo said.

E-mail: kcoppock@phillyburbs.com

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http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/112-09182007-1409368.html