Keith Hicks
A benefit concert to help a well-known chef in his time of need while battling a life-threatening disease has been scheduled for 5 p.m. to midnight on Wednesday at Ridglea Theater.
“Buttons Family Affair Benefit Concert” will honor former Buttons Restaurant chef Keith “Buttons” Hicks, who has been diagnosed with end-stage COPD.
Hicks rose to prominence behind the restaurant that bears his name. At its height, Buttons had had three locations in Fort Worth, Addison, and DeSoto. The original owners and management team from the three Buttons Restaurant locales have come together to host the benefit.
Hicks is in need of a double lung transplant. Currently, he is undergoing palliative care, a prescribed treatment that controls pain, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue, and other symptoms of the illness.
“We’ve hosted countless benefit events and celebrations at Buttons Restaurant due to our love and compassion for the community,” said Carolyn Hughes, former co-owner of Buttons, in a statement. “I am asking the community to support Chef Keith by attending this benefit concert in his honor. For so many years, he brought so much ‘Love, Peace, and Gritz’ to each of our lives and now he needs us.”
Tickets range from $25 for general admission to $400 for VIP tables. They can be purchased on Eventbrite by visiting Button's Family Affair Benefit Concert Tickets, Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite.
For those who cannot attend the concert but wish to contribute, donations can be made on the GoFundMe page set up for Chef Keith “Buttons” Hicks by clicking here.
The concert is slated to feature performances from more than 25 bands and artists, including Melanie Dutton, Ahmad Johnson, and the Rob Holbert Band, among many others.
This “Buttons family reunion” will also feature many of the restaurant’s former managers, chefs, bartenders, servers, and hostesses. Many of these reunited co-workers will also help contribute to the evening’s festivities.
Former Buttons chefs Billy Kidd, and Ty Frazier will treat attendees to popular southern appetizers from Buttons’ original menu. There will also be several food trucks in attendance, including Fat Face Full, Angi’s Louisiana Kitchen, and The Rim Restaurant Waterside.
“My friends, this stage of my Life has been a struggle,” Hicks wrote on his GoFundMe page. “I am currently on oxygen and haven’t been able to work doing what I do best, which is cooking with love! I have been diagnosed with end stage COPD and placed on palliative care. At this time, I am in need of a lung transplant. Catz, thank You for the prayers, text[s], phone calls, and much appreciated donations. Much love!”
The full Button’s Family Affair Benefit Concert lineup consists of:
- Rob Holbert Band
- Natural Change
- Melanie Dutton
- Paul Cannon
- Kenya Crawford
- Bergette Rideau
- Lori Dawn
- Tone Sommers
- Monty McKlinton
- Quinton Moore
- Killa Bug
- Linny Nance
- Taylor Pace
- Stephanie Sallie
- Kurt and Ceici Jones
- Bobby Counts
- Honorary Howard Scott
- Fredrick Nicholson Band
- Jackie Don Loe
- Second Nature
- Sam Jones
- Roxie and Ashleigh Smith
- Lewis Stephens
- Velvet and Jerry Clark
- Ahmad Johnson
- John Adams