Nashville Songwriters to Perform Humanitarian Concert in Brentwood Today

Four country music and bluegrass artists who have written hundreds of hits and/or performed with some of country music's biggest stars are teaming up to raise money for a humanitarian program sponsored by the Church of the Good Shepherd in Brentwood, Tennessee today.

Songwriters Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley will headline the "Mission of Love" concert, along with acclaimed vocalist Val Storey, today, February 13. Proceeds will help fund essential needs of San Jose Obrero, Good Shepherd's sister church in Mante Ecuador.

"We have held a lot of fundraisers in the past, but this is the first time we have put on a concert for San Jose Obrero," said producer Grant Randolph, who has opened for the likes of Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell and even the late President Ronald Reagan. "I was beyond belief when Carl, Larry, Jerry and Val agreed to perform. I feel so blessed that artists of their caliber wanted to help."

Carl Jackson has a long list of credits as a country and bluegrass songwriter, singer and producer and has won many awards, including two Grammy Awards and three International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards. He has worked with such superstars as Glen Campbell, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Alison Kraus and many more. One of his recent projects is the critically acclaimed 2-disc album "Orthophonic Joy: The 1927 Bristol Sessions Revisited" and an accompanying documentary.

Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley are also among Nashville's most prolific songwriters. Cordle has written for such artists as Ricky Skaggs, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, The Osborne Brothers, Rhonda Vincent, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire John Anderson, Trace Adkins, Diamond Rio and more. Among his best known songs was the hit single "Murder on Music Row," which was first recorded by George Strait and Alan Jackson.

Jerry Salley, meanwhile, is a seven-time Dove Award nominee, and was named SESAC's 2003 "Country Music Songwriter of the Year." He has had over 400 songs recorded by other artists, including two tracks on albums currently nominated for Grammy Awards, for Chris Stapleton and The Steeldrivers.

The three friends often perform on Monday nights at The Station Inn in Nashville, with Val Storey, one of Nashville's leading session singers, whose own album includes performances by Carl Jackson, Curtis Wright, Ruby Lovett, Euna Deaton and The Jordanaires. She also sang background vocals on Dolly Parton's album "Blue Smoke" and on Sonya Isaacs' self-titled country album.

Opening the "Mission of Love" concert will be emerging singer/songwriter Kaitlyn Baker, whose single "Coal Train" was included in the 2015 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards ZinePak, a 2-CD compilation of songs by ACM Award nominees and new artists.

"It's an honor to be invited to open for such great artists as Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, Jerry Salley and Val Storey," Baker said. "I grew up listening to a lot of their music, and never imagined I would be sharing the stage with them."

The "Mission of Love" concert will take place at on Saturday, February 13, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 1420 Wilson Pike, Brentwood, TN 37027. Beverages and hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6:00 p.m. The concert will begin at 6:45, with a reception to follow. Tickets are $20 for adults; Ages 18 and under: 2 for $20. Babysitting will be provided at no extra charge. For information, visit www.goodshepherdbrentwood.org or call (615) 332-1222.

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