Healing with Music: Instruments Head to Western Kentucky

RICHMOND, Ky. (FOX 56) — Thousands of donations from across the country poured into western Kentucky after December’s deadly tornado outbreak.

And even though it’s been three months, the support for those who have lost everything continues.

WoodSongs Old Time Radio Hour host Michael Johnathon has called on the airwaves for all and every instrument to come to Kentucky.

Johnathon’s goal was to heal tornado victims through music.

Bill Hudson and Al Coffey were just two of many who answered Johnathon’s call. The couple traveled more than 300 miles from Roanoke, Virginia to Currier’s Music World in Richmond.

“What we’re doing is bringing instruments to those who lost so much to the tornado,” Hudson said.

They deposited about fifty musical instruments.

Coffey added, “We’ve got two drum sets, two accordions, three big keyboards, we’ve got a hammered dulcimer of all things.”

It’s their way of helping the hundreds of families who are still picking up the pieces.

Cathy Currier, owner of Currier’s Music World, wasted no time in joining Johnathon’s request. She repairs the instruments that have been donated to ensure they are in good condition for the families they go to.

“It’s scary. I mean, I still sometimes had a nightmare about a tornado. I can’t imagine what these people are dealing with. It’s unreal. So when Michael said let’s do this , I said yes, it’s the least we can do,” Currier explained.

Johnathon said it was the best way for musicians to help out. “We can’t rewire streetlights and we can’t fix roads, but we can restore the soundtrack of western Kentucky, that porch music.”

Over 400 instruments from Rhode Island, Virginia and even Alaska were donated.

Guitars, pianos, drums, violins and dozens of wind instruments will now have a new home in Western Kentucky.

Johnathon said the message is “even a tornado can’t steal the joy from the human spirit, especially when the music and song are still alive and well”.

These instruments will be distributed to families in Dawson Springs, Mayfield and Owensboro.

If you have instruments to donate, WoodSongs will be in the parking lot outside Bryan Station Koger in Lexington at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 17.