Soap Box

February 4th, 1984

Volunteer Jam X was a milestone. What started out as a small venue live recording session turned into an extremely prestigious annual event in Nashville, but it was about to get even bigger, worldwide, in fact, but more on that later.

The tenth annual spectacle at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium kept getting bigger and brought delight to the ten thousand out front, and the countless who were backstage.

Returning were Boxcar Willie and Roy Acuff who along with dad performed a medley of “Wabash Cannonball” and “Night Train to Memphis,” with Boxcar Willie providing the train whistle sounds, The Jordanaires, Dobie Gray, William Lee Golden from The Oak Ridge Boys, Papa John Creach, Carl Perkins, Crystal Gayle, The Marshall Tucker Band, Ray Sawyer from Dr. Hook, Steve Walsh & Streets The Winters Brothers Band, Grinderswitch and many more. 

The new faces for Jam X were no less impressive. Emmylou Harris and the Hot Band, Louise Mandrell, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, B.J. Thomas, contemporary Christian superstar Amy Grant, and a fairly new but soon to be well-known blues guitar picker named Stevie Ray Vaughan were among the Jam first-timers.

There were also appearances by comedian, Byron Allen, who was best known as one of the hosts of “Real People,” a show that was somewhat of a precursor to today’s “reality TV,” and following the debate that raged after the James Brown booing chronicled in my Jam IX soapbox, it’s worth mentioning that Byron - who is African American - did not get booed, the legendary Dick Clark, whose production company turned Jam X into a TV special, MTV veejay Alan Hunter and a classical violinist by the name of Eugene Fodor.

Dad and Eugene performed together a few times, one of the most notable was the Country Music Association 15th Anniversary of TV special where, as they did at Jam X, performed “Orange Blossom Special” together which then led to a battle of the fiddlers with dad and Eugene dueling it out with each other, each in their particular style.

Dad said one time he met Itzhak Perlman, a world-renowned classical violinist, he introduced himself and said that he was a fiddle player, to which Mr. Perlman said, “We’re all fiddle players.”

The band Exile also made their Jam debut, fresh off their crossover from pop to country, instead of the other way around which at the time was the more conventional route, but after their 1978 worldwide hit, “Kiss You All Over,” - and some roster changes – they successfully crossed over from pop to country and continued to have hits throughout the mid-80s.

Ronnie Milsap also made his first Jam appearance and performed a “fire” medley consisting of “Ring of Fire” “Fire,” and “Great Balls of Fire.”

And Jam first-timer, the legendary Tammy Wynette, sang her signature song, “Stand By Your Man.”

Of course, the CDB performed their set, and everyone “jammed” to end the first decade of Volunteer Jams. The live recording session was now one of the most diverse musical events happening in the United States of America.

But why not think bigger?

In 1984, Voice of America, began broadcasting the Volunteer Jam worldwide, bringing the CDB and their guests to whole new audiences around the globe. The broadcasts were hosted by VOA’s Judy Massa and she continued to host them through 1992.

For the Municipal Auditorium, it was a good run, there would be one more Jam there in 1985, and then a new home in 1986, but regardless of the venue, the music kept on jamming.

There will be plenty more jamming and surprises at Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels on August 18, 2021 at Bridgestone Arena. Get tickets HERE

“Ain’t it good to be alive and be in Tennessee!”

Let’s all make the day count!

What do you think?

Pray for our troops, our police, the Peace of Jerusalem and our nation.

God Bless America!

#BenghaziAintGoingAway #End22

—  Charlie Daniels, Jr.