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Popular Boston musician suffers heart attack during rehearsal for charity event

Joe McMahon is “one of the most beloved musicians in Boston, as well as one of the sweetest human beings,” according to one friend from the local music scene.

Joe McMahon. GoFundMe

April 17, 2026 | 2:09 PM

2 minutes to read

Boston’s music scene is teaming up to support a local musician who suffered a heart attack last week during a rehearsal for a fundraising event.

Joe McMahon is on the mend after fellow musicians sprang into action to save his life as paramedics arrived on April 9, according to a GoFundMe page launched by his friends and family. The heart attack ultimately landed McMahon in the intensive care unit at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge.

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The fundraiser aims to help McMahon cover his medical bills and living expenses while he recovers.

“Joe has always been there for his music community, friends, and our extended family, sharing his talents, humor, love and kindness with everyone he meets,” the fundraiser’s description states. “Now, as he faces a challenging road ahead, we want to spread the word to those who know and love him.”

As of Friday afternoon, the page had raised nearly $70,000 from donors including former Boston Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck and legendary Major League Baseball executive turned Fenway Sports Group co-owner Theo Epstein. Epstein and his brother Paul co-founded the Foundation To Be Named Later — the nonprofit behind the Hot Stove Cool Music fundraiser, for which McMahon was rehearsing when he fell ill.

Neil McMahon took to Facebook to thank everyone at Cambridge’s Q Division Studios who stepped in to help his brother, writing, “The support and love coming from this Boston community of musicians, music lovers, and friends is absolutely awe-inspiring.”

In a separate post, Ed Valauskas, Q Division’s studio manager, described Joe McMahon as “one of the most beloved musicians in Boston, as well as one of the sweetest human beings.”

Valauskas added: “As a fellow musician pointed out this weekend: ‘Joe asleep is still better than half of the bass players in this town.’ I concur.”

Musician Will Dailey noted McMahon — his “friend and musical brother” — played bass on several of his songs and “gave me the confidence to start my career.”

McMahon is also a fixture in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, according to a second GoFundMe organized by friends.

“If you haven’t had the absolute pleasure of loving this incredible human, you’ve probably been served drinks from him at Great Scott, O’Brien’s, Sinclair, Roadrunner, or Deep Ellum,” the fundraiser description reads. “You’ve also probably been blessed with his music at local shows and, more recently, his Sunday residency at Lou’s in Cambridge.”