Local country artist to perform at benefit

Kelly Davis knows all about the early February tornadoes that ripped through the South killing at least 52 people and injuring more than 150, in one of the deadliest storms in a decade.

He was driving toward it.

An up-and-coming signed songwriter and country artist out of Wayne, Davis was making his way to Bowling Green, Ky., just an hour north of Nashville, for a gig when the storms started ripping through.

"I went to Nashville that night the twister came through," Davis said. "We were watching the weather and we were running right into it."

Davis, who did a show that night with Shannon Lawson from the Muzik Mafia, said when he heard Nashville Hype was putting together a benefit show, he had to reach out and help.

"After I got through that whole storm ordeal and came home, Paul King e-mailed me and said he was doing the benefit and said he'd like to invite us as guests," Davis said. "I called all the guys and said we need to do this thing. I know the deal, I was down there when all the storms were coming through, and I said sign me up, I will do anything I can do because it's a good cause."

At 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, The Kelly Ray Davis and Rodney Crisp Experience (also featuring Greg Fletcher on drums and Bill Fraley on bass) will be on a stacked bill at Mercy's Lounge, in Nashville, for a benefit called "Supercell of Giving Benefit Concert" featuring Aaron Tippin, The Hewitt Sisters, Rachel Farley, Kelsey Skaggs, Sarah Kaine, Buffy Lawson, CloudChase and lots of other acts.

Minimum donation is $10.

Interestingly, Davis will share a nice piece of home with him at the show. One of his latest songs he's cut is a rocking tribute "to where the mud and beer collide," a little rocking anthem called "Out Wayne Thang," that he wrote about a year ago and that he just put up on his MySpace page.

You also can hear the song tonight as the bandana-wearing, rocking country outlaw is out in his natural habitat, ripping up his originals and blasting some choice covers at 9 p.m. at The Country Club in Wayne.

Davis, who travels to Nashville often since he signed a publishing deal with Mike Kinnamon and Music Central Publishing, said he knows not too many folks from the Tri-State can make it to Nashville, but he hopes folks will support the benefit that goes to the American Red Cross.

"I know local people can't really make it down for the show but we're grateful for ones that can or can support it in any way," Davis said. "You're supporting more than these local artists you're also helping these families. All these artists are donating their time to help the cause."

Go online at www.nashvillehype.com for more info about the benefit.