The country music community of Texas and Oklahoma has been a fantastic supporter of children and their families battling various medical issues. Over the past few years, Ft. Worth DJ Justin Frazell has been a driving force behind the all-star Pickin' for Preemies series of Labor Day concerts, with proceeds going to the March of Dimes to seek help and treatment for babies born prematurely. Just a few weeks ago in Waco, new Sony Records signee Wade Bowen hosted his successful annual golf tourney, where the money continues to go towards causes such as mothers who suffer from postpartum depression.
There's now another marquee Red Dirt act getting involved and looking to make a difference for the kids that at Cook Children's in Dallas. Native Oklahoman Stoney LaRue, who has been gathering bigger crowds and fancy awards since the release of his latest gem, Velvet, is hosting his first charity golf event, The Stoney LaRue Music & Arts Foundation Golf and Poker Classic, which happens this weekend at Hat Tricks in Lewisville and the Dallas Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine.
"Aside from the fact that the hospital is in Dallas, I've been a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys, and I've been friends with Tony Avezzano, and of course, Coach Joe [Avezzano], for years. Tony and I have been wanting to do something like this for a while," LaRue says from his home in Oklahoma City. "Given everything, especially when I think of Coach's spirit, and love for music, not to mention his affiliation with the Cowboys, I just think it all came together perfectly."
LaRue, a father of four himself, has made quite the trek from playing the cramped stage of Adair's in 2003 to being a big enough name to not only bring out the fans, but also celebrity friends. He understands he's fortunate to not have ever had to be a long-time resident of Cook's, though he also wants his children to realize it as well.
"This cause struck a chord for me because my children are healthy," he says. "I think they need to see and appreciate what the kids at the hospital have to go through. The kids at Cook's don't want you to feel sorry for them, even though they tug at your heart-strings. They want uplifting art and music. It's been proven that the power of things like prayer and music can help people battle disease more effectively. I'm not saying that music cures cancer, but it makes kids happy and happiness is quite a drug."
