Boogie at the Barn to raise funds for VA home
by GREG KAYLOR, Banner Staff Writer
May 13, 2012 | 978 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
The third-annual Boogie at the Barn will be rocking to the tunes of Confederate Railroad and several local bands Saturday, in hopes of raising money for the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Home.

Grant Pirkle, owner of Pappy’s Place and originator of the Boogie, said Danny Shirley is bringing the popular group to help out area veterans.

Pirkle is carrying on the work of his stepfather, John Simmons, who passed away suddenly a few years ago.

Simmons was a staunch veterans advocate who envisioned the need of a home for veterans in the Southeast situated in Bradley County.

Land has been donated and two other Boogie events have aided in raising funding for the facility.

The proposed plan is for the state-of-the-art facility to have 108 beds.

Hardboiled will open Saturday’s music-filled day at the barn.

They will be followed by the Dexter Thomas Band and then the Collins Brothers will take to the stage prior to Shirley and his Confederate Railroad.

“With hits such as ‘Queen of Memphis,’ ‘Jesus and Mama,’ ‘Trashy Women’ and many more, Confederate Railroad will be rocking the stage at the barn,” Pirkle said.

CR took top honors as Best New Group during the 1993 Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony as well as many nominations through the Country Music Association and British Country Music Foundation.

A Grammy nomination for “Trashy” led to the band’s establishment of the song as their signature.

Six hits came from the album.

The band charted 18 hits and sold millions of records.

Confederate Railroad band members include Cody McCarver on keys, who is also making his breakout in the music and film industry, Mark Dufresne on drums, Wayne Seacrest on bass and Rusty Hendrix on lead guitar.

Hardboiled plays a variety of covers and will open the day.

The ever-popular Dexter Thomas Band, one of Cleveland’s most active R&B groups, will follow with cover hits such as “When a Man Loves a Woman,” “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” “Soul Man,” and many others.

Another crowd favorite will be the Collins Brothers Band.

Cory and Joe-Joe, the brothers who played together and stay together, will lead the way toward the featured act.

“Their music has been phenomenal,” said Pirkle.

“The Collins Brothers are also seeing success and recognition nationally — we will let them share that news with us at the Boogie on Saturday. We are also very pleased that Danny and the Railroad are coming to help us. We have other great music venues coming up during the summer and later this year when we should be able to make another announcement of a popular entertainer ... or two or three, who want to come help us,” Pirkle said

A special veterans recognition will also be held Saturday during a break in the music.

For additional information, visit www.boogieatthebarn.com or call 614-0900. Ticket sales are ongoing at a number of locations in Cleveland.