Dierks Bentley Rallies to Raise over $476,000 for 19 Fallen Firefighters

Dierks Bentley's Country Cares concert last night in Prescott Valley, AZ was an unprecedented community wide event, raising over $476,000 to benefit the families of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots who lost their lives in recent wildfires. (Photo tweeted by Trisha Hendricks)

With just over a week to organize the event, Arizona native Dierks Bentley led the charge with the help of The New KMLE Country @ 107.9, 92.9 KAFF Country and artist friends The Band Perry, Randy Houser and David Nail. 

KMLE interviews Dierks in this video:

Video -

Family members of the 19 firefighters and the sole surviving firefighter were in attendance at the event in an emotional yet celebratory night of music. Bentley honored the fallen firefighters with a photo tribute during his first-ever performance of brand new song "Here On Earth" and kicked off a special version of "Home" with a bagpipe intro by the Rural Metro Pipe and Drum Corp.

Many DB Congress were in attendance repping the fan club and supporting the cause.  California Rep, David Watts, won last minute tickets to the fundraiser.  He tweeted from the show:

"@dbcongress Hey...Did I mention @DierksBentley did a new song off #RISER?! #HereOnEarth. There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

Dierks holds up the check for $442,000 but that didn't include all the t-shirt sales and donations, and an on stage auction where two guitars signed by all the performers each going for around $25,000.

Photo tweeted by David Kadlubowski  

Click here to see more photos from the show.

All money raised from the event will go to the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities who will directly distribute to the families of the 19 fallen firefighters. For more information, visit www.dierks.com.

Dierks Bentley Remembers 9-11, Ten Years Later

Where were you when the world stopped turning, that September day?  Dierks Bentley tells KMLE he was back in Nashville, had just signed a publishing deal, had a record deal and was working on his record.  That morning he drove to friend Jason Carter's (Del McCoury Band) house to go fishing, walked in his screen door and saw smoke coming out of one of the towers. 

"It took a long time to fathom...we were completely dumbfounded...it's lonesome, man, it doesn't seem like it's been ten years...it still seems pretty recent.  As a country we are still in the shadows of that attack on our country and it still affects us...and I think it's gonna weigh heavily on everyone's hearts and minds at this 10-year anniversary."

Watch the video here:

Gill and His Guitar Play Back-Up For Bentley

"Mom, that's really Vince Gill--he's not airbrushed in!"  That's how Dierks Bentley ended his very first number one song, "What Was I Thinkin'" at the recent KMLE 8-Man-Jam, when Vince Gil himself backed-up DB with a solo guitar stint at the coaxing of Dierks.  See for yourself...

DIERKS SINGS FOR PHOENIX KIDS

Dierks Bentley stopped by the Phoenix Children's Hospital:



{Source: Meg}

Then, azcentral.com posted the following article on their website:

Phoenix's homegrown country star, Dierks Bentley, attracted about 3,500 motorcycle riders and music fans to Tempe Marketplace on Saturday for a fundraiser for Phoenix Children's Hospital.

"I'm just the bartender at this event, mixing things up," Bentley said before leading 300 motorcyclists on a ride that started at Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson in north Phoenix and ended in Tempe.

"We have all these great bands, riders and fans getting together for a good cause," he said. Bentley, who has topped the country charts and sold millions of albums, was joined on stage by Nashville stars Stoney LaRue and Jimmy Wayne, Tempe's Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, and Scottsdale's Jessi Coulter.

His rides have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Children's Miracle Network, which includes Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Saturday's ride marked the first time Bentley has staged his Miles and Music for Kids ride outside of Nashville, which is now his home.

Debi Pompo of Paradise Valley, who took part in the ride, said, "They did a good job of putting this together. It was great to see everybody coming together, even though (economic) times are really tough."

Rider D.J. Bean of Paradise Valley said, "Dierks seems great. He's been a good sport."

The atmosphere at Tempe Marketplace was festive, under mild weather with Mark Curtis of Channel 12 News acting as emcee.

"I love it out here," said Bentley, who will stay in the Valley for a few days and return in late December.

"Dierks has bent over backwards to meet with the kids," said Will Mandeville of the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation. He added that Bentley toured the hospital Friday and sang for children in a playroom.

Buddy Stubbs, who owns the Harley dealership where the ride started, said Saturday that Bentley will perform at his store for Arizona Bike Week, on April 16.


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KMLE Country 108's Tim and Willy went out and supported Dierks Bentley in his event to raise money for the Phoenix Children's Hospital. They started their ride at Buddy Stubbs Harley Davidson and rode to Tempe Marketplace. Tim and Willy hosted an after ride party at Cadillac Ranch.



We're hoping to get some DB Congress rep/fan stories and pics to share with you on the concert portion of this worthy fund-raising event. Stay tuned!

VIDEO OF DIERKS ON KMLE

Check out the video interview below where Dierks Bentley hangs out in the studio with Tim and Willie at KMLE Country 108 in Phoenix, Arizona. Dierks talks to callers about his dentist (and Dierks' superbowl ring?), a special thank you gift of hand-made glass for him, hanging out with radio all the time--is it grueling? And, he says he's still a zonie (grew up in Arizona)! He also talks about the 11/21 M&M4K in Phoenix, what Dierks considers the ultimate compliment, his favorite movie and actor, and so much more! Just click play!



*Special thanks to Jill (dearpie), DB Congress rep in Pheonix, AZ! What a great find! Have fun at the Phoenix Tempe Market Place M&M4K on Sat. 11/21! Take lots of pics!

LOCAL BOY DONE GOOD!

Dierks Bentley and his mom Cathy pull up in his jeep and talk with Willy from KMLE in Paradise Valley, Arizona (DB's home town) at the Cricket Pavillion, where Dierks performed last night. DB talks about the AZ Miles and Music For Kids event. Here's a new acronym for ya...LBDG (Local Boy Done Good) ....





{Source: Meg}