As expected, the 40th Anniversary of Charlie Daniels' Volunteer Jam was nothing short of a celebration, covering hours of iconic music and surprise guests for the sold out crowd at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena last Wednesday (August 12). Eric Church, Blackberry Smoke, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Jamey Johnson were among the night's surprise guests who performed with Daniels to honor U.S. military members and veterans.
Others who took the stage throughout the evening included the Kentucky Headhunters, Phil Vassar, Wynonna, Tracy Lawrence, Jeanie Sealy, the Oak Ridge Boys, Billy Dean, Lee Roy Parnell, Natalie Stovall, Ted Nugent, Ryan Weaver, Michael W. Smith, Travis Tritt, Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins, Alabama, Terri Clark, Colt Ford, The Grascals, Lee Greenwood, Craig Morgan and Billy Ray Cyrus.
A benefit for U.S. Military veterans and their families, the 40th Anniversary Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam raised hundreds of thousands in proceeds for the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Journey Home Project, co-founded by Daniels. The project seeks to connect donors with veterans’ organizations that do the most good in meeting the health care, education and career needs of military servicemen and women and their families.
The Volunteer Jam's title sponsor, Henry Repeating Arms, donated a $200,000 check on-stage to The Journey Home Project. Anthony Imperato, President of Henry Repeating Arms, said, "Although we can never repay them [U.S. Military servicemen and women] what they have done for us, Henry's sponsorship of the Volunteer Jam and donation to The Journey Home Project is a small token of our gratitude."
Since 1974, Daniels has commissioned his musical friends and peers to come together on a “volunteer” basis to hang out, “jam” together, and entertain crowds in an unconventional, laid-back fashion unknown to any other concert event -- all while dedicating concert proceeds to worthy causes.
Having founded the “Volunteer Jam” concept in 1974 as a “homecoming,” event for music peers to gather in Nashville after celebrating their first hometown sellout concert, Daniels and The Charlie Daniels Band have grown the concept from its early days at the War Memorial Auditorium to the Starwood Amphitheater, to its first year at Music City’s Bridgestone Arena– it’s largest setting to-date.
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