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| Bill Popp & the Tapes |
When George L. Popp (a.k.a. Daddy Tapes), passed away suddenly from a heart attack on November 1,1986, his son Bill Popp said at the wake that he would remember his father by hosting a benefit concert each year on his birthday. The proceeds of these events were to be donated to the American Heart Association. Forty years later, the annual Daddy Tapes concerts are alive and well, raising thousands of dollars for those suffering from heart disease.
This year, the Irish Whiskey Bar in Queens hosted the annual Daddy Tapes event on March 7. The nine-hour concert featured a dozen local bands.
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| Sea Monster |
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| Lead Flowers |
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| The Patti Rothberg Coincidence |
The first benefit was held on Daddy Tapes' birthday, March 10, 1987, at CBGB. "My goal at the time was for the benefit to become an annual event that would raise money through the efforts of live music and help those suffering from heart disease," says Bill Popp. "My father was my closest friend and the biggest supporter of my music career. After his death, I wanted to keep his spirit alive, so, by doing a benefit in his memory and donating the money to the American Heart Association, I've done just that.”
After six years at CBGB, in 1993 the benefit found a home for the next 20 years at Kenny’s Castaways, until the Greenwich Village bar closed its doors in 2012. The following years, the benefit was held at other Manhattan nightspots, such as the R Bar, the Delancey, the Bowery Electric and Parkside Lounge. After 37 years of the Daddy Tapes Benefit being held in Manhattan, the annual event moved to the Irish Whiskey Bar in Queens. This year was the third year at the Astoria pub.
“My Father was born and lived in Queens his whole life, so why not have the benefit in Queens?" Popp reflected. "It has been sort of like a homecoming, and to have it in Astoria makes total sense, since we play many of our shows in Astoria.”
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| Density Black Cat |
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| Zoe Over Zero |
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| GIFTSHOP |
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| Andrew Sydor |
In the early 80's, when it was rare to see someone over the age of 45 hanging out at a rock club, there was Daddy Tapes, smoking his pipe and cheering on his son's band. Daddy Tapes was the backbone of his son's band, the Tapes. Instead of retiring and moving to Florida, as he had dreamed, Daddy Tapes remained in New York, working as a night watchman until the day he died from a heart attack, on Nov 1st, 1986, at the age of 73. He had remained in New York so his son could live inexpensively at home and rehearse his band for free in their basement.
In 2006, the Daddy Tapes concert had an ironic twist. The annual concert was ready to go, a two-day event to celebrate its 20th anniversary. All the acts were booked. Beer sponsors were in place. Suddenly, on February 22nd, Popp had to undergo open heart surgery, a quadruple bypass. The concert was postponed from March until May. Popp never imagined that the money he raised for the American Heart Association to fight heart disease would wind up helping him!
Today, Bill Popp and the Tapes enjoy a 45-year history and counting. Daddy Tapes' legacy lives on with each band rehearsal in the basement of the house he kept for his son, where Bill still lives to this day.
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| Grace Leckey |
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| Nelly DuBarry |
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| Nimrod Texieria |
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| Paper Nova |
All photographs are by Alan Rand
Related Articles:
The 30th Annual Birthday Tribute to the Late George L. Popp (2016)
Bill Popp & the Tapes at Tompkins Square Park (2016)
Bill Popp & the Tapes at Otto's Shrunken Head (2014)
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The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.
For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."
For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's March calendar.
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