Industry Noize: Spellens Inspires ALS Campaign

Dan Spellens, who retired in March after 15 years with SMG at the Long Beach Arena and Terrace Theatre, is the inspiration for a new fundraising campaign to benefit Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis research.

Spellens and his wife Melanie are partnering with the Summer And Music concert series in the California city to raise money for research into a cure for the disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

A portion of proceeds from all SAM concerts in 2014 will benefit ALS research, and attendees will have additional opportunities to donate to the cause.

“Melanie and I are honored and humbled that SAM and [Downtown Long Beach Associates] would choose to fundraise for ALS research,” Spellens said. “During my 15 years at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, it was always a thrill to secure star-quality entertainment in my home town. This display of generosity by these two Downtown organizations makes even sweeter the effort that went into those years.”

Summer And Music, an annual free music and arts festival, this year takes place in downtown Long Beach and encompasses concerts, outdoor films, a “Twisted at the Pike” carnival, busker festival, and the Long Beach Funk Festival, with events taking place monthly from June to September.

Spellens was diagnosed with the disease in 2012, but staved off retirement until March, saying, “How can you love a job as much as I do and not work if you can?”

Spellens began his career in 1972 and did stints at ABC and William Morris Agency.

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