By Sherri Blevins Life is short, so enjoy every day. I was reminded of that again while attending the 2023 Alabama June Jam. I am one of those “older people” who camped in line to get the perfect spot back in the eighties and nineties to experience the excitement of seeing all the amazing talent the Boys from Fort Payne brought to the area for that special day in June each year. The talent was outstanding, and to know I lived in the same county as the group Alabama made me feel so special. Not only was the music wonderful, but the opportunity to create lifelong memories and “war stories” to tell my children was precious, even though I didn’t realize it then. Thank you, Alabama, for all those memories and, in 2023, the opportunity to make new ones. June Jam 2023 did not disappoint; it brought up many special memories for my husband and me. A few thousand other fans who looked about my age may have shared that same opinion. The day started with a special memorial or celebration of life for founding group member Jeff Cook who passed away in Destin, Florida, on November 7, 2022. After a twenty-six-year break, announcer Stormy Warren welcomed everyone back to the June Jam. Pastor David Butler and Pastor Toy Arnett from Destin, Florida, paid tribute to Jeff and shared many special memories about their time with Jeff in Florida. The group Wildwood, who opened up for Alabama in 1981, performed during the celebration, and the vocal group Home Free sang “How Great Thou Art”. Memories about Jeff and the impact his life had on others were shared by Jeff’s wife, Lisa, and Mary Davis Travis, wife of Randy Travis. Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen wrote a beautiful song, “I Will Remember for You” about Jeff’s life, and the music video was shared with the fans. The Issacs sang“It is Well.” The celebration ended with a video of Jeff singing his song, “On Jordan’s Banks.” The rest of the day was filled with heat, sweat, awesome entertainment, cheering, clapping, dancing, and plain old-fashion fun. As the day progressed, the crowd increased, and by nightfall, the VFW Fairground was filled with excited fans. Between eight and ten thousand tickets were sold for the event. The show featured The Malpass Brothers, Home Free, The Issacs, Chapel Hart, Worth the Wait, Dailey & Vincent, Neal McCoy, Janie Fricke, Mark Wills, Exile, The Frontmen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jake Owen, Jamey Johnson, and the stars of the show, Alabama. I can’t wait for Alabama June Jam 2024. Thank you to Alabama, the City of Fort Payne, all the volunteers, and all the first responders who worked together to make the event possible!
Mountain Valley News (MVN) is your trusted source for weekly hometown news, serving the vibrant communities of DeKalb and Jackson Counties in the heart of Alabama. We're here to bring you the latest stories, events, and happenings, all available conveniently both online and in print. At MVN, we believe that community engagement is essential. We want to hear from you, our valued readers! Share your opinions, insights, and thoughts on our articles by adding a comment below each story. Your perspective matters, and your comments contribute to the rich tapestry of discussions in our community. Together, we can foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community. Join us in shaping the narrative of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. Your voice is important, and we look forward to reading your comments. Let's make our community news a truly interactive experience! Have a story idea or a topic you'd like to see covered? Feel free to suggest it in the comments or reach out to our dedicated team. We're here to serve you, and your feedback helps us tailor our content to your interests and needs.