(L-R) Roxane Atwood – Dottie Bash Committee, Tatum Allsep – Founder & CEO Music Health Alliance, Carla Denham – Chief External Relations Officer Music Health Alliance, Dottie Birthday Bash Committee Members -Jeannie Seely, Ron Harman, Bev Moser and Scott Sexton
NASHVILLE, TN (October 31, 2022) – Organizers for the Fourth Annual Dottie West Birthday Bash presented Music Health Alliance with a check for $30,000 raised through ticket sales, sponsorships and live auction items. The star-studded event, presented by Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms was hosted by Grammy Award winner and Grand Ole Opry Legend Jeannie Seely and took place at the famous 3rd & Lindsley music venue in front of a sold out crowd on October 11, 2022.
“I am very honored to be the presenter for this incredible event in Nashville raising funds to benefit musicians and the music industry as well as honor Dottie West and other deserving artists,” reflected Springer Mountain Farms CEO-Gus Arrendale. “The opportunity to bring awareness to the needs of others through music has always been close to my heart.”
“Musicians have always been special to me and I feel like they don’t always get recognized for their efforts. When hard times hit, sometimes these are the folks who get hit the hardest since many of them are young with young families. We appreciate Music Health Alliance allowing us to partner with them, doing all we can to provide the resources needed to assist everyone, but especially this vitally important part of our business,” shared event host Jeannie Seely.
“We are so honored and thankful to once again be the charity partner for such a fabulous event honoring an icon in our industry. Through the generosity of those who attended and participated in the event, Music Health Alliance will be able to provide more than $900,000 in life-saving healthcare advocacy and resources to those who are facing healthcare challenges in the music industry. Thank you for helping us to heal the music,“ said Tatum Allsep, MHA Founder and CEO.
The star-studded fourth annual event included performances by 55-year member of the Grand Ole Opry, Jeannie Seely along with honoree Country Music Hall of Fame member and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie McCoy, Americana Music Association Duo/Group of the Year award winner, The War & Treaty, Grammy-award winning recording artist Linda Davis and Lang Scott, Grand Ole Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Mandy Barnett, Don Schlitz and Vince Gill. Also included on the talented lineup was John Schneider, Dallas Wayne, Tim Atwood, Kenna West, Tess Frizzell, Bobby Tomberlin and Jason Coleman. The house band, who all donated their talents, included Dug Grieves (lead guitar), Kenny Sears (fiddle), Steve Hinson (Steel), Mark Beckett (Drums) and Matt McKenzie (Bass).
Always popular at the event was the live auction by Melissa Luman Phillips who was accompanied by Sam Stephens. The auction not only helped raised additional funds, but provided entertainment with items donated by Charlie McCoy, Chris Young, Stacy Britton, the Grand Ole Opry, Gruhn Guitars, Tess Frizzell, Donnie Reed and more.
A special thanks and gratitude to George Shinn for his generous contribution, Jack Teeler for sponsorship of the Hatch Print commemorative posters, O’Charley’s for the backstage greenroom meal and all the volunteers who donated their talent, time and efforts.
About Music Health Alliance:
Founded in 2013 and based in Nashville, Music Health Alliance (MHA) has provided free healthcare advocacy and lifesaving support and resources to more than 18,000 music industry members across 49 states in the non-profit’s first nine years. MHA has supported songwriters, musicians, performers, producers, engineers, venue operators, artist managers, agents, publishers, business managers, and more by providing access to medicine, mental health resources, COVID-19 relief, diagnostic tests, lifesaving transplants, end of life care, and many other necessary services, saving more than $85,000,000 in healthcare costs for the nationwide music community in less than a decade. Entirely funded through grants and individual and corporate donations, financial support from the music community is critical to continue MHA’s advocacy and free services. For every $1 donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music. MHA fights so those in our industry never have to feel alone in a health crisis and removes obstacles so patients can receive lifesaving care. All MHA services are free to any person who has worked in the music industry for three or more years or who has credited contributions to four commercially released recordings or videos. Spouses, partners, and children of qualifying individuals may also receive access to the non-profit’s services from birth to end of life. Learn more about Music Health Alliance by visiting the website or calling 615-200-6896 or by email [email protected]. Request healthcare assistance at: musichealthalliance.com/
About Jeannie Seely:
Jeannie Seely’s deep, moving vocals earned her the nickname of “Miss Country Soul,” a title that’s still used today. An esteemed singer, songwriter, producer, actress, author and on-air personality, Seely added another title, “Doctor,” to her resume when she was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Arts from Lincoln Memorial University in 2019. The third female country artist to win a GRAMMY® is also among a select group of country artists who have scored No. 1 hits as a solo artist, duet partner and songwriter. On September 16, 1967, Seely fulfilled her lifelong dream of joining the Grand Ole Opry®, becoming the first Pennsylvania native to do so. Nearly 55 years later, Seely makes clear that it’s still a thrill and an honor each time she performs on the world-famous stage. From her 1966 Top 10 Billboard album, The Seely Style, which featured “Don’t Touch Me,” to her self-produced album, Written in Song, consisting entirely of songs she’s written and recorded for more than 10 Country Music Hall of Fame® members, Seely’s recordings have spanned seven decades. Seely first appeared on the Billboard charts in 1966, continued to score entries for 13 consecutive years on various Billboard charts, and as recently as 2022, has had a presence on the MusicRow charts. Seely also garnered a No. 1 on the Record World Country Singles chart in 1971 as well as a No. 1 on the Bluegrass Today chart in 2019. In his 2003 book, Finding Her Voice: The Saga of Women in Country Music, music critic Robert K. Oermann wrote, “With her chin-out, tough/tender, heart-of-gold manner, Jeannie Seely remains one of Country’s most completely modern female personalities,” and that statement still holds true. With a strong social media following and over four million views on her YouTube channel, Seely continues to expand her international presence as music sales and messages from fans worldwide pour in. She appeared in Willie Nelson’s movie Honeysuckle Rose and sang on the film’s RIAA® platinum-certified soundtrack, and for the past four years, Seely has hosted her own show, “Sundays with Seely,” on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. She also served as a disc jockey on her own Armed Forces Network Show, which launched after her tour abroad for the troops. Seely continues to receive letters of appreciation from American soldiers for her support. She is also a fierce advocate for musicians’ rights and takes much pride in her involvement and support for the cause. Nelson, along with Rhonda Vincent, Bill Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Stevens and many more of her friends, joined Seely for her current project on Curb Records, An American Classic, which has seen rave reviews and three radio releases. Recently, Seely won the Song of the Year Award at the Arkansas Country Music Awards. She also celebrated her 55th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member on September 17, 2022. In addition, she holds the record for most appearances on the Opry, at well over 5000! Keep up with all things Jeannie Seely at www.jeannieseely.com.
About Springer Mountain Farms
Springer Mountain Farms is a family-owned business nestled in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with 25 years of experience in raising chickens. Their chickens are responsibly raised on local family farms on a high quality diet of 100% American-grown, pesticide-free grains without any antibiotics, steroids, growth stimulants, hormones, or animal by-products EVER. Springer Mountain Farms is certified by the American Humane Association and was the first poultry company in the world to be American Humane Certified. They truly understand that better animal care results in better tasting, higher-quality chicken. For more information, visit www.SpringerMTN.com.