Chicago Cover Band Leader Dies While Performing On LI Stage

Mason Swearingen, the bandleader and lead singer and bassist for the Chicago cover band Beginnings, died while performing on stage in Bellmore on Aug. 24.

The band was playing at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore Saturday night, as part of the Town of Hempstead's 2019 Summer Concert Series.

"Mason’s passion was being the band leader of 'Beginnings - The Ultimate Chicago Tribute.' This goes way beyond learning the bass parts and high vocals that he worked so hard on for every performance," the band wrote on its Facebook page. "He engaged in every email, post, phone call to every venue and its representation. Mason did all of this and more with a smile. Every 'meet and greet' after each show saw Mason shaking hands and smiling in pictures with everyone. We’re on stage for 90 minutes for each show, but the countless hours he put into this band off stage to make the next show better for everyone involved are incalculable."

Beginnings has been playing the music of Chicago for years. The band members are all professional musicians who, in their private lives, have played with performers like Billy Joel, Peter Frampton and more. The band was recently joined in a performance by former Chicago guitarist Donnie Dacus.

A wake for Swearingen will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at Schwartz Brothers-Jeffer Memorial Chapel, located at 114-03 Queens Boulevard in Forest Hills, from 4 to 8 p.m. It will be followed by a funeral service at the same location on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 11:30 a.m.