John Michael Montgomery and Jared Ashley to Perform at Operation Cherrybend this Weekend
Concert in Wilmington, OH October 9th to Benefit Wounded War Veterans
Nashville, TN - Rising Star Jared Ashley has enlisted the help of chart topperJohn Michael Montgomery to entertain fans and troops alike at Operation Cherrybend (presented by R&L Carriers) in Wilmington, Ohio this weekend. Ashley and the "I Swear" and "Letters From Home" singer will take the stage Friday night at The Murphy Theater, with proceeds going to Flight Deck Veterans Group, a national fraternal non-profit organization started by Jared Ashley to benefit wounded war veterans and promote the camaraderie between U.S. Military Flight Deck veterans.
The mission of Operation Cherrybend is to thank veterans for their courage, selflessness and sacrifice to our country. “The more we educate the general public about the trials and ongoing challenges of wounded veterans, and veterans in general, the better understanding the public will have in order to meet their needs,” explains Beth Ellis, co-owner of Cherrybend. Twenty-two American veterans commit suicide daily, which Ashley hopes to bring awareness to and help change. Before breaking out in the music scene with his debut single “Last Train to Memphis,” singer-songwriter Ashley served four years in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Independence and USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. Born in Hobbs, New Mexico, near the oil fields of the West Texas border, Jared Ashley relocated to Newnan, Georgia with his dad as a small child. He received his first guitar at the age of five but didn’t start honing his musical skills until his sophomore year. When not on duty, he would practice guitar while away at sea and play acoustic gigs at George’s Country Bar in Yokosuka, Japan. Jared’s genuine love of music and songwriting led him to Nashville’s thriving scene where he landed a regular weekend gig onstage at the world famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. With time and patience, Jared developed a loyal touring and fan base, which gave him the chance to further hone his songwriting and live performance talents.
The singer-songwriter counts Alan Jackson and Bob Seger as strong musical influences, which proves evident on his melodically haunting music. With a driving edgy vocal and lyric prowess to match, Jared is a seasoned live act, playing over 180 dates a year. Learn more about Jared at www.JaredAshley.com and engage with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Read our interview with Jared about Operation Cherrybend here.
