Soap Box

February 2, 1985

Volunteer Jam XI was the last one at Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium, it was a 9-hour spectacle of amazing music and surprises, but what VolJam XI is probably best remembered for is the blizzard that hit the city of Nashville making it impossible for some to actually make it to the show.

Dad said on stage, “I know you went through a hell of a lot to get here because this is the biggest snowstorm I’ve ever seen in Tennessee!”

I’m sure if Jam XI had been held in any major East Coast city, the almost 7 inches of snow which started on February 1st would hardly be noticed, but heavy snow in Nashville was an infrequent event at best, and in 1985, it was paralyzing for Middle Tennessee.

But as cold as it was outside, inside the music was hot! And while there may not have been a full 10,000 fans in the crowd, it appeared that very few let the weather deter them.

As in years past, a mixture of new artists and familiar faces graced the Jam stage. Back for repeat performances were The Marshall Tucker Band’s Toy Caldwell and Paul Riddle, Grinderswitch, Dobie Gray, Papa John Creach, Jimmy C. Newman, The Winters Brothers Band, Emmylou Harris, Amy Grant, Ted Nugent, Dickey Betts and comedian Jim Varney.

The Jam first-timers was nothing to sneeze at, Alabama was one of the hottest things going in country music at the time, and played their hits “Mountain Music,” and more from their latest album, ’40 Hour Week.’ 

Legendary songwriter, actor and singer Kris Kristofferson graced the Jam stage for the first time, along with a surprise appearance by Faron Young on “Help Me Make it Through the Night.”

Country singer Gail Davies and Lacy J. Dalton also made their first Jam appearances, along with Eddy Raven, Nicolette Larson, Vince Gill, Bill Medley - one of The Righteous Brothers – rocker Tommy Shaw from the band Styx who was promoting his “Girls With Guns,” solo album, the incomparable Little Richard and “Dukes of Hazzard” star, Tom Wopat.

There were two pint-sized performers at Jam XI, 8-year old fiddle player LaKonya Smithee made her second appearance and 9-year old, Danny Cooksey, who at the time was best known for the show “Diff’erent Strokes,” and would later appear in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” belted out “Hey Bartender.”

Little Richard provided one of the most show-stopping moments at a Volunteer Jam. Richard had for many years pushed back against his former life in rock & roll and all the excesses that often went along with it, became an ordained minister and in 1985 was strictly doing Gospel music, although he would later attempt to reconcile his musical life with his faith and begin performing his hits again.

Little Richard performed two of his Gospel songs at the Jam and during one of them, “The Freedom Song,” he stunned the crowd by removing each of his shoes, as he tossed them one-by-one into the crowd, then proceeded to take off his shirt whipping the audience into a frenzy as he teased them and eventually tossed it into the crowd as well.

And, it’s worth mentioning that at no time was there any booing of Little Richard during or after his Jam performance. *Please see the Jam IX soapbox on James Brown’s performance to see what I’m talking about, and the debate that followed.

In addition to the band’s hits, the CDB’s set highlighted songs from an album that to this day has never been released called “Honky Tonk Avenue.” I’m making it my mission to see this album finally released, but it’s requiring a lot of detective work. I’ll keep everyone posted.

Of course. Ted Nugent rocked the stage, and for the first time, didn’t perform a Chuck Berry song, but performed “Route 66,” an original song called, “She’s Gone,” and his signature song, “Cat Scratch Fever."

The nine-hour Jam XI would eventually close with the all-star Jamming on “Kansas City,” “C.C. Rider”, “Southbound,” “This Ol’ Cowboy,” Johnny B. Goode,” “America,” and – as was often the case – “Tennessee Waltz” was the final song.

The Jam’s 9-year run at Municipal came to a close in one of the biggest snowstorms in recent memory. It was a great run, and when most people fondly recall the VolJams, this is what comes to mind. The people, the parties, and of course, the music.

The Jam’s next incarnation would be at Starwood and would be home to many, many more memorable Jams.

And more memories will be made when some of music’s finest pay tribute to dad 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.