PHOENIX – Audio engineer/technician Greg “Chico” Lopez, longtime crew member of Neil Diamond’s touring family, suffered a massive stroke on Feb. 20, 2019 as he was heading back out on tour with Sebastian Maniscalco.
“Greg was driving the car on the way to airport when his wife DeeAnna suspected he was having a stroke,” says Diamond’s longtime FOH engineer Stan Miller. “It turned out he suffered three mini-strokes, which led to the massive stroke while in the emergency room, and then off to surgery to clean out the carotid artery.”
Miller and production coordinator Sam Cole have set up a Gofundme account to help Chico as he works toward recovery. “There’s been some positive signs as he was recently taken off the ventilator and is now breathing on his own,” Miller says. “Chico’s journey in recovery will take time, thus the goal to raise $100,000 for him and his wife, DeeAnna, during this most difficult time is of concern and his ability to go back to work at this time.”
Lopez’s 35-plus career includes stints at Firehouse Productions, Maryland Sound, ATK Audiotek, and Delicate Productions. In addition to Diamond, he’s toured with Yanni, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, David Bowie, Ricky Martin, among others.
“This appears to be a long road to recovery and what he really needs is mountains of positive thoughts and prayers from all of us that know and love him,” Miller adds.
The GoFundme page can be accessed via: www.plsn.me/HelpChico
