Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Mississippi alumni branch throws concert to raise scholarship funds
By Michelle Bright
Daily Mississippian (U. Mississippi)
04/02/2007

(U-WIRE) OXFORD, Miss. — For John Grisham, hosting the first ever "Mississippi at the Ryman" concert at the historic Nashville Ryman Auditorium, former home of the "Grand Ole Opry," sated his "historical curiosity" and his ever-present desire to give back to his native state of Mississippi.

"I grew up listening to the 'Grand Ole Opry,'" Grisham said in a brief interview backstage before the show began. When asked why he wanted to host the event, Grisham replied,

"I still have a strong emotional attachment to Oxford."

The concert, touted as a "celebration of Mississippians in Nashville" was organized by the Nashville, Ten.., chapter of the University of Mississippi's Alumni Association to raise money for the Chris Bonds Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship provides $500 a year to an underprivileged middle Tennessee student wishing to attend Ole Miss.

More than $90,000 was raised for the scholarship fund, although revenues from tickets and other sales have not been counted.

Despite being on stage at the Ryman, Grisham admitted he certainly did not have any musical aspirations, at least "not at this age."

"[I'm] incredibly non-musical. I can't play an instrument, [and] I sure can't sing," Grisham admitted. Grisham was also eager to host a night of celebrating Mississippians because he says for him, "It is always a source of pride to see a new singer or writer get published."

Other artists reveal Mississippi roots Amy Grant, who sang at the event, has an even more obscure connection to the "Mississippi at the Ryman" show than Grisham. Grant joked that she attended a really nice dinner at Morton's with the Chancellor and some friends and became part of the benefit concert.

"I almost, sorta have a daughter at Ole Miss," Grant defended jokingly. Her niece, whom Grant's sister gave birth to while Grant was still in the hospital recovering "with ice packs strapped to [her]" from her own child's birth 30 hours before, attends Ole Miss.

In seriousness, Grant expressed her delight to be on the lineup.

"Music is such a great thing for people to enjoy, and when you are having a night of music and doing something for somebody, it is a win-win situation," she said.

Singer-songwriter Bryan Kennedy, known for writing hits for Garth Brooks like "Cowgirl's Saddle," "Honky Tonk Bar Association" and "Beaches of Cheyenne," attended elementary through high school with Chris Bonds, who died in 1989 from Duchene muscular dystrophy and for whom the scholarship is dedicated. Kennedy did not know when he was first asked to do the show that it was a benefit for his former classmate.

"It is a real honor for me to do anything for Chris Bonds," Kennedy said. It was also Kennedy's first time to play on the Ryman stage, a dream he, ironically, had to "go to Ole Miss and play football" to fulfill.

Dan Tyler was another singer-songwriter on the ticket that night. Tyler holds two degrees from Ole Miss: A bachelor's in English and a law degree.

"It's a thrill to do anything for Mississippi under any circumstances," Tyler said of playing for the benefit concert.

Although the concert benefited an Ole Miss scholarship with fans coming from across the country, there were some non-Rebel fans in the crowd as well.

Carl Jackson, known for national hits like "Against the Grain" for Garth Brooks and "No Future in the Past" by Vince Gill, is better known around Ole Miss for his anthem to the game-day tailgating tradition, "Beneath the Oaks in the Grove."

Aware of the likelihood for dissent, Jackson explained his reason for playing his signature Rebel anthem after all.

"Some may be mad at me if I didn't play it. Some may be mad at me if [I do]. But [Mississippi] State [University] fans stay mad, anyway, don't they?" Jackson joked before going on stage.

Another Ole Miss alumnus and singer-songwriter, Rivers Rutherford, whose most current hit is Brad Paisley's "When I Get Where I'm Going" is another artist who feels fortunate to have been able to draw from Oxford's wellspring of creativity.

Discussing literature backstage with Grant, Rutherford talked about some of the writers he encountered just from playing local Oxford bars like the Gin, Forrester's and Proud Larry's.

"Willie Morris came to about 25 of my shows, and I got to know him and Barry Hannah a little bit," Rutherford said. While Rutherford did not meet the late Larry Brown during those early years in Oxford, he said he was still influenced by Brown's work.

"Reading 'Joe' changed my life," he said.

Like Rutherford, Steve Azar once played many of the same funky clubs around Oxford, but his connection to Ole Miss is different. Azar's brother and sister both attended the University of Mississippi, and his sister was one of the Chi Omega sorority girls injured 20 years ago during a walk-a-thon.

Azar is from Cleveland, Miss., and recently was awarded by Gov. Haley Barbour his own day, March 13.

Marty Stuart, known as the walking museum of country music, has always been a Mississippi musician and said he enjoys giving back to his home state.

"Mississippi has just about everything, from the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers; to blues legends Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker; and the first lady of country music, Tammy Wynette," he said.

Still, it remains a curiosity to many why there would even be a "Mississippi at the Ryman" concert.

"You never hear of a 'Florida at the Ryman' or 'California at the Ryman.'" said Jim Weatherly, prolific singer-songwriter and Ole Miss alum known for his hit, "Midnight Train to Georgia."

While Azar claim it's Mississippi's passion and soul that draw people in, and Stuart talks of the magnitude of talent and the rich heritage of his beloved state,

Weatherly summed up the mystery of Mississippi with the lyrics from one of his multitude of songs.

Appropriately titled "Mississippi Song," the song goes, "she's still misunderstood, but she's still been good to me."

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