The Nashville music community has a reputation for coming together to help one of its own, just like family.
Singer and songwriter John Berry first made his way onto the country music charts in the 1990’s with like “Standing on the Edge of Good-bye,” “She’s Taken a Shine,” and the Grammy-nominated No. 1 hit “Your Love Amazes Me.” He’s been touring and performing ever since and has recorded more than 20 albums. Last fall, he was back in the recording studio when he noticed something didn’t feel quite right.
“It was the end of October and I went in and recorded a few songs for this CD I have out now called Thomas Road,” he recalls. “And as I was working on the vocals I felt something in my throat. It literally felt like the skin of a Spanish peanut stuck in my throat and I couldn’t get rid of it.”
When he checked, he saw what looked like a small tumor on one of his tonsils. He went to a clinic where the nurse practitioner prescribed medication for a possible infection. It didn’t get better. So, after Christmas, Berry went to an ENT specialist.
“The doctor looked down my throat and said, ‘I’m a no BS kind of guy. It looks like cancer to me.”
Berry had a tonsillectomy where doctors found a second tumor in the other tonsil and confirmed it was cancer. So, he put his musical career on hold and began treatment. There were some difficult months for Berry and wife, Robin, who tours with him and sings back-up. But he’s finally on the road to recovery.
“Treatments are done. It was 35 doses of radiation and seven doses of chemotherapy,” he says, “Yeah, it’s been tough.”
Throughout his treatment, there was an outpouring of support from fans and members of the Nashville music community, all wanting to do something to help. When the idea of a fundraiser first came up, the Berrys declined, but when the calls kept coming in, they finally relented. So Berry’s manager, Brian Smith, and publicist, Bev Moser, began planning a benefit to help with medical bills. Artist after artist after artist signed on. Nashville singers, songwriters, and musicians have a long history of coming together to take care of their own.
Singer Anita Cochran says it wasn’t all that long ago, people came together for her.
“I’m still recovering from a year and-a-half battle with triple positive breast cancer,” she said. “And last March, the Nashville community came together like this and had a benefit for me. My doctors pulled me off the road and said you can’t work for a year or however long it takes, so it’s hard when you can’t work. So, it was amazing and meant the world to me.”
On Tuesday, April 23rd, artists including Cochran, Vince Gill, the Oak Ridge Boys, Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, Clint Black, Jimmy Fortune, Jeannie Seeley, and so many more took the stage for the “We All Come Together Benefit” for John Berry and Music Health Alliance.
“John has been a friend and touring partner since 1995,” Suzy Bogguss said. “I know he’d be there for me and I’m happy to help however I can.”
«We look out for each other, we take care of each other,» added Trace Adkins. «It’s a close-knit community and I love being part of it.»
“We’ve been tweeting support for John since we found out about the cancer and many folks out there are praying for him,” said The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall. “We’ve known him so long and have so much respect for the man and his talent. It was easy to say yes.”
“I think the beautiful thing about the country music industry is we treat each other like a family,” said Mark Wills. “We truly love each other and when one of us need help, we rally around them. And the fact that Travis Tritt is right behind me, both of us, along with John, are all from right there in Atlanta. So we’re happy to step up and lend our support to a fellow Georgian”
Tritt remembered back to a time John Berry helped him.
“Years ago when it was called Fan Fare here in Nashville (now called CMA Fest), I got a severe case of dehydration and had to go to the hospital. And John and Tanya tucker and Leroy Parnell all came and filled in for me at my Fan Club party. It’s just one example of what I think country music stands for. We all come together for each other and we care about each other.”
And along the lines of caring about each other, part the proceeds from the benefit were designated for the Music Health Alliance. Tatum Alsop formed the organization six years ago to help musicians, not only in Nashville, but around the country, with health insurance.
“It was created to help build access to healthcare for an industry that’s mostly self-employed or part of small businesses across nation,” she explained.
