Christian Country Music Hope Concert Series
Planned for West Virginia
Harrell |
Rose |
Johnson |
Harris |
The Internet has enabled the Michelle’s Angels Foundation to reach out to people in need of love, hope and assistance all over the world. But when Herb Knoll heard that several men and women in the small town of Norton, West Virginia, were struggling with cancer, he wanted to do more, to expand the outreach of Michelle’s Angels in a new and more personal way.
And so a troupe of the Foundation’s Angel Artists is going to provide comfort to those in need. Among their activities are plans to visit nearby Elkins, West Virginia where on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at 7 p.m., a “Christian Country Music Hope Concert” will take place in the Harper McNeely Auditorium on the campus of Davis & Elkins College. Led by the Michelle’s Angel’s Music Director and singer-songwriter Ken Harrell, Angel Artists Tonja Rose, Greg Johnson and Rob Harris will perform. All proceeds from the two-hour concert will go to a dedicated fund managed by the Kynette United Methodist Church, in nearby Norton, W.V., for the benefit of those battling cancer and other aliments in and around this community.
Even more importantly, the Angel Artists will be visiting the Davis Memorial Hospital to perform for patients in the Cancer Center, lifting spirits and letting people know that others care. The visit will conclude the morning after the concert, when the Angel Artists will perform at the Kynette United Methodist Church in appreciation for the efforts it made to bring this event to life, with special appreciation going to Ms. Carol Edmond for her critical support. The Angel Artists will return to Nashville immediately following the performance at the Church.
“This very special Christian Country Music Hope Concert and related events would not have been possible had it not been for the generous support of Mr. James Gately of Grand Island, New York who graciously provided a significant monetary gift needed to pay the event’s expenses. Mr. Gately provided the caring gift in memory of his Aunt Francis Hazen of Norfolk, New York who died of cancer” this according to the Michelle’s Angels Foundation president, Herb Knoll. Also supporting this event are the Holiday Inn Express, media support compliments of Bridgeport’s WDTV and WVFX television stations and radio station WDME and the Elkins Intermountain Newspaper, each located in Elkin, West Virginia.
The three featured Angel Artists are all from the Nashville area. Greg Johnson is a Grammy-nominated songwriter whose songs have been recorded by major recording artists including Tracy Lawrence, Clay Walker, Lila McCann, and Sweethearts of the Rodeo.
Rob Harris grew up in West Virginia, and this will be something of a homecoming for him. Rob is a staff songwriter with Identical Entertainment in Nashville. His songs “Who I Am Ain't Who I Was” (written with Mark Narmore and Tonja Rose) and “Hearts Are Made to Give Away” (written with Rory Lee Feek and Greg Johnson) were recorded by Tonja Rose in 2009 on her CD The Heart of Me.
Tonja Rose first took the stage at the age of three – singing “Jesus on the Mainline” with her father’s gospel quartet in Pinetown, North Carolina – and she’s been singing ever since. Through friend and fellow song writer Ken Harrell, Tonja was invited to sing at a Michelle’s Angels benefit at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville in 2005, and has been an active supporter ever since. In addition to appearing on the Michelle’s Angels website, Tonja has shared playbills with Gretchen Wilson, Trace Adkins, Tanya Tucker and others in venues large and small.
Tickets for the concert are available at the Good News Christian Book Store and the Evans TV and Appliance, each located in Elkin, West Virginia or by calling Carol Edmond at 304.636.7650.
“The Michelle’s Angels Foundation is planning to produce similar Hope Concerts across America …anywhere a needy audience can be found,” Knoll said while adding “Millions of people quietly suffer because they think no one is listening. The Michelle’s Angels are not only listening…we want them to know we care.
Those interested in learning how they can arrange a HOPE Concert in their community should contact Herb Knoll at herbknoll@MichellesAngels.com or by calling Herb at: 615.579.8136.