Matt Triplett will never see his son off to college, but with the help of Matt’s friends, college may not be an impossible dream in the boy’s future.

When Triplett, a 37-year-old drummer from Ames, died in October from a drug overdose, he left behind a 2-year-old son, Nick.

Some of Triplett’s friends have arranged a special fund-raiser at People’s Bar and Grill, 2428 Lincoln Way, on Saturday. The show, titled “A Night for Nick,” will be a tribute to Triplett and a college fund-raiser for his son.

The two headlining bands for the evening will be Shakin’ Katies and Mel’s Diner, a local band that broke up in 1992 but still plays together from time to time.

The idea for “A Night for Nick” began as a way for the members of Mel’s Diner to honor Triplett, who was once a drummer with the band, says Frank Karasinski, lead guitarist for both Shakin’ Katies and Mel’s Diner.

“[Mel’s Diner lead/rhythm guitarist] Kent Johnson suggested that we do a reunion show in Ames for the band, as a way to pay tribute to Matt,” he says. “Tom Zmolek, the owner of People’s, was the one who suggested we use the show as a way to raise money for Matt’s son.”

When word got out to the local musicians that Mel’s Diner was planning a fund-raiser for Nick, people started coming out of the woodwork wanting to help, Karasinski says.

“This show has become bigger than the bands involved,” he says. “At first it was a small event, meant to help Nick and pay tribute to Matt. But now, as the word has spread, the love and sincerity have become the driving forces.

“Many other musicians have asked to be a part of this, because they knew or played with Matt and they feel so strongly about contributing in some way.”

The organizers are hoping to raise $2,000 for the event, all of which will go into a college savings fund for Nick, says Jack Gallup, bass player for local band Grooveyard.

“Hopefully, in 16 years when Nick is ready to go to college, the money will have accumulated enough to get him started,” Gallup says.

Triplett’s musical career began at the age of 15 when he joined the band Bentwood, Karasinski says.

Triplett was later a member of several other local bands, including Split Limit, Redz, the Sundogs, Mel’s Diner and Grooveyard.

Gallup says the Sundogs was the band that showed the most promise.

“If the right person had discovered them, they would have been a world class act. They used to pack the places in Ames and around the Midwest — the line to see them would go all the way into the streets. Matt always wished the band had found a way out of the Midwest.”

Triplett had to stop playing the drums after he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition in which the nerves in the wrist become compressed. For the last two years of his life, Triplett wasn’t able to do what he loved best, Gallup says.

“Matt and I had decided in 1998 we were going to start up a new band in 2003,” Gallup says.

Unfortunately, the two friends never got the chance. Instead, Gallup wrote a song titled “Matthew the Beautiful” as a way for Nick to remember his father.

Besides Nick, music was the most important thing in Triplett’s life, says Sue Triplett, the musician’s former wife and Nick’s mother.

“Matt’s friends are doing what they think would mean the most to him,” she says. “They’re using music, which was such an important part of Matt’s life, to help Nick and do what Matt won’t be able to do himself — help start a college fund for Nick.”

The benefit show will begin at 8:15 p.m. Saturday. A $10 donation will be requested at the door.