Eddie Coffey looking for help after accordion damaged in Florida

Music fans are trying to brighten up a grey, foggy day for entertainer Eddie Coffey, after his accordion was damaged during a performance last month in Florida.

Coffeywas just about to play his most-requested song for a group of Newfoundlanders at the Fat Cat Tavern in Largo,when the instrument slipped from his hands and fell on the floor.

"I usually do Grey Foggy Day two or three times a day,"Coffey told CBC Radio'sAs it Happens Tuesday, asthat's what the fans from back home wantto hear.

Coffey said he has two accordions, a black one, and a red onethat he kept on a small table, and was just reaching for one when it knocked the other.

"It slided right off the table and downon the floor ... and all I heard was a bang," said Coffey. "I said to myself, 'that's gone.' So I went to pick it up and it fell in two pieces."

Coffey said his backup accordion is taped up, and has holes in it, and while it can be used for bar performances, it isn't up to snuff when it comes to recording.

"With your help, Eddie Coffey can play on," wrote friend Rhonda Stamp in aFacebook post on Jan. 31, the day after the accordion accident.

"Some people are donating. They're donating already to me," said Coffey who said theGoFundMecampaign had raised about $200 by Wednesday.

While Coffey bought the now-broken accordion second-hand for about $2,000, he's looking for a better replacement.

"I want to get one now that has four rows of keys, so I won't have to use two accordions," he said.

He's been looking around, and said it could cost $6,000.

"I might be able to get one a little cheaper than that. They are very expensive."

The 70-year-old entertainer was born in PlacentiaBay, but now spends part of the year in Florida to avoid the Newfoundland winters.

"I can't stand them," he laughed.

Coffey performs several times a weekatlocal bars in Indian Rocks Beach,RedingtonShores and Largo.

He estimated there were 200 to 300 people at his gigs Wednesday, and half of them were from Newfoundland and Labradoror Nova Scotia.

Coffey said he's planning to add to the30 albums released since his first hit in 1977a new song that'san answer to Grey Foggy Day.

"It's called Sunshiny Day.Everyone loves that one...and I'll have that CD next week. It will be in the stores in Newfoundland," he said.