Wanda Jackson
What’s new in the expanding world of rock camps in Middle Tennessee? A lot, particularly with Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp.
On July 27, SGRRC presents Wanda Jackson at MTSU’s Wright Music Building for a private benefit performance the day before the SGRRC campers will perform their own songs.
The camp, which runs from July 23-28, is celebrating 10 years of empowering girls ages 10-17 through music, songwriting, recording, screenprinting and music photography–as well as teamwork, acceptance and developing a sense of self.
Its 10-year anniversary is a milestone for Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp; it’s the second longest running girls rock camp in the world, and the past decade has been filled with more than 400 campers and 300 volunteers.
SGRRC, a service associated with Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities (YEAH), fundraise each summer to continue offering unlimited scholarships for campers who are unable to pay. This year, the camp’s goal is to raise $10,000 by the 2012 opening day.
“We never put a cap on how many scholarships we can award, and we’ve never had to turn a child away or refuse a scholarship application since we’ve started this, and we don’t plan to. Getting money that comes in from this show or any other fundraiser will go to the kids that need it,” says YEAH Music Department Director Katie Blankenship.
Blankenship oversees all music programs associated with YEAH, all rock camps, including the co-ed Tennessee Teens Rock and Roll Camp in Murfreesboro and Nashville and Rock Block Camp.
Scheduling conflicts prevented booking Jackson to perform for SGRRC before, but this year “we just got lucky,” Blankenship says.
“Wanda was top of our list because of her lengthy career and the fact that she’s still active, and obviously she’s an iconic figure in how she’s opened the door not just for women in country and rockabilly, but in rock ‘n’ roll.”
Those who donate $50 or more to help SGRRC reach its goal will receive free admission to the Wanda Jackson performance as well as a 2012 SGRRC T-shirt. The show is Friday, July 27 at 12:45 pm.
For more information on the organization and the show, visit sgrrc.com.
