Musicians for Mor Mor
by Brenda L.
Madden
 The entire Nashville commu-nity
banded together after the historic flood last
year; the mu-sic industry, in particular, stepped
forward with numerous benefits to raise money for
those caught in harm’s way. In Nashville,
that is the rule rather than the exception,
whether the call for help is of historic
proportions or on a more personal level.
 Recently local businesswoman,
Mary Warchol (or “Mor Mor” as her
grandchildren call her), was diag-nosed with a
rare form of cancer. After surgery - medical
bills began to reach astronomical proportions.
When the Driskills learned of Mary’s
situation, they immediately wanted to help. Marc
Driskill, ASCAP’s Vice-President/General
Manager Nashville, called a few of his friends
and together with his wife, Peggy, the benefit
began to take shape and “Musicians for Mor
Mor” was created.
At the Hard Rock
Cafe’s Reverb Room on February 24th, hit
songwriters Brett James, Neil Thrasher, Jason
Reeves and Allen Shamblin took the stage on
Mary’s behalf. Each of these songwriters
have a re-sume that include cuts by some of
music’s finest, but on this night, it was
not just their talent in the spot-light, it was
their heart.
Brett James, perhaps best known as the songwriter
of Carrie Underwood’s hit, “Jesus, Take
The Wheel,” has also written number one hits
for Jessica Andrews, Martina McBride, Kenny
Chesney, Rodney Atkins and Jason Aldean.
 Neil Thrasher, whose father was a
member of the legendary Thrasher Brothers, is
carrying on the musical tradition. He has written
songs for Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Diamond
Rio and Montgomery Gentry as well as co-writing
the Kenny Chesney smash, “There Goes My
Life.”
Jason Reeves, a songwriter with more of a pop
flare, co-wrote ten of the twelve tracks on
Colbie Caillat’s debut album Coco -
including the singles “Bubbly”,
“Realize,” and “The Little
Things” which went plati-num.
 Allen Shamblin has had over 100
cuts as a songwriter. His first number one being
“He Walked On Water” by Randy Travis.
And the hits continue, most recently with
“The House That Built Me” an
award-winning song for Miranda Lambert.
Not only did these
wonderful musicians step up for the cause, but
schools and businesses joined in by contributing
items for the silent auction. Almost thirty items
were on the auction block, everything from
jewelry and Android cell phones to limousine
services and catering for twenty. Yielding the
highest bid of the night was a Yamaha guitar
signed by Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and
numerous others, which sold for $1,100.
The evening was a
huge success, raising approxi-mately $5,500, all
of which will go to assist with Mary’s
medical bills. If you would like to help, it is
not too late.
“Musicians
for Mor Mor”
Are still accepting donations at
Wells Fargo/Wachovia Banks
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