Rollins Media

Attention, Media: Please note that this master release will be updated to reflect changes, including performer additions, as such information is made available. Each time the information is updated, the date on the release below will be updated to reflect that a change has been made. Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Aug. 6, 2009

EDITORIALCONTACT:  Lisa L. Rollins, lisa@rollinsmedia.com

COUNTRY COMMUNITY TEAMS FOR AUG. 13 BENEFIT FOR MEL McDANIEL

Jeannie Seely & The Whites with Ricky Skaggs Join Performer Lineup

(NASHVILLE,Tenn.)--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.

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 Jeannie Seely, The Whites with Ricky Skaggs, Rick Blaylock, Jimmy C. Newman, Alison Clements, Jared Rogers, Tommy Cash, Buddy Jewel, David Ball, Guy Gilchrist, T-Bell, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Helen Cornelius, Ken Peltier, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Jimmy Fortune, T. Graham Brown, Billy Arr, 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 alongthe way. Our prayers and thoughts are with the McDaniel family at thisdifficult time."

Benefit organizers report that thusfar 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 paintedby 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 at110 each)

• Golfing at Gaylord Springs Golf Links (two up for auction)

• 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

TICKETS: Tickets to the Aug. 13 benefit concert/auction, available at the door only, are $10 per person. (No presale ticketsavailable for this event.) For additional information about the venue, including directions, please call 615-889-1540 or visit www.nashvillepalace.net.

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•  ATTENTION, MEDIA: To request interviews with benefit organizers or volunteer performersTommy Cash or Ricky Lynn Gregg, please contact Lisa L. Rollins at lisa@rollinsmedia.com or call 615-481-1782.