Jackson native living in Nashville brings benefit concert to Cape Girardeau

Jackson, Mo., native Brooke Burrows has made her way to Nashville to launch a career in country music. With plans for a single from a complete album that she co-wrote to come out on the radio soon, Burrows still made time for a benefit concert for a family in need.

Burrows grew up next door to Joe Hoffman and his family and was close friends with his three children: Joey, Amanda and Amy. When she found out that Hoffman had liver cancer, she was determined to help somehow.

"I learned about the cancer several months ago, and I just immediately felt like I had to do something," Burrows said. "I didn't know what I was going to do, but I knew I had to do something, so that's when I called on my friends Aaron Barker, Chris Walling, Camille Walling and Ira Dean to go back to my hometown in Missouri and do a benefit concert to help raise money for this family. I was thinking of something that I didn't think that Cape Girardeau has really ever seen, so that's when I thought of the singer/songwriter show."

Nashville for a Cause: Storytellers Behind the Songs was held at Notre Dame Regional High School in Cape Girardeau on Saturday to raise money for the Hoffman family as Joe Hoffman battles cancer and paying medical bills.

Aaron Barker. Submitted photo

Hoffman worked at Nordenia in Jackson for 20 years, and his wife Dollie now cares for him after he was forced to quit his job. Hoffman's daughter Amanda Crombie said that her father has his good days and his bad days, but their family is grateful for this concert in his honor.

"It means a lot to us knowing that people are going out of their way to help my family," Crombie said.

The five artists featured at the event performed songs that they have written for country stars such as George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith.

Barker performed "Baby Blue," "I Can Still Make Cheyenne" and "Love Without End, Amen," which all became hits recorded by George Strait.

Chris Wallin performed his song "Don't Blink," which was recorded by Kenny Chesney, "Something to be Proud of," recorded by Montgomery Gentry and "Love Me if You Can," recorded by Toby Keith.

Dean performed his first No. 1 as a songwriter "One in Every Crowd," recorded by Montgomery Gentry, "Pour Me," which he recorded with his former, Grammy Award-nominated band Trick Pony and "Something About a Sunday," which he recorded as a solo project and has been released on country radio and Montgomery Gentry's new single that he wrote "I'll Keep the Kids."

Camille Wallin played bass guitar and lead guitar along with the other performers and sang harmony on most of the songs. She also played her song "All You Gotta Do (Breathe)," which is the theme song for the Ronald McDonald Charities of South Dakota.

Brooke Burrows. Submitted photo

Aside from orchestrating the idea for the concert, Burrows performed the song "Liar" that she wrote with Dean and Barker and other new songs that will be on her album.

Throughout the concert, Burrows thanked the other artists and the audience for coming to the concert and supporting the Hoffman family.

Barker said he has a theory that no one helps someone like a neighbor can and that he was proud to be a part of the concert.

Tickets to the concert were $10, and there also was a silent auction for signed guitars, photos and prize packages from local businesses, among other things. Dean, who is currently touring with Montgomery Gentry, brought a hat that Eddie Montgomery gave him that was signed by Montgomery Gentry and personally auctioned it off from the stage.

"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for someone who saw something and wanted to do something, make a difference," Dean said of Burrows at the concert. "I'm really proud of her."