Otis Redding Foundation Awarded $10,000 from Dinah Gretsch’s Mrs. G’s Music Foundation
For Immediate Release
Check awarded at Georgia Music Foundation’s 3rd Annual "Georgia On My Mind" Concert
MACON, Ga. – June 2, 2016 – During the third annual “Jameson® Irish Whiskey Presents Georgia On My Mind” concert held on May 10, 2016 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., Dinah Gretsch presented the Otis Redding Foundation with a $10,000 donation made on on behalf of her Mrs. G’s Music Foundation. Mrs. Karla Redding-Andrews, the Otis Redding Foundation’s executive director and the daughter of the late Otis Redding, was on hand to accept the gift.
“My family and I are honored and humbled by this generous and unexpected gift,” said Redding-Andrews. Gretsch, who is CFO of The Gretsch Company, an internationally recognized, fourth generation musical instruments manufacturer with its corporate headquarters in Pooler, Georgia, said, “I am proud to have Mrs. G's Music Foundation recognize and support Karla's tremendous efforts in providing quality music education programs in Macon and nurturing a passion to create music among the kids whose lives she touches."
Redding-Andrews and Gretsch serve together on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Music Foundation, the beneficiary of the annual star-studded concert in Nashville. In recognition of Otis Redding’s 75th birthday later this year, the evening included a tribute to the late soul legend with Redding-Andrews’ brothers, Dexter Redding and Otis Redding III, performing scorching renditions of their father’s hits, “Hard to Handle” and “Try A Little Tenderness.” At the close of the two songs, Dallas Davidson, chair of the Georgia Music Foundation, joined them on stage, called Redding-Andrews up and surprised the siblings by presenting each of them with the Foundation’s annual Flamekeeper Award, noting that in the almost 50 years since their father’s passing, they, along with their mother Zelma, have truly “kept the fires burning” by protecting and preserving their father’s musical legacy.
Following the award presentation, Gretsch unveiled the $10,000 gift and in her emotional acceptance remarks, Redding-Andrews said, “My father wanted to make sure that kids knew the importance of an education. He was so committed to that. Please know that everything we do — my brothers, my mom and I — we do in his honor.”
The night was hosted by the Peach Pickers, a collective of Georgia songwriters with more than 60 #1 hits among including Davidson, Rhett Akins and Ben Hayslip, and featured performances by Big Boi, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, Billy Currington, Tyler Farr, Mannie Fresh, Randy Houser, Maggie Rose and rising singer/songwriters Travis Denning, Trea Landon, Jon Langston, Jordan Rager and Cole Taylor. More than $100,000 was raised for the Georgia Music Foundation and its mission to support programs of music preservation, education and outreach.
About The Otis Redding Foundation:
Otis Redding was dedicated to improving the quality of life for our community through the education and empowerment of its youth. Established in 2007 by Mrs. Zelma Redding in her husband’s honor, the Otis Redding Foundation, with its roots in music, has created educational awareness programs in the arts and humanities. These programs encourage individual and team participation, build self-esteem and instill discipline. To honor Otis’ dream, the Otis Redding Foundation provides opportunities for youth to improve their academic performance by helping them make choices in life that enrich rather than endanger. By providing programs that ignite dreams in our future generation of leaders, we remain dedicated to connecting the universal relevance of music to serve as a catalyst for education and other youth oriented initiatives.
Mission Statement: The Otis Redding Foundation’s mission is to empower, enrich, and motivate all young people through programs involving music, writing and instrumentation. Each partnership and program sponsored since its inception in 2007 supports the philanthropic commitment of Otis Redding to empower and enlighten all young people to fulfill their dreams.
About The Georgia Music Foundation:
Established in 1994, The Georgia Music Foundation fosters an appreciation for Georgia’s rich music heritage by supporting programs of music preservation, education and outreach. A list of recipients of the 2015 Georgia Music Preservation, Education and Outreach Grant program is available at georgiamusicfoundation.org. Applications for the 2016 Music Preservation, Education and Outreach Grant program will be available online July 1, 2016.