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Mel McDaniel is a beloved member of the country
music community. (Photo: Mel McDaniel Web site)
Friends and fellow country artists of Grand Ole Opry member Mel McDaniel have joined forces deliver a music-filled, star-laced benefit concert and auction Thursday, Aug. 13, for the ailing singer.
McDaniel was hospitalized following a mid-June heart attack and placed in a medically induced coma by doctors. Then, on July 22, an Opry spokeswoman reported that the Oklahoma-born singer, whose hits include “Stand Up,” “Baby’s Got Her Blue Jeans On” and “Louisiana Saturday Night,” was being released to a rehabilitative center for continuing care.
In a collective effort to assist McDaniel and wife Peggy with their mounting medical costs, members of the Nashville country-music community have organized a 6-10 p.m. concert and silent auction at the famed Nashville Palace, 2611 McGavock Pike, with proceeds benefiting singer-songwriter McDaniel.
Tommy Cash will take a break from his
current tour in support of his latest CD, Fade
To Black, to perform at the Aug. 13 benefit.
(Photo: Courtesy of Tommy Cash.)
Broadcast veterans Keith Bilbrey and Ralph Emery will share emcee duties at the event, which will feature guest performances by some of McDaniel’s Opry family, including Little Jimmy Dickens, Jean Shepard and Jim Ed Brown, as well as Rick Blaylock, Alison Clements, Jared Rogers, Tommy Cash, Buddy Jewell, David Ball, Guy Gilchrist, T-Bell, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Helen Cornelius, Ken Peltier, Ricky Lynn Gregg, T. Graham Brown, Billy Arr, Jimmy Fortune, Hank Beach, Charlie Louvin, Don Wayne, Jack Greene, Larry Paxton and Candi Apple Red, among others. McDaniel’s band, Oklahoma Wind, will provide backing music for the lineup.
“Mel and his wife are such dear people and friends to so many,” said InLight Records artist and volunteer performer Cash. “We hope to have a great turnout for this event and make some great music along the way. Our prayers and thoughts are with the McDaniel family at this difficult time.”
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Charlie Louvin, a multi-time Grammy nomi-
nee will lend his artistry to the upcoming
benefit for McDaniel. (Photo: AP)
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
Comments
Great article. Can't wait to see the show. I passed it on.
THE BENEFIT FOR MR. MCDANIELS IS A WONDERFUL THING FOR THESE MUSICIANS TO BE DOING. I, TOO, HAVE PLAYED NASHVILLE PALACE IN THE LATE 1980'S FREQUENTLY, AND CAN RECALL AT THAT TIME VERY FEW OF THE SO CALLED "NASHVILLE STARS" WERE THERE OR WOULD PREFORM THERE. OF COURSE, JEANNIE SEALY WAS ALWAYS PRESENT. IF JOHN, THE PALACE OWNER DISCOVERED I WAS ON THE PREMISES, HE ALWAYS CALLED FOR ME AND DEMANDED A PREFORMANCE THAT NIGHT. I ADORED JOHN, WHO PLAYED PIANO, AND STEVE WHO LED THE NASHVILLE PALACE BAND. THEY WERE SO KIND AND TALENTED.
GUESS THAT WITH THE NEW RENOVATIONS, IT HAS ENCOURAGED THE "STARS" TO COME OUT AND PLAY.
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