St. Jude's "Celebration Of Life"

The nonprofit organization Musicians Against Childhood Cancer (M.A.C.C.), together with Skaggs Family Records, will release Celebration of Life, a live double album on April 18th.. The 37-song CD set is chock full of riveting performances captured during the annual M.A.C.C. festival at Hoover Y-Park near Columbus, Ohio.

100% of the net proceeds from sales of the CD, benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Musicians involved in the project donated their time and talent to help raise needed funds for the treatment of children with life-threatening illnesses. Since the year 2000, M.A.C.C. and festival promoters Darrel & Phyllis Adkins have devoted endless hours raising money for St. Jude. Celebration of Life is a labor of love for all involved and a natural extension of the festival.

Many of the top names in bluegrass contributed songs - 136 stellar musicians have gotten onboard for the project, with new configurations of veteran acts and guest artists adding additional excitement to the album for fans. Tony Rice, Dan Tyminski, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Grascals, Cherryholmes, Blue Highway, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, and J.D. Crowe & The New South are some of the participating artists.

"The Celebration of Life CD was inspired by my family and friends for many reasons," explains Adkins. "For the love of the music by talented artists whose artistry should be shared and enjoyed by everyone; for finding cures to save children, so no child or their family should suffer; for the love of our daughter Mandy, who enjoyed celebrating life."

Adkins' daughter Mandy was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor and was treated at St. Jude, where she and her family lived for eight months. Unfortunately, she lost her battle with cancer on November 25, 2000 at age 22. The M.A.C.C. festival - now in its sixth year - was created in her honor to continue the research and world-class treatment for children with serious medical needs at St. Jude.

To see the song list, and to sample the album, go to: Celebration Of Life CD.