Through what they’re calling Jingle Jam, several local musicians and groups are committed to spreading Christmas joy through caroling. Upwards of 10 groups would love to visit nursing homes, assisted living facilities, the Wendell Foster Center, Hospice, hospitals, and more.
Randy Lanham organized the event in partnership with Volunteer Owensboro and the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Any organization wishing to see the carolers in action should contact Lanham at [email protected].
“We got inspired to do this because this summer, we did ROMP around town and all of the facilities loved it,” Lanham said. “So, of course, Christmas is a great time of year to bring music to facilities with folks who can’t get out. Part of teaching my students music is to learn to play with others and then take it out to the community.”
Carolers this year include The Fletcher Family, Mackenzie Bell, Emmie Williams and Lucy Chaney, the Bluegrass Brothers, Jude Evans and Max Knoop, Shrimp n Grits, Parker and Sarah Malone, Wayne Morris, the Jarboe Brothers, Skylar, and Randy Lanham. Lanham added he’s open to having more artists volunteer.
Lanham is the director of Volunteer Owensboro and the new Bluegrass Music Academy (BMA) at the Hall of Fame. He and his team also provide live Christmas music on WBIO every Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. and the Hall of Fame on Wednesdays from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
“This is a great way to launch the new BMA program by sending out music groups into the community to serve,” he said. “The BMA slogan is ‘music with a mission,’ and of course, Volunteer Owensboro is always placing groups into volunteer opportunities, so it’s the perfect partnership.”
While they have already reached out to several nursing homes and nonprofits, Lanham encourages others interested to email him. All of the groups are available by appointment.
“We have had such a great response; everyone loves singing along, and they say it brings them back to their childhood memories,” he said. “We keep Christ in Christmas and perform some good ole standard Christmas music to make everyone happy. All the groups say they get just as much, if not more, out of this than the residents.”
