These musicians struggled after the LA wildfires. MusiCares offered them a lifeline

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Last March, while facing personal difficulties, married musical duo Lisa Simmons-Santa Cruz and Francisco Carroll Santa Cruz contributed to Snoop Dogg’s gospel album, “Altar Call.”

“We were actually writing all those songs in a hotel, displaced,” Carroll Santa Cruz said.

After nearly three decades writing and producing music for artists like Kelly Rowland and shows like “Desperate Housewives,” the couple lost their home in Altadena to the Eaton fire just a few months ago.

Let me tell you, this whole situation was fascinating. These incredibly successful singer-songwriters almost missed a big opportunity, but it came together during the last days of their hotel stay. They met Snoop Dogg through some other artists, Charlie Bereal and Point 5ve, which was unexpected. What really struck me, though, was their decision to keep something personal to themselves. Despite Snoop Dogg also being involved in helping fire victims, they chose not to share that they’d been displaced by the fires with him, or really anyone else in the music world. It was a really interesting choice, and added another layer to the story.

Simmons-Santa Cruz explained that after the fire, music became their source of comfort and resilience. It was something the flames couldn’t destroy, a way to find peace and escape the constant pain of remembering everything they’d lost. They needed something separate from the trauma, and their work provided that sanctuary.

Even after losing their studio and being forced to work from a hotel, they finished the project quickly. Simmons-Santa Cruz later called it a fortunate turn of events during a difficult time, explaining that making music allowed them to heal and connect with their faith while doing what they were passionate about.

She explained that the music was a welcome relief, allowing them to forget their troubles and think about what truly mattered. It felt like a lifeline in a difficult moment.

The couple used to live in the Altadena house with Simmons-Santa Cruz’s mother, who had purchased it back in 1974. After the fires, they had to find a new place to live while also dealing with a lot of difficult paperwork, bills, and insurance claims related to losing their home.

MusiCares, a charity created by the Recording Academy in 1989 to support the health and well-being of musicians, provided them with help.

“They were like, the FEMA of the music industry,” Simmons-Santa Cruz said.

As a huge movie and music fan, I was really impressed to learn about the incredible work MusiCares does. They’re there for people in the music industry when they’re struggling with things like rent, medical bills, mental health, or substance abuse – offering both financial help and free preventative healthcare. It’s amazing to see that, even a year after the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, they’ve already given over $15 million in aid to more than 3,200 music professionals affected by the disaster. It just shows how much they care for the people who create the soundtracks to our lives.

When MusiCares helped Simmons-Santa Cruz and her husband with emergency funds, they also offered to replace a meaningful instrument. The guitar, which her father – who passed away seven years ago – helped her choose, was lost in the fire.

“That guitar was very sentimental for me,” she said.

While nothing can truly replace the original guitar and its memories, Simmons-Santa Cruz says the new one MusiCares provided gave her hope, and it symbolizes that feeling.

I completely fell apart and started crying, thinking, ‘Who would replace a guitar?’ We’re just trying to get by, and replacing equipment wasn’t even a thought.

The couple is renting a place while still recovering from the fires, and they haven’t been able to rebuild their home due to the expense. They aren’t alone – many musicians are facing similar difficulties. For example, music producer and drummer Darryl “JMD” Moore is still paying his mortgage on the house that burned down, even as he rebuilds a similar one to meet his bank’s requirements.

Moore explained that he hoped to create a lasting legacy for his family by rebuilding his home, which had significantly increased in value. However, his insurance settlement isn’t covering the full cost of construction, leaving him and others in a similar situation scrambling to find the additional funds needed to complete the rebuild. He estimates they are hundreds of thousands of dollars short.

After renting in Altadena for years, Moore was able to buy his first home there in 2011, a dream realized through his music career. He’s a well-known figure in both jazz and hip-hop, having produced for artists like the Pharcyde and Freestyle Fellowship, and also played drums with jazz legends such as Horace Tapscott. Moore’s musical journey began in South L.A. at age 13, initially focusing on R&B and funk, before he was guided by the celebrated jazz saxophonist and vocalist, Elvira “Vi” Redd.

When the Eaton fire threatened his home, Moore immediately grabbed his most valuable items. He saved a hard drive containing all his music recorded since 2004, but unfortunately, everything else was destroyed – including his recording studio, collection of tapes and reels, and his beloved 1965 Rogers Holiday drum set, which he’d owned since the 1980s.

Moore explained that he used his Rogers drum kit on many recordings. When he moved to New York City in 1989, he brought the kit with him and even pushed it through the streets every night from the East Village to the West Village for gigs. He wonders if he could replace it for around $4,000, but questions if any new kit could replicate the memories and experiences he had with the original – playing it in subways and on Bleecker Street.

After losing his home in a fire, Moore needed to get back to work, but all of his recording equipment was gone. Fortunately, MusiCares stepped in with thousands of dollars worth of gear, including a new drum set, and also provided financial assistance for his housing, covering both his mortgage and current rent. While Moore still has a financial recovery ahead of him, he’s incredibly thankful for the organization’s support over the past year, which he says made a huge difference.

The hip-hop producer was relieved to have his studio up and running again, allowing him to practice, work, and perform. He explained it was a turning point, saying it ‘gave me my voice back’ and marked the start of his career.

Gwendolyn Sanford and Brandon Jay, parents of a teenager and a younger child, say losing their home in Altadena has been emotionally challenging, just as much as it has been financially. They’ve made a point of focusing on their children’s mental health and happiness since the loss.

Sanford explained that it was difficult for her children at first because the family moved often and couldn’t control it. They were simply searching for a stable place to live, and the children were also grieving the loss of their previous home.

Sanford and her husband both write and perform music. They’ve created scores for popular TV shows like “Weeds” and “Orange Is the New Black,” and also perform as Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang, a children’s music group. Recently, they composed the music for the off-Broadway production of “Romy and Michele the Musical.”

The couple, like so many others, lost their recording studio, which made it hard to continue working. They’ve been under a lot of stress, but MusiCares helped ease the financial pressure by providing grants to cover their mortgage payments.

Jay explained that dealing with the paperwork and obstacles to rebuild their home felt like a second, unwanted full-time job, adding to the demands of family and work. He said having someone offer support and take one worry off their plate was incredibly helpful and appreciated.

Sanford was recently invited to play music at a housewarming event for a former neighbor in Altadena. Her daughter was hesitant to revisit the neighborhood, but she went with her mother anyway. The experience proved to be emotionally healing for both of them.

According to Sanford, the woman was able to walk the property and have some time to herself. When asked how she was feeling, she told Sanford, ‘I feel safe here, this is my home.’

At the event, Sanford performed her song “Acorn,” which she wrote in 2011. The song was originally about the beauty and symbolism of oak trees, but the recent fires have given it a new, personal meaning for her.

Sanford explained that everyone is currently in a position where they need to rebuild, much like an acorn growing into a tree. We have to begin with small steps and work our way back to where we once were.

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2026-01-07 23:02