Friday, February 27, 2009

Thank you, Dave Perkins

Dave Perkins is a very talented musician, a record producer, an academic administrator, a good soul, and a friend of Andalusia. Over the last few decades, he has played and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Ray Charles and Willie Nelson. He recently organized a benefit concert for Andalusia at a club called Mercy Lounge in Nashville. He assembled some of the most talented singers, songwriters, musicians, and actors you will find anywhere for a magical night of music and a round table discussion the next day at Vanderbilt University where Dave is the Director of the Religion in the Arts and Contemporary Culture Program at the Divinity School. The performers were Old Black Kettle, Minton Sparks, Mary Gauthier, Over the Rhine, and Denice Hicks. Because of Dave's dedication to our efforts at Andalusia and through the generosity of these incredible performers and all the folks who came out to hear them, this event raised over $1,400 for the Foundation. It was tremendously inspiring for me to be in a room of several hundred people who have read O'Connor and really get it. I will never forget those two days in Nashville and will be forever in your debt, Dave Perkins. Thank you.

Craig