NASHVILLE, Tenn., — July 14, 2014 – Multi-Platinum Country music superstar Josh Turner will headline this year’s annual Concert for Cumberland Heights, an annual fundraiser supporting Cumberland Heights’ John Hiatt Fund for adolescent and young adult treatment. The concert is set for October 15 at 8 p.m. in Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, and tickets go on sale July 18 through the Ryman Auditorium box office and Ticketmaster. An accompanying auction will be held online July 18 – August 1 featuring specialty tickets and an autographed copy of Turner’s latest book Man Stuff: Thoughts on Faith, Family, and Fatherhood. Local band Striking Matches, an emerging talent made up of Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis, will open the show.
“The response we’ve received through the years from the Nashville music community is overwhelming. Contributions by artists like Josh have made the event one of the most successful fundraisers at the Ryman,” said Walt Quinn, chief marketing officer for Cumberland Heights. “We’re thrilled that Josh will be the headliner for the concert this year. He’s an A-list performer who is sure to attract a full house.”
“I’m looking forward to playing for Cumberland Heights to help them raise money so they can continue the great work that they do. Alcohol and drug abuse is damaging to the person experiencing it but it’s also detrimental to their family and friends,” said Turner.
The Concert for Cumberland Heights is always a sellout, and the historic Ryman Auditorium provides the perfect backdrop for its ongoing relationship with the music community. Cumberland Heights offers a music therapy program that includes workshops, performances and special visits from a range of music industry professionals.
The proceeds from the annual concert will support the John Hiatt Fund. Hiatt, an acclaimed singer-songwriter, participates in the event each year. Since Cumberland Heights established the concert fundraiser in 1996, it has raised nearly two million dollars for the Hiatt Fund, which supports adolescents and young adults, ages 14 – 24 and their families through the recovery process.
This year’s sponsors for the Concert for Cumberland Heights include Pilot and Flying J, H.G Hill Realty, the Haslam Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. James W. Perkins III and the Cal Turner Family Foundation.
About Josh Turner:
Multi-platinum MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turner, is one of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers. With a rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turner has sold more than five million albums, is a disciple of traditional country music and one of the youngest members of the Grand Ole Opry. From his 2003 Platinum-selling debut Long Black Train to his most recent 2012 Billboard No. 1 release Punching Bag, Turner has garnered multiple GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM nominations. Turner’s hits include “Your Man,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Firecracker,” “Would You Go with Me,” “All Over Me,” and “Time Is Love,” the most played country song of 2012.
This year Turner added author to his list of accomplishments. His first book, Man Stuff: Thoughts on Faith, Family and Fatherhood was released April 29, 2014 and a new single and his sixth studio album are expected to follow later this year. The Hannah, S.C. native has been songwriting and performing since he was a young child, and in support of music education, created The Josh Turner Scholarship Fund to assist students interested in pursuing a future in arts and music. As a high school student, Turner had very little access to music education, therefore realizes first-hand the importance of arts education in schools. Turner has a heavy schedule of summer concert dates and on the road with The Roughstock and Rambler Tour presented by Ariat.
About Striking Matches:
Striking Matches, made up of Sarah Zimmermann and Justin Davis, came to Nashville simply to play music. Sarah, a Philadelphia native and Justin, from Atlanta, met when a professor at Belmont University paired them at random to play for a classroom full of guitar majors. The pair has been writing and performing ever since. Their influences range from Jerry Reed to the Beatles, John Mayer to Patsy Cline, and back again. It becomes more obvious every day that they were born to play music together. Striking Matches’ debut self-titled EP was produced by Luke Wooten (Dierks Bentley, Dustin Lynch) with all four tracks co-written by the band. The EP released October 2012 was named among iTunes “Best of 2012” and enabled the duo to score features with NPR and The Wall Street Journal. In December 2012, Striking Matches made their debut on the Grand Ole Opry where they have subsequently played more than twenty times. The duo has had six songs featured on ABC’s hit show “Nashville.” Striking Matches has shared the stage with John Hiatt, Hunter Hayes, Martina McBride, The Band Perry, The Fray, Billy Currington, Train, Ashley Monroe and many more. They were named a CMT Listen Up artist in September 2013 and became the first artist signed to the newly launched I.R.S. Records Nashville with their debut full length effort produced by T-Bone Burnett to be released in late 2014.
About Cumberland Heights:
Cumberland Heights, a private, nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction treatment center, has been dedicated to providing patients with the highest quality of care since 1966. With the guidance of an award-winning staff, the Cumberland Heights short-term and long-term treatment programs encompass the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of recovery through professional excellence, the principals of the Twelve Steps, and a safe and loving environment. Surrounded by rolling hills and open spaces and away from the distractions of city life, the 176-acre campus located along the Cumberland River, just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, provides the ideal setting for recovery. Cumberland Heights has touched the lives of thousands of individuals and their families – more than 1,500 new patients last year alone. Over four decades of experience has proven that recovery is not only possible, it’s a path that no one has to walk alone. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.cumberlandheights.org.
