It Takes A Village: A Night For Dirk Johnson

By Dave Parsons

One of the things that makes Nashville unique is most of the artists live in and around Music City.  You might run into an artist at the grocery store, or the gas station.  It also makes it very handy for artists to say yes when a fundraising campaign needs entertainment or a fellow musician might need a helping hand.

Dirk Johnson is battling stage 4 nonalcoholic liver failure and needs a transplant.  He has worked with dozens upon dozens of musicians over the years as an accomplished pianist, producer, engineer, mix and master engineer.  Dirk has worked with just about everyone in Country music as a musician and producer and is well loved in the community.   musician and a producer.   

“An Evening for Dirk” was put together by Jim “Moose” Brown, a songwriter best known for co-writing It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere. He put together a star studded event to help with medical bills, at 3^rd and Lindsley in Nashville.  The band Dirk plays with locally, and also on TV, is called 45 rpm and they performed and flawlessly backed up the long list of entertainers.

Brown and songwriter Erin Enderlin opened the show, and gave way to 45 RPM playing a few standards.  They then brought on traditional country artist Teea Goans. Goans, who long ago should have been a big star, offered up Pick Me Up On Your Way Down and the timeless Great Is Thy Faithfulness, in her 3 song time slot. 

Next up was a duo who were not announced on the lineup.  Lang Scott and Linda Davis came on with Love Never Gives Up.  Davis is best known for her hit duet with Reba McEntire.  Davis called Teea Goans back out to sing Reba’s part on Does He Love You? which was nothing short of stellar.  I told you Goans should have been a star by now.   

Rising star and songwriter, Mo Pitney, followed with a 3-song set of his material. I should probably mention here as well that Moose Brown was auctioning items off in between each act, with some items getting well into the hundreds. 

One of the items was a pair of boots owned by country legend, Gene Watson.  Gene appeared on stage moments after the auction, with a different pair of boots on! He showed why he has been in country music for 50 years.  His 5 song set included HIS country standard songs Got No Reason Now For Going Home, Sometimes I Get Lucky and Forget, Love In A Hot Afternoon, and 14 Karat Mind. The finale of his signature song, Farewell Party, brought a well-deserved standing ovation.  I still get goosebumps thinking of that last note.

Country superstar Jamey Johnson, who alone could demand a ticket price two and three times higher than the price of admission this night, took the crowd through his brand of story telling classic country. He left the stage to a long standing ovation and the crowd coaxed him back out for an encore.

All told it was over 2 and a half hours of the best country music you could hear in one room.  The total amount raised moved into 5 digits when it was all counted.  That doesn’t include the GoFundMe at:   https://www.gofundme.com/f/dirks-expenses?

They say it takes a village to support someone who needs it, and folks turned 3^rd and Lindsley into a village of love and support for a beloved member.