Charlie Daniels Interview: Volunteer Jam Helps Veterans in Big Way
On August 12, Charlie Daniels fans from all over the world (myself included) gathered at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee to enjoy an array of music from a long list of artists that included Ted Nugent, Trace Adkins, Alabama, Terri Clark, Billy Ray Cyrus, Billy Dean, Michael W. Smith, Travis Tritt, Phil Vassar, Montgomery Gentry, Colt Ford, the Grascals, the Kentucky Headhunters, Tracy Lawrence, the Oak Ridge Boys, Ryan Weaver, Wynonna Judd, Craig Morgan, Lee Roy Parnell and many more (shockingly).The performance benefited The Journey Home Project (thejourneyhomeproject.com), a non-profit organization that benefits the needs of veterans — the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces that keep us safe.
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Did you ever imagine you would be doing The Volunteer Jam for a 40th anniversary?
I had the privilege to speak with Charlie Daniels, and he shares a little about the history of The Volunteer Jam and what they do specifically to help our nation’s veterans:
Did you ever imagine you would be doing The Volunteer Jam for a 40th anniversary?It was supposed to be a one-time thing. We started out at a live recording session. We had two live cuts, one was the Orange Blossom Special. The other was a song I wrote called “No Place to Go” that we wanted to do on a Volunteer Jam album, and we just done the studio part of it, and we had scheduled War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville and just got some recording equipment, put it up, and advertised the show. And it sold out the first year. And it was very interesting because I kind of casually invited a few friends to come up and jam with us, Dickey Betts and the Marshall Tucker Band, and nobody knew they were in the building until I brought them out, and it was such a nice surprise, and it just kind of took on a life of its own. To be honest with you, I am surprised, 40 years later, to be doing it such a long time.
This year you have quite an all star line-up. How do you feel about everybody who wants to be a part of it?
I think we have probably got the greatest roster of talent we have ever had, and then a couple of surprises people you don’t know about — we’re still holding on to a few to reveal at the show.
You have a performer from my area (Columbia, Tennessee) Natalie Stovall and The Drive set to perform. What do you think about her?
She is going to do The Devil Went Down To Georgia with me; she is a really good player.
This will benefit The Journey Home Project. Could you tell us how they got on board?
Well, I am Chairman of the Board of the Journey Home Project. It is a small board and a small organization that we try to help our [military] people who come back from overseas — or any place, actually, for their service — to readjust to civilian life, which is not always an easy thing to do. Whatever they need we try to be there for them.
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The Volunteer Jam ended up raising thousands of dollars to help veterans readjust to civilian life. Here’s an excerpt from a press release published by the Journey Home Project’s website:
Long after the Charlie Daniels 40th Anniversary Volunteer Jam at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena came to an end, its immense impact on U.S. military members and veterans remains. Backstage at Wednesday night’s event, Volunteer Jam performer and legendary Opry star Jeannie Seely was there to accept a $10,000 donation from talk show host, Sean Hannity, on behalf of The Journey Home Project.And if you think that’s all, just wait. SiriusXM’s “The Highway” personality Storme Warren also donated $10,000 to The Journey Home Project after losing a challenge Hannity issued — seeing who could throw a football the farthest from the stage to the back of the house. Warren vowed if he lost the challenge, he would match Hannity’s donation. Sure enough, Hannity’s throw outstretched Warren’s by long-haul!
Warren and Hannity’s contributions totaling $20,000 will be used to further the efforts of the (501) (c) (3) co-founded by Charlie Daniels and his long-time manager, David Corlew, to support those veterans organizations that do the most good in meeting the healthcare, education and career needs of the military and their families.
