Jam 4 George Brings Out The Best of Southern Rockers and Fans

Wofford College weren’t the only ones having a homecoming in Spartanburg, SC last Saturday, November 3. Barnett Park downtown was ground zero for one of the finest gatherings of Southern Rock fans and musicians this writer has witnessed in quite some time. Everyone was there for a singular purpose, to pay respect to the memory of George McCorkle, a founding member of The Marshall Tucker Band, who passed away in June.

We were blessed with sunny skies and moderate temperatures, making for a lot of smiling faces in the crowd, which numbered in the thousands.

The show kicked off right on time at 1 PM, and was over right on time at 1045 PM.

Sgt. Rick McAlister, a well known Spartanburg DJ during the 1970’s introduced the representatives from the US Marine Corp, who followed the opening prayer with the presentation of the USA colors, as Monica Perry - a Nashville songwriter who co-wrote many songs with George - sang a beautiful acapella version of The National Anthem. McAlister then introduced George’s son Justin McCorkle, who welcomed everyone to the event before introducing the first band, Whiskey Mountain Machine, a local band who treated the crowd to some serious hard and heavy rock and roll.

Nashville’s Ragged Jack, also good friends of George’s, hit the stage next, playing a set of awesome Southern fried rock and roll. This was my first exposure to Ragged Jack, and I really and truly enjoyed every moment of their excellent music.

While Ragged Jack were playing, I ran into many old friends, and joined a few of the Silver Travis Band guys to walk over to the hospitality tent for lunch.

Silver Travis took the stage next, and as always, they knocked it out of the park, playing songs from their 2005 debut album as well as tracks from their soon to be released sophomore effort, tunes like the infectious “Take The High Road” and one of my favorites, “Southern Poet,” which they dedicated to George McCorkle. They closed with a dead on cover of Marshall Tucker’s “This Ol’ Cowboy.”

Next up was The Winters/Heatherly Project, with Donnie Winters (Winters Brothers Band), Tony Heatherly (Toy Caldwell Band/Marshall Tucker Band), Mark McAfee, Mark Burrell (Toy Caldwell Band), and Mark Emerick (Commander Cody Band). They kicked into Toy Caldwell’s “I Hear the South Calling Me,” and didn’t let up once, performing 30 minutes of tight, guitar laden bombast, including Donnie Winters singing “Shotgun Rider.” Good stuff.

Next up was yours truly. I was happy to feature Donnie Winters and Sonny Edwards on guitars and Freddie Vanderford blowing harp. Freddie is a dear old friend and a master bluesman. We did several of my originals, including “Painting Her Toenails,” and were joined on the last three songs by Monica Perry and Jo Jo Billingsley (Lynyrd Skynyrd.) Together we played the Eddie Hinton tune that is the title track from my latest album, “Something Heavy,” followed by “Into The Light” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” Great fun.

Cadillac High, from Union, SC were up next, tearing through a set of hard rock covers that included “Deuce” by Kiss, “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne, and others. They were followed by Jackson Crossing, who tore the roof off of the amphitheater stage with a rocking set that mixed fine originals like “Drop Your Rock and Roll,” (one that was originally recorded by SevenMoore, a band that featured many of these guys) with covers, including Marshall Tucker’s “Blue Ridge Mountain Skies” and closing with a simply amazing rendition of “Whipping Post” that brought the audience to their feet, raising fists and belting out rebel yells. It was quite spectacular.

Nashville singer/songwriter and all around country rocker Candy Coburn took the stage next, dressed head to toe in leather, and sporting green boots that matched her green acoustic guitar. She rocked the place, and there’s no doubt in my mind she earned a whole bunch of new fans on this day.

Justin McCorkle and his cousins The Southern Boys Band, along with pal Bruce Wall were next, and they wowed the audience with some high energy Southern Rock, including a couple of songs written by George, including “American Street” and “The Journey,” during which George’s Les Paul was placed on a stand at the front of the stage with his hat on top. It was a touching moment.

The band brought JoJo Billingsley and Monica Perry up, and then introduced Artimus Pyle, who voiced a nice tribute to George before taking the drums for “Simple Man” and “Sweet Home Alabama.” The crowd went crazy.

The Winters Brothers Band invited founding member Donnie Winters to join them for a rousing set that included many of their best loved hits, including a wide open “Sang Her Love Songs.” It was truly a treat seeing Dennis and Donnie Winters together onstage once again, and the fans just ate it up.

Monica Perry took a few moments to sing “Guitar Playing Man,” a song from the latest MTB album that she wrote with George as a tribute to her friend, backed by the acoustic guitars of Kenny Bailey (Southern Boys Band) and Sonny Edwards.

Tommy Crain and The Crosstown Allstars blazed through 45 minutes of pure, undiluted, high-test rock and blues, inviting Mark Emerick up to play guitar on a few songs. They even honored this writer by asking him to sing a verse of “Long Haired Country Boy.” It was a large time.

The finale was an all-star jam that included Justin McCorkle, Crain, Bob Rumer, Emerick, Sonny Edwards, Dennis and Donnie Winters, current MTB bassist Pat Elwood, Freddie Vanderford and many others. Founding Tucker Band member Jerry Eubanks brought along his flute, and we kicked off with “Can’t You See.” The audience rushed the stage in approval. Man, singing that song with Jerry’s original flute playing was quite a rush. I felt like a teenager again.

Justin McCorkle and I shared the lead vocal on his Dad’s biggest hit, “Fire On The Mountain” to close the show, with excellent guitar solos from everyone, and that familiar MTB flute adding the cherry to the top.

The audience wanted more, and we would have played all night, but as Justin explained, there was a city curfew so we just had to call it a day.

A big tip of the hat goes out to the Planning Committee, the sound and production crew, all the volunteers, the bands, security, Bruce Wall from Southern Fried Magazine, Joe Clem from Skydog Productions and especially Justin and Bebee McCorkle.

With a great turnout, a successful silent auction and some of the best music you could ever want to hear, The Jam for George was a rousing, Southern fried success. I know K.G. (“Kool George,” as his friends called him) is smiling down from Heaven. It couldn’t have been any better.

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo

LINKS

Spartanburg Herald Audio Slideshow by Jose Franco

Spartanburg Herald Interview with Justin McCorkle

The Jam 4 George

Jam 4 George On Myspace

GRITZ Interview with George McCorkle 2001

GRITZ Interview with George McCorkle 1998

PHOTO RETROSPECTIVE

Photos by Buffalo, Rebyll and Ms. Rebyll!

During The Southern Boys' set, George's guitar and hat were placed at center stage, bringing out the emotions of his son Justin. Friend Bruce Wall is seen jamming on the left.