Three weeks after heavy rains caused severe flooding in Tennessee, killing 31 people and causing an estimated $1.5 billion in damage, the music industry continues to rush to the aid of residents affected in the state’s legendary music capital.
Music Rising, a campaign co-founded in 2005 by U2′s The Edge to help musicians in the Gulf Coast repair or replace instruments damaged in Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, is now extending the same helping hand to Nashville-area musicians. Hundreds of musicians who make their living through music have lost instruments and equipment to the flood waters. Music Rising is donating $250,000 to MusiCares to ensure those musicians are able to play on.
“Nashville is a treasure chest of Southern heritage and American musical tradition and is indisputably the world’s Country Music capital. But it’s more than that. It is also home to one of the greatest concentrations of musical talent on earth,” said the Edge.
To apply for aid, musicians will need to provide evidence of a damaged or destroyed instrument. Qualifying musicians can find contact numbers and applications and get more information at any of the following three sites: MusiCares, Music Rising and Gibson Foundation.
Anyone interested in donating to Music Rising’s Nashville Flood Relief can go to Gibsonfoundation.org and click on Flood Relief donations. Just make sure to request that your donation go directly to Music Rising Nashville.
Meanwhile, country music stars continue to contribute money to flood relief. Dolly Parton says she will donate admission proceeds from her Dollywood and Dixie Stampede properties in Tennessee on May 22 and 23 to flood relief efforts, according to CMT.com.
“I grew up in the Smokies in East Tennessee, which was my first home. I moved to Nashville 46 years ago and that is my home now,” she said. “I have family and friends in both places, and when one place hurts, I think it is just right for the other to help.”
The money will go to Parton’s Dollywood Foundation for distribution to other nonprofit organizations assisting flood victims who have lost their homes. Online donations are also being accepted at Parton’s official website.
American Idol breakout star Carrie Underwood is also doing her part to help, reports Forbes.com, launching the Temporary Home fund along with ACM Lifting Lives to help flood victims. Underwood is using grants she would receive as the reigning Academy of Country Music entertainer of the year for the fund. Lifting Lives is donating money from the taping of ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn — The Last Rodeo tribute special that airs Sunday on CBS. Starting Thursday, people can donate $10 by texting “ACM” to 501501.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby, USAF via Wikipedia.