AngryCountry.com - Concert Review: Joe Diffie and Friends

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Concert Review: Added: 02/11/04
Joe Diffie and Friends - Ryman Auditorium
By. Christine Bohorfoush - AngryCountry.com Staff Writer

First Steps is a private non-profit licensed organization for education and development of children with special needs. First Steps prepares young children, from birth to five years old, for a successful start in life through early intervention and developmental programs. First Steps is a committed program to enhancing each child's potential to learn, to grow, and to be healthy.

Country music artist Joe Diffie has been with the first Steps program for the past twelve years. Joe has a child of his own, Tyler, with Down Syndrome. When first arriving in Nashville, it was First Steps who helped Joe and wife with the needs of their child. Diffie has never forgotten the help that he received at the hands of First Steps, and has been committed to helping their program since that time. In fact, over the years, Joe has helped to raise more than $770,000.00 for the program. He does this through his yearly benefit and auction.

As Joe Diffie took to the stage, he introduced us to his sister Monica Stiles, first to perform on this evening. She explained that when Joe was just twelve years old, he would often baby-sit his brothers and sisters... and on those evenings, they would give impromptu living room concerts. Like Joe, Monica came to Nashville to pursue a career as a country music artist. From Here On Out, which she co-wrote, was recorded on Joe's platinum selling album Third Rock From The Sun and landed her first songwriting contract. Music has always been an important part of their family life, as it is today; Monica would state, than perform Going Over Jordan.

Next to take stage would be Jesse Lee... this her only second time to be on the Ryman stage (The first having been when she volunteered to sing while on a tour of the Opry) at the age of seventeen, would sing River Child. Jesse has performed, however, with some of country music's biggest names including Willie Nelson, Clay Walker, Ronnie Millsap, Lee Greenwood, Brooks and Dunn, and Tracy Byrd. She was chosen from among fifty thousand hopefuls as a finalist for the second season of FOX Television's American Idol. A resident of Florida, Jesse makes her second home in Nashville, writing and recording. Here she would also introduce to the audience what she hopes to record for her album, Roses Are Over-rated. This is a young lady with a fresh and unique sound that she brings to her country music.

2003's Vocal Duo Of The Year Hometown News would grace the stage and sing their first hit number Minivan. In seeing this duo, for the first time, I was immediately reminded of The Everly Brothers. Ron and Scott stopped to first dedicate this song to all the Mom's and Dad's who work so hard at caring for their families.

Lila McCann would next step into the spotlight to perform her first hit single Down Came A Blackbird, which she recorded at just fourteen years old. Lila thanked the crowd gathered for coming out to support First Steps and Joe Diffie's efforts and next sang Come A Little Closer. She closed by singing her first number one hit song I Wanna Fall In Love, a number that proved to remain popular with the audience. Lila's third album Complete proves that this determined and poised young woman is answering her true calling.

Craig Morgan paid a surprise visit to the benefit, delighting the people and his fans. As one of those fans, I never get tired of hearing him perform his song Almost Home. While center stage, Craig threw down his white cowboy hat from his head and said "Hey, who wants that hat? The biggest bill thrown on the stage takes it!" A gentlemen from one of the front rows hurried forward and tossed a hundred dollar bill on the floor in front of Craig. With a big grin, Craig yelled "SOLD!" helping to do his part to further the benefit on this night. Craig Morgan is always a delight each and every time that I see him perform... with a great sense of humor and a special way with every song he sings, Craig would wow the audience with what he stated he hoped would be a song on his next album I'm Country.

Not to forget what this evening was truly about, many of the children from the First Steps program took stage to present Joe Diffie with a gift. What was in the box presented just did not seem of importance, after one of the small young males on stage (Jason VanWulven) graced Joe by singing a few bars of his song Pick Up Man. Proving yet again, that children are truly a bright spot in all our lives.

During an intermission, many special items donated from country music artists were auctioned to the audience. The first item to be bid upon was an autographed guitar of Joe Diffie's that took in $550.00. The next item up for auction was a wonderful black and white photo poster of Johnny Cash along with nine of his albums; this also brought in $550.00. Country artist Toby Keith auctioned off one of his acoustic guitars, autographed photo, and his latest album that brought in $650.00. There was also a trip to Vegas for Sizzlin' Country that brought in $1,050.00. And last on the auction block was a beautiful candy apple red Gibson guitar that the buyer could have any artist present on this evening sign at a personal Meet and Greet after the show... this item brought in $850.00.

After the intermission, Hal Ketchum would also pay a surprise visit to the benefit. A long time friend of Joe Diffie's, Hal said that it was a pleasure for him to come out on this evening to help Joe with the needs of these children. For the children, Hal would perform I Know Where Love Lives and followed with Waiting For Redemption. Very popular with the crowd, Hal was asked to perform another song and then brought the audience to a standing ovation, by performing the hauntingly beautiful Stay Forever.

Taking the stage next is Australia's Sherrie' Austin who sang Streets Of Heaven, the title track of her August 2003 album. Sherrie' was playing country music festivals and opening for country greats like Johnny Cash before she was fifteen years old. She burst on the country music scene in 1997 with her debut release, Words, and her 1999 Love In The Real World album launched the hit single and video, Never Been Kissed, and earned her an Academy of Country Music nomination for Top New Female Vocalist. Tonight Sherrie' would also introduce her next single Driving Into The Sun to be released on February 7th... a song about taking risks in life. She would close with The Son Of a Preacher Man originally made popular by Jeanne C. Riley.

Nashville Star's first big winner Buddy Jewell needed no real introduction, as he took the spotlight to sing his latest release Sweet Southern Comfort. Voted by millions of viewers of the USA Network television series to be the next Nashville Star, Buddy is making himself heard not only in Music City, but worldwide. After years of singing in clubs and on demo tapes to help other songwriters sell their songs, Buddy is now proving that the voters were right with the stellar chart performance of his debut album. Buddy who has three children of his own, stated that he has been blessed with three healthy children; so he is always ready to help with the needs of kids and was honored to help Joe Diffie on this night. Buddy would next perform a song that he explained he wrote for his son I Heart You... a song about his son making a Valentine for a little girl, when he was in the first grade. Closing, he would sing the song that has made him a Nashville Star and written for his daughter Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song.)

Joe Diffie has earned a sterling reputation as a singer's singer, a master song craftsmen, and a flawless judge of country lyrics... this was apparent, as he commanded the stage with his hit Third Rock From The Sun and followed with mega hit Pick Up Man. Joe thanked all the artists for coming out to help him on this night. He brought his wife Theresa to the stage... proud that she is expecting another child on May 20th. Joe wanted to let his fans know that he will be releasing a new album on May 8th with new single Tougher Then Nails. Joe closed the benefit with another of his many hits John Deere Green to a standing ovation.

Angry Country would just like to add that we hope that more fans of country music will come out next year to help Joe Diffie and his efforts for First Steps... this is a wonderful organization that helps many special need children. Not only will you get to hear some of the finest artists in country music; but it is also an enjoyable evening of bidding on favorite items donated from many of country music's greatest. We at Angry Country were honored to do our part, as well, as we bid and won auctions for items from some of our favorite artists: Brooks and Dunn, The Dixie Chicks and Charlie Robison.

NOTE: Angry Country wishes to extend our sincere

thanks to Joe Diffie and his staff for allowing

us to be a part of this very special benefit.

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