Nashville-based guitar maker Gibson wants to help musicians impacted by the deadly tornadoes that struck Middle Tennessee earlier this week, toppling buildings, snapping electrical lines and covering streets with debris.
Gibson Gives, the charitable arm of Nashville-based Gibson Brands, will provide a guitar to any musician whose instrument (any brand, not just Gibson) was damaged or destroyed in the storm. Dendy Jarrett, Executive Director of Gibson Gives, said in a statement:
“Our goal is to get a guitar back into the hands of anyone who has had their guitar damaged or destroyed in the recent Tennessee storm. As a Nashville, Tennessee based company, we are also engaging with our artists and other partners to provide support across many areas.”
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Guitarists needing instrument replacement can reach the Gibson Gives Recovery Plan at contribution.request@gibson.com.
Gibson Gives joins a long list of local companies and musicians who are assisting in the tornado relief effort. Country turned pop star Taylor Swift acknowledged her local roots by donating $1 million to disaster relief efforts. Mitchell Tenpenny and Devin Dawson will perform at a benefit concert on March 9th, singer Chris Young donated $50,000, and the CMA-winning duo Dan + Shay, who are set to perform two nights at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena beginning March 6th, have pledged $100,000 to storm relief. Additionally, Dierks Bentley brought his entire road crew to help clean up at his drummer Steve Misamore’s home, which was destroyed in the storm.
The region is familiar with outbreaks of tornadoes arriving this time of year, with deadly storms in 1933, 1998 and 2008. And ten years ago, a devastating flood killed several people. Now, as they did then, many said they would rely on a genuine commitment to goodwill that binds the community together to recover and rebuild. And of course the common thread of music, which is such a healing and integral part of the culture, will never be lost. Nashville Mayor John Cooper said:
“It’s time to show the world, once again, that we can accomplish a whole lot when we come together as a community and lend each other a helping hand.”
