Saddle Up! sounds great!

John Bettis, Ashley H., Don Schlitz, Savanah M. and Gary Nicholson gather after the show.

Saddle Up! is a Nashville nonprofit providing recreational therapeutic riding programs for children and youth with documented disabilities. For several years Trew Audio has donated a PA system for use in the annual Saddle Up! Country Ride ‘n Roll fundraiser. This year the event was held at the stunning Duke It Out farm in Franklin, TN. It was an incredibly beautiful September night filled with great songs and great people gathered for a wonderful cause.

Our Mackie Onyx Mixer and Speakers were in keeping with the warm, informal feel of the evening by providing enough power for all of the performers’ nuances without overpowering the crowd.

You may not recognize the names, Gary Nicholson, Don Schlitz or John Bettis, but if you’ve listened to the radio or watched TV or movies at all in the last 40 years you know their work.

John Bettis is a Grammy award winner, and his range of songs/recording artists include: “Goodbye to Love” and “Yesterday Once More” for The Carpenters, “Human Nature” for Michael Jackson, and the Olympic theme song, “One Moment in Time” sung by Whitney Houston, plus several TV shows and movies (including Godfather III).

Don Schlitz is the 2010 recipient of the Academy of Country Music Poet’s Award. Don’s first hit “The Gambler” recorded by Kenny Rogers launched his career. His songs have been recorded by George Strait, Garth Brooks, Alabama, Randy Travis and Allison Krauss.

Gary Nicholson‘s hit songs include: “One More Last Chance” for Vince Gill, “The Trouble with the Truth” for Patty Loveless and “She Couldn’t Change Me” for Montgomery Gentry.

Take a look at a synopsis of the evening: