Keyboardist and songwriter Richard Bell, one-time member of Janis Joplin's band, died one June 15 of multiple myeloma in a Toronto hospital. He was 61.

Bell, who began playing with Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band in 1970, was diagnosed with cancer one year ago. He received intensive treatment and made a comeback, despite his poor prognosis. This past spring, however, his cancer returned.

Bell is also known for his musical work with artists such as Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Joe Walsh, Paul Butterfield, The Cowboy Junkies, Bruce Cockburn, and Bonnie Raitt. His most recent gig was with the Toronto jazz and blue group Pork Bellies Futures.

He is survived by his mother, his sister, and his nieces and nephews.

On May 24, Professional poker player Phil Gordon -- who provides expert analysis as co-host of Bravo's hit series Celebrity Poker Showdown -- and Bluff Magazine -- will host the Full Tilt Bad Beat Cancer Fundraiser to raise money for the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation's 21st Century Young Scientists Fund. The fund awards grants to the best researchers involved in cutting-edge cancer prevention research. Celebrities Hank Azaria, Cheryl Burke, Annie Duke, Shannon Elizabeth, Dave Foley, Phil Gordon, Josh Malina, Shanna Moakler, Penny Marshall, Alfonso Ribiero, Jeremy Roenick, Sara Rue, Grant Show, and Kari Whitman will be participating in the evening's events. There will be a live auction and bidding for a chance to play poker with World Poker Champions Howard Lederer, Annie Duke and Gordon.

How did this all get started? According to the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, CRPF, in 2003, Gordon and his best friend poker professional Rafe Furst decided to raise money for the foundation. The year before, Gordon had lost his beloved Aunt Lib to cancer. Aunt Lib was a master card player, artist and freethinking individualist. Gordon spent childhood summers at her house playing poker, betting the little money he'd earned doing chores around the house, only to lose it all back to her. She taught him how to play and win -- in poker and in life. Gordon and Furst are active members of CRPF's Board of Directors, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for its research grants and fellowship program, and education and community outreach activities. The Full Tilt Bad Beat Cancer Fundraiser is only one of many events Gordon has launched to raise money for CRPF.