Ron Young faces mortality with a little help from his friends

Besides recording, Young's kept busy organizing a benefit on his behalf and the local community's stepped up. Besides performances by Augie Meyers, The Infidels with Patricia Vonne and Ruben V among others, Young's auctioning off his collection of rare autographs (Lou Reed, Robert Mitchum, Brian Wilson, Ray Charles) accompanied by a written narrative of each signature's circumstances.

Hank Harrison backs Young on Under the Texas Radar and is playing the benefit with his old band, Tennessee Valley Authority. He sees a chance to give back.

"It's just terrible when stuff like this happens to anybody and especially such a nice guy," Harrison said. "It really gets everybody's attention. All these musicians have had their bouts with health problems. They know how expensive it is."

If there's a silver lining, it's the compassion Young's witnessed.

"I don't feel I'd have this support if I'd stayed in Nashville," he said. "Something was drawing me home in ways I didn't realize, and this might have been one of them. This is where your friends are."