“Jimmy Jam” was the name of the benefit concert put together in support of Mountain Heart’s Jim Van Cleve.
Jim suffered a near fatal illness from mosquito bites while performing in St. Croix. (See the story here).
Today, Jim sent the following note to the many fan and friends who helped him through the ordeal.
“...We (the VanCleve Family) are still absolutely and completely overwhelmed at the outpouring of love, kindness, generosity, and OVER THE TOP stellar talent and music witnessed last week at 3rd and Lindsley for JimmyJam. It seems like a dream, really. Did it actually even happen? It's just too much... Unbelievable!!!
I have said this before, and MUST say it again... THERE ARE NO WORDS to adequately thank all the wonderful souls who were involved in JimmyJam...
My incredible, amazing, beautiful wife, Desneige (who has now figuratively, and literally saved my life), Brian Smith (who put the entire thing together), our dear dear friends, our family, our musical family - because that's what we all are, I know now beyond ANY shadow of a doubt - folks who bought tickets, folks who bought tickets and couldn't even be there, folks who bought tickets and drove 18 HOURS to be there, guys and gals who haven't had a night home in weeks, but STILL came to perform, the incredible Sound and lighting geniuses, Event organizers, Stage managers, and Backstage managers who all held a potentially chaotic night together (!!!!!). Folks watching on the internet, folks who made it possible to watch on the internet (THANK YOU Music City Roots!!!!), folks who were doing things behind the scenes they didn't have to do (you know who you are)... and even the folks who bought our dinner without us knowing about it... (this list could go on and on and on).
...And, Most of all, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who made it possible for ALL things to be... even JimmyJam. Even the little mosquito that bit me, and changed my life for the worse, and then the better! I'm humbled, and thankful... and hopefully a better person, father, friend, and husband after all of this.
"JimmyJam" raised over $7,000, and we are VERY LITERALLY shaking our heads, astounded, and overwhelmed by all of it. Musicians KNOW this is not pocket change!
This will put a large dent in the medical debt we incurred during my sickness, and this is just incredible!! grateful blessed
So, now having been able to look back on all of this just a bit, we hope more than anything, that we have possibly laid some groundwork for a tradition of some sorts. The main thing we want to be able to do as a family after an outpouring of love like this, is be able to GIVE BACK and pay it forward somehow!
So, if it is God's will, maybe we can all start thinking about a JimmyJam 2 - or ANY other name we all like!
There WILL be another family in need, and maybe we can all help them together, just as you all helped our family on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013... a date We Will Never Forget.
So, if it is God's will, maybe we can all start thinking about a JimmyJam 2 - or ANY other name we all like!
There WILL be another family in need, and maybe we can all help them together, just as you all helped our family on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013... a date We Will Never Forget.
...We ALL need help sometimes...
So, Thanks to you ALL for the inspiration, for the help, for the music, and for the love... It's just incredible, and our family is forever grateful.
From Desneige and myself, down to our littlest, who is as I write this, just learning that he CAN climb to the very top of all of our furniture...
- "THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS"!!!”
Jim VanCleve
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