The Nashville Flood - Music City Responds with Music and More

Nashville area waters have returned to normal levels while the city continues to help those impacted by the flood in their recovery. Many Churches and the teams at Hands On Nashville continue to coordinate the volunteer efforts that are so needed. Service organizations including Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Second Harvest and HopeForce have been busy since the flooding began.

One group that has been impacted like many of their neighbors are the singers and songwriters of Music City. Many experienced flooding in their homes. And many lost their music instruments when Sound Check, a storage facility in downtown Nashville, succumbed to the rising Cumberland River's floodwaters.

Music City has been particularly busy using its talents to help those in need. Over $1.7MM was raised in a WSMV (Channel 4) telethon featuring "Vince Gill and friends" that showcased the talent and the heart of Nashville and the surrounding area. Even in the face of personal loss, the musicians came together to give a message of hope and support through their gifting. Vince and Amy Grant also contributed $100K to the fundraiser. Reba gave $100K. Nissan, now a "resident" of the Cool Springs area with their North American headquarters gave $300K. And Taylor Swift showed her heart for the area with a $500K gift!

While the telethon was airing, Anderson Cooper's 360 on CNN showed the destructive power of the water and featured interviews with Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and others including the many volunteers who are selflessly giving to help those in need.

Brad Paisley went on to play the Opry from the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville on Friday May 7. Thursday evening Brad tweeted, "Can't wait to play the Opry tomorrow night. Feels about as important to me as the very first time I ever played it, somehow."

Even the Nashville Symphony, which suffered damage to Nashville's new Schermerhorn Symphony Center, provided a free concert for the public on Friday.

Many concerts that were already scheduled became instant benefit concerts as Nashville worked to rebound from the watery surprise. -- http://www.examiner.com/x-11988-Nashville-Festivals-Examiner~y2010m5d5-Benefi...

And that was just the beginning. Nashville's music community continues to reach out. If you love great music, you have many opportunities to be entertained while raising money for those impacted by the flooding. It doesn't matter what genre of music you enjoy -- there is something for everyone in the many offerings going on around town in country, rock, christian, classical music and more.

Here are just a few of the events going on to continue the musical support for the flood recovery efforts:

• Monday, May 10 6:30pm at 12th and Porter: Ryan Michaels Band w/Maureen Murphy, Brennin & Kendra Chantelle to benefit Hands On Nashville -- http://www.facebook.com/OpryMills#!/event.php?eid=115301871830667&index=1
• Wednesday, May 12 at Center Stage - Kenny Olson (truly one of the best rock guitarists in the world; launched "Kid Rock") plays with an all star group of friends. Bring canned goods to benefit flood victims.
• Sunday, May 16 - Great American Country Television ("GAC") has announced a live national telethon at the historic Ryman Auditorium to benefit the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, an organization that’s already on the scene helping out. Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, and Rodney Atkins are already scheduled to perform, and more acts are being added. The telethon will air commercial free from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
• June 10-13 CMA Fest - Country Music's biggest annual festival. Held in Nashville. 50% of proceeds will go to Flood Relief.
• June 16 Ke$ha Nashville Flood Benefit Concert - Ke$ha is playing a benefit for her hometown of Nashville at the Limelight. 100 percent of the profits "going to relief for humans as well as animals."
• Being Scheduled: Concerts 4 A Cause -- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Concerts-4-A-Cause/104603202911581

Are you a songwriter? A "Songwriting Competition To Raise Money For Flood Victims" is underway.  http://nashvillebenefits.com/2010/05/songwriting-competition-to-raise-money-f...
Entries must be postmarked no later than July 15, 2010. As they say in Nashville, "It all starts with a song."

You can also improve your wardrobe to help: Cool People Care is selling a T-Shirt with "We Are Nashville" to raise money for those impacted by the flood. -- http://store.coolpeoplecare.org/products/we-are-nashville-t-shirt

Bands and Artists including @nashmusicians are also jumping in to help by donating their iTunes download revenue for May.

Nashville photographers have left us stunning images of the past week: http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=nashville+flooding&ss=1. You can also check out the videos from my blog last week at http://cantstopthemusic.typepad.com/cantstopthemusic/2010/05/nashvilles-i-24-...

Social networking continues to play a big part in connecting the community and keeping people informed. For example, Opry Mills' Facebook page is providing updates on the devastated Mall as well as where those now unemployed can get help -- http://www.facebook.com/OpryMills

Search Twitter hashtags for a stream of activity all about the flood. A few of the popular hashtags on Twitter include: #nashvilleflood, #othersituation2010 and #wearenashville.

I also recommend following @HONashville, @NashBenefits, @NashvilleEst, @NESPower, @tndotcom, @NashvilleAlerts and @WSMV on Twitter.

Is there a silver lining? In addition to seeing the great spirit of the people of Nashville, Bellevue, Franklin, Brentwood, Antioch and all surrounding areas, new jobs are being created. For example, Contract Labor Solutions plans to hire 2,500 workers -- http://www.wkrn.com/global/story.asp?s=12443546 for flood cleanup.

For More Information:

Grand Ole Opry stage sat under 2 feet of water
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TENNESSEE_FLOODS?SITE=DCTMS&SEC...

Musicians lose millions in gear in Nashville flood
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TENNESSEE_FLOODS_MUSICAL_MESS?SITE=...

Floodwater Leaves Wake Of Damaged Homes
http://www.wsmv.com/weather/23502385/detail.html

Nashville Symphony: http://www.nashvillesymphony.org

CMA Fest: http://www.cmafest.com/

Organizations:
Hand On Nashville: http://www.hon.org  (Twitter: @HONashville)

Salvation Army: http://salvationarmyusa.org

American Red Cross in Nashville: http://www.nashvilleredcross.org

Second Harvest  Food Bank Of Middle Tennessee: http://www.secondharvest.org

HopeForce International: http://www.hopeforce.org

Cool People Care: http://www.coolpeoplecare.org

Please let me know of any other helpful links, Twitter ID's to follow, Facebook links, etc. Thanks to all of the many volunteers who have been and continue to help. We Are Nashville. We truly are the Volunteer State! May God bless America and May God bless Nashville and the surrounding area in this time of loss and rebuilding.

Comments

[Sam Davidson]

Thanks for this round up - and for mentioning the shirt. We're getting them out as quickly as we can!

[Monir Sider]

Nashville is called "Music City" because it seems like to claim all of music for one area of the country, especially when the roots of various styles may be found all over.Music City has hosted some of the biggest names in the industry? Elvis, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Kansas, REM, Matchbox 20, Jimmy Buffett, and Neil Young are just a few of the performers who have recorded their biggest hits in Nashville studios.