Gainesville, GA. (Top40 Charts/ www.johnjarrardconcert.com) - 2007 marks the sixth annual Bruce Burch and
Friends Concert honoring John Jarrard which will be held on Tuesday, August 7. This year's performers include Bruce Burch, Teddy Gentry,
Buddy Buie, J.R. Cobb,
Scotty Emerick, Dallas Davidson and Rhett Akins.
The benefit concert honors Gainesville native John Jarrard, a well-known Nashville songwriter who wrote hits for Don Williams, Alabama, George Strait, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence and others. Jarrard died of complications from diabetes in February 2001.
Bruce Burch, also a Gainesville native and longtime friend of Jarrard, has written songs recorded by Reba McEntire, Faith Hill and George Jones. Burch, along with a group of local businessmen and women, organized the event to pay tribute to Jarrard.
Teddy Gentry co-wrote a number of Alabama's hits, including "Why Lady Why," "Sad Lookin' Moon" and "Pass It On Down." He also wrote "Old Man" with John Jarrard. Before the group's farewell tour in 2003, the group Alabama scored 21 gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and 42 number one singles, selling over 73 million records. The group also has been honored receiving 2 Grammy Awards, 8 Country Music Association "Entertainer of the Year" honors, 2 People's Choice Awards and a star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame."
Buddy Buie got his start when a band he played in with his friend, Bobby Goldsboro, was asked to be Roy Orbison's touring band, later called The Candymen. Songwriter, producer and Georgia Music Hall of Famer, Buie has produced hits by Billy Joe Royal and B.J. Thomas, co-written the Classics IV hits "Spooky" and "Traces" along with his long time friend J.R. Cobb and founded the Atlanta Rhythm Section in the 70's. This will be Buddy's first performance at the concert.
Premier guitarist for Roy Orbison's touring band, The Candymen, as well as for the Classics IV and the Atlanta Rhythm Section, J.R. Cobb is also an accomplished songwriter. He penned "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy," "Every Day With You Girl," and, along with Buddy Buie and others, "Spooky," "Stormy" and "Traces." Cobb has also performed guitar and vocals on recordings with greats such as Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson.
Scotty Emerick began writing songs for Sawyer Brown shortly after moving to Nashville. He then wrote a string of hits for Toby Keith, including the No 1 duet with Keith and Willie Nelson, "Beer for My Horses." Other No 1 hits written by Emerick include "I Love This Bar," "I'm Just Talkin' About Tonight," "Whiskey Girl" and "As Good As I Once Was." He was named Songwriter of the Year in 2004 by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
Dallas Davidson wrote the 2005 hit "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," recorded by Trace Adkins. He has also written songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Rhett Akins, Jamey Johnson, Josh Gracin, Chris Young, Catherine Britt, Randy Houser and more. He has also scored hits with "Louisiana" and "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away," recorded by Rhett Akins.
After signing a recording contract in 1994, Rhett Akins gained notoriety with hits such as "That Ain't My Truck," "She Said Yes" and the No 1 "Don't Get Me Started." On his new RCA Album, People Like Me, he co-wrote five of the eleven tracks, including "I Love Women My Mama Can't Stand," co-written with Dallas Davidson.
The 2006 concert raised a record $102,000, and since 2002, the concert has generated over $121,000 in grants issued directly to charities while building an endowment to approximately $150,000. The endowment was established to provide financial assistance to charitable causes in the area. The John Jarrard Fund is managed by the North Georgia Community Foundation.
Proceeds from the 2007 concert will benefit north Georgia charities including Good News at Noon, The Good News Clinic, The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Georgia Chapter and the new Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
The concert will be held at the Smithgall Arts Council Depot, 331 Spring Street, in Gainesville, Georgia. Tickets are $30 each, with discounts for blocks of five or more. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.johnjarrardconcert.com, or contact the North Georgia Community Foundation at (770) 535-7880.
