Mel McDaniel Benefit at Nashville Palace

The benefit & silent auction at the Nashville Palace www.nashvillepalace.net for Singer, songwriter Mel McDaniel http://www.melmcdaniel.com/ was an extraordinary event.  It isn’t very often that you can see a Dozen Grand Ole Opry stars come together and sing a few songs for one of their peers. Mel McDaniel suffered a heart attack in June and was transferred to a rehabilitation center in July. I don’t know about you, but my family has been touched by illness once or twice.  It can be over whelming both emotionally and financially. I know this to be a fact.  Anyone who has sat in hospital room for days on end know the fatigue that comes with it. The benefit not only showed financial support to Mel’s wife but an emotional support that she might not have known was there.

If you are not familiar with Mel McDaniel’s songs , he wrote and sang Louisiana Saturday Night, Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On, & Stand Up, which you can find on the Reload album by Mel McDaniel’s and the Oklahoma Wind.
  The evening started out to be a who’s who of country music.  It was a standing room only and the hosts for the evening were Ralph Emery and Keith Bilbrey. Most of us who are local know Ralph Emery from his morning show. The silent auction had more than 50 items. The usual signed guitars and Titian memorabilia. A variety of DVD’s and Gaylord gave away a couple on hotel rooms complete with dinner. My Favorite item on the silent auction was the Designed “Ole Mel’ logo Guitar and case form cartoonist and country music singer Guy Gilchrist. www.gilchriststudios.com
 With all the excitement I couldn’t keep up with who sang what.  I can tell you who I personally saw. The evening was kicked off with Jim Ed Brown who teamed up with Helen Cornelius. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcd3KTvJx6o They sang their hit “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You.” Many of you will remember they set a record in the music industry when “Lying in Love With You” made the largest single county chart leap in history. Helen Cornelius’ biggest accomplishment may be keeping a positive altitude while battling cancer.
I saw them on stage along with Tommy Cash, known for such hits as “I Recall A Gypsy Woman,” “One Song Away,” “Rise and Shine,”  “Six White Horses,” the tribute to the Kennedy brothers and Martin Luther King. Guy Gilchrest, artist/musician maybe best know for the Cartoon “Nancy” but recently known for singing “Jim Beam Me Up Scotty.” Ricky Lynn Greg has been described as a rockin’ country artist with traditional values. His album Careful What You Wish For” Is said to be a reflection of those values in a country rock way.

Buddy Jewel best known for his appearance on the  2003 USA Network’s first ever Nashville Star  A gentleman on stage and off we wish him best of luck with his new c.d. ‘Country Enough’ which has just been released  I saw Charlie Louvin. In 2007 his self-titled album received a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Folk Album.  Jean Shepard, made  appetence. Who is a pioneer for women in the music business and best know for “A Dear John Letter.” She was the 1st female in country music to sell a million records for her first single. When Ricky Skaggs and The Whites preformed the evening was filled with an  over whelming amount of talent. Through out the night I heard not only artist sing their songs, but also their renditions of Mel McDaniel songs.

The two performers that brought the most attention were the youngest, Jet Jurensmeyer, who plays the young Alan Jackson in the video “I Still Like Bologna,” and Little Jimmy Dickens. The most recognized performer of the night, Little Jimmy Dickens is currently the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry and I think the most photographed performer of the evening. He has past Legend status and has become an American Icon. Not just an American Icon but a beloved American Icon.  He was the first country music personality to do a World Tour.
The night was filled with performers who  paved the way .

It was an amazing night and I want to give a “SHOUT OUT” to all the performers and the to those who donated time and treasures. If you didn’t get a chance to come or Donate any thing and would still like to make a contribution you can do so by sending a donation to the following address:

Mel McDaniel Productions
PO BOX 140052
Nashville TN 37214
Phone: (615) 972-1121
e-mail:melmcdanielproductions@yahoo.com

SHOUT TO PREFORMERS:
Billy Arr, David Ball, Hank Beach, T-Bell, Rick Blayock, T. Graham Brown,Jim Ed Brown, Helen Counelioul, Candi Apple Red, Tommy Cash, Allison Clements, Little Jimmy Dicken, Guy Gilcrist, Jimmy Fortune, Jack Greene, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Buddy Jewell, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Charlie Louvin, Jimmy C. Newman, Ken Peletier, Jean Shepard Don Wayne and more
A big shout out to Okalahoma Wind.

Benefit organizers report that thus far more than 50 items have been
donated for auction, including the following:
• One-week stay in Gatlinburg (three stays up for auction)
• Two guitars autographed by Opry Members
• One “Ole Mel” logo guitar with Mel’s likeness painted by artist Guy Gilchrist
• Larry Black Family Reunion DVD sets (three sets)
• Dinner at Blue Moon Lagoon ($75)
• Three-day Stays at Two Rivers Campground (two stays valued at 110 each)
• Golfing at Gaylord Springs Golf Links (two)
• Electronic/digital fire-proof safe ($339 value)
• Dewalt radio ($140 value)
• Tours from Tommy’s Tours for two people (two tours for auction)
• Guitar autographed by Carrie Underwood
• Two-night stay at Gaylord Opryland with dinner for two at Volare (694 value)
• Bob Evans gift certificates
• CDs, T-shirts, pictures of many artists
•Autographed Titans football
the door only, are $10 per person. (No presale tickets available for
this event.) For additional admission or ticket information, please
contact the venue at 615-889-1540 or visit www.nashvillepalace.net.

www.nashvillepalace.net
Alan Jackson’s “I Still Like Bologna,”
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Jean-Shepard-Biography
http://www.eaglevilletimes.com
http://www.TommyCash.com
www.helencornelius.net
http://www.jimedbrown.com/
http://www.buddyjewell.com/news/
http://www.rickylynngregg.com/news.htm
www.myspace.com/officialcharlielouvin
http://www.rickyskaggs.com/

http://www.rickylynngregg.com/

Where will I be next:
I have been ask to come out to see
August 22, 2009
Randy Owens@Franklin County Fair
Winchester, TN
Showtime 8:00 pm
For ticket information call 1-877-834-HERO (4376)
unsungheroesbf.com
A benefit for the multi county cancer society
August 22,2009
Lynchburg TN for the Horse show

September,
Jamboree by the Lake www.jamboree-by-the-lake.com
Sep 4, 5,6th staring at 6:00 p.m.
3 Day Independent Music Festival

Project Graduation 2010 & Moore County Fire Department
Spotted Saddle Horse Show
Wiseman Park- Lynchburg , TN
Saturday, August 22, 2009
5:00 P. M.

http://sshbea.org/Class%20Sheets%20and%20Show%20Results/2009/08-22-09projectgraduation2009spottedsaddlehorseshow.htm

If you have an event that you think I would like me to know about
e-mail; me   Jayne@Tennesseetourist.com