Singer-Songwriter Shuffle
Concert & Auction

2024 Sponsor Soiree and Songwriter Shuffle Gallery

Thank you to everyone sponsoring, attending, and volunteering at our events.

$1,100,000 raised and TWO transportation vehicles donated!

See all of the photos

Please let us know through our contact form if you want to be added to a waitlist. If tickets open up, we will let you know ASAP.

Your support helps our community thrive!

Dean Dillon

One of the most successful and influential songwriters in country music, as well as an original supporter and visionary for Gunnison TETWP, Dean Dillon has furnished more than sixty compositions for George Strait, and his songs have also found favor with many other recording artists.

Dillon’s hard-edged style and creative melodies suited Strait’s affinity for traditional country. In 1981, Dillon and Frank Dycus wrote Strait’s first hit single, “Unwound.” Since then, Strait has recorded Dillon compositions, including “The Chair,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Famous Last Words of a Fool,” “If I Know Me,” “I’ve Come to Expect It from You,” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” “The Best Day,” and “Here for a Good Time.”

Dillon also wrote many honky-tonk hits for Kenny Chesney, Vern Gosdin, Pam Tillis, Keith Whitley, and other singers. “Tennessee Whiskey,” which Dillon co-wrote with Linda Hargrove, has become a modern classic with widely heard versions by George Jones and Chris Stapleton.

ARTIST LINK
Hall of Fame
Spotify Playlist

Brent Cobb

The American south isn’t just Brent Cobb’s home. It’s his muse, too. A Georgia native, he fills his Grammy-nominated songwriting with the sounds and stories of an area that’s been home to southern rockers, soul singers, country legends, and bluesmen. Cobb has a name for that rich tapestry of music — “southern eclectic” — and he offers up his own version of it with his newest album, Southern Star.

Filled with country-soul songwriting, laid back grooves, and classic storytelling, Southern Star distills the best parts of southern culture into 10 of the strongest songs in Cobb’s catalog. He began writing the material after leaving Nashville — where he spent a decade releasing solo records like 2016’s Shine On Rainy Day (which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album) while penning hit songs for Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, and dozens of others.

ARTIST LINKS
Website
Spotify Playlist

Buddy Cannon

As a producer of number-one hits by artists like Kenny Chesney, John Michael Montgomery, Joe Nichols and Reba McEntire, 2 time Grammy Award winner Buddy Cannon’s talent in the studio continues to speak for itself. And it’s no wonder he knows his way around the recording studio, considering his many years of experience in all aspects of the business, from session background vocalist and bandmember, to songwriter and publishing company executive to record label A&R man. Cannon’s knack for picking and producing artists and their hits has helped launch the careers of mega-stars like Shania Twain and Billy Ray Cyrus, and his songwriting prowess has provided numerous hit songs for everyone from Vern Gosdin, Mel Tillis, and George Strait.

Tillis recorded several of Cannon’s songs, including the popular “I Believe In You,” which went to the top of the charts and was also recorded by Englebert Humperdink.

His own impressive personal song catalog includes classic hits like Vern Gosdin’s “Set ‘Em Up Joe,” “Dream Of Me”, and “I’m Still Crazy,” Billy Ray Cyrus’ “She’s Not Cryin’ Anymore,” and George Strait’s “I’ve Come To Expect It From You,” and  “Give It Away”.

Along with his work with Sammy Kershaw, George Jones (“High Tech Redneck”), John Michael Montgomery (“The Little Girl”), Chely Wright (“Single White Female”), and a 26 year run as producer for Kenny Chesney (“Young”, “A Lot Of Things Different”, “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”, “There Goes My Life”, “The Good Stuff”, “Somewhere With You”, “You And Tequila”), Cannon has also produced projects for Alison Krauss, Aaron Lewis, David Lee Murphy (Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”), Jamey Johnson, Sara Evans (“No Place That Far”) and Joe Nichols (“Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off”). Cannon has been the producer of choice for more than a dozen records by his hero Willie Nelson which Cannon proclaims to be one of the major highlights of his career. The collaboration with Nelson led to the Willie/Merle Haggard duet record “Django And Jimmie”. 

Spotify Playlist
Website

Melonie Cannon

Melonie Cannon was just fourteen when she sang on her first recording session. And by the time she’d reached high school, studio dates filled her calendar. Sammy Kershaw, John Michael Montgomery, George Jones and Kenny Chesney were among the many who made use of her voice – its easy reach from whispered intimacy to exuberance, its way of wrapping around a melody and finding truth in a lyric even the first time through a tune – Melonie Cannon’s voice became a favorite of some of country music’s best.

“Melonie Cannon is one of the best singers I know…Her new bluegrass album is fantastic….I love her voice anyway, but singing with a great bluegrass band was a good idea…They blend well together…The fact that I got to sing with her on a song I wrote makes it even better…Go Melonie.” – Willie Nelson

“Melonie Cannon has a pure and soulful sound. She has a true and honest voice that savors every note. She’s the real deal.” – Shania Twain

“She’s one of the best female voices I’ve ever had the pleasure to sing with.” – Vern Gosdin

“One of the most expressive singers in Nashville, and not merely in bluegrass circles, Cannon compels you to listen to these stories of everyday life, whether she’s consoling a new friend or stumbling into love after swearing it would never happen. She also submits a fine rendition of Set ‘Em Up Joe, the Vern Gosdin tune written by her dad, producer Buddy Cannon. Back to Earth, a duet with Willie Nelson, is a soothing highlight, too.” – Craig Shelborne, CMT.com

ARTIST LINKS
Spotify Playlist
YouTube Playlist

Marla Cannon-Goodman

Marla has been a member of the Gunnison TETWP family for a long time and we are so grateful to have her back again! Raised in Kingston Springs, Tennessee, where she had a front row seat for country music history as she watched her father, Buddy Cannon, shepherd the careers of new and legendary artists as a producer, songwriter and record label executive.  Now, she has earned her own place as one of country music’s most-beloved and respected hit-makers.

Marla was working as a nurse when her song “The Fool”, recorded by Lee Ann Womack, reached #1 on the country charts.  She has had cuts by everyone from Sammy Kershaw, Billy Currington, Blake Shelton, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, George Strait and many others. 

Marla has twice more reached #1 status with “Ten Rounds of Jose Cuervo” by Tracy Byrd, and “Cleaning This Gun” by Rodney Atkins.  You can also find her name on the Willie Nelson / Merle Haggard duet album “Django And Jimmie”, “Stealing Home” by Willie Nelson, and “Same Devil” by Brandy Clark (feat. Brandi Carlile).

ARTIST LINKS
Spotify Playlist
YouTube Playlist

Please let us know through our contact form if you want to be added to a waitlist. If tickets open up, we will let you know ASAP.

Zane Dearien

Senior Executive Chef at Elk Ave Food and Beverage

Chef Zane Dearien is the Senior Executive Chef at Elk Ave Food and Beverage, over The Wooden NIckel and Elk Ave Prime Steak. Chef Zane has led teams and worked at some of the nation’s best restaurants in the Southern U.S. and Midwest.

Born and raised in an Italian community in Northwest Arkansas, Chef Zane’s love for the kitchen began at his grandparent’s house. He remembers spending time in the kitchen with his grandmother Sheila, known as “Bobbie” by the family, who taught him the tenets of classic Italian cooking and became his biggest cooking inspiration.

He worked under six-time James Beard Foundation Best Chef Nominee, Matthew McClure, at The Hive, the restaurant inside Bentonville’s  21c hotel.  He then went on to work as sous chef at Gray & Dudley, a new southern restaurant that was opening inside the 21c hotel in Nashville. In 2017, Chef Zane joined Chef Sean Brock as sous chef at Husk Nashville where he developed an appreciation for a maximalist style of Southern cooking, regional ingredient-driven menus, and regenerative farming practices. In 2019, Chef Zane joined Chef Gerard Craft at Pastaria Nashville team, where he eventually took over as Executive Chef.

After helping build the team and foundation in St Louis for Gerard Craft, Zane moved to Crested Butte, CO where he became the Senior Executive Chef of the Elk Ave Food and Beverage group where he plays a pivotal role building menus, culture, and kitchens in the newly revitalized restaurants such as The Wooden Nickel, Elk Ave Prime, and the Almont Resort. With two more coming online, BruHaus (homage to a German tap room) and Princess, our tapas and cocktail space.

Pete Mickelson

The Almont Resort

Pete Mickelson, Executive Chef from Iowa City via St. Louis, has been struck by lightning. His deathbed beverage is a Manhattan, Blanton’s single barrel with an orange twist. Career achievements include Top Chef Iowa City 2020, Best New Restaurant St. Louis 2021, Best Brunch St. Louis 2022. He’s excited about the direction and vision for the Almont Resort for years to come.

Al Sedaghat

BruHaus

Originally hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Al Sedaghat is the Executive Chef at BruHaus. For fun, he snowboards, plays hockey, and enjoys golf. Camping with a nearby swimming hole and a smoked brisket sandwich is also at the top of his list of leisure activities. He’s been to 10 countries and studied abroad in Italy.

Rob Zack

Culinary Director

A 30 year resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, Chef Rob recently joined Elk Avenue Food & Beverage as the Culinary Director. Prior to joining Elk Ave, he was the Executive Chef at the historic Hotel Jerome, the iconic Aspen hotel where he began his career as a line cook nearly 20 years earlier.  The popular Aspen chef has played an instrumental role in the hotel’s remodel in 2012 and the reinterpretation of the hotel’s food and beverage program.

Much of Chef Rob’s culinary experience was honed in Colorado. He also served as the Executive Chef at the Viceroy Hotel in Snowmass, where he opened and oversaw the acclaimed signature restaurant, EightK, as well as the slope-side location, Nest. Prior to that, he ventured out on his own as chef-partner at the popular casual dining restaurant, Crave Kitchen, in Basalt, Colo.

Chef Rob looks forward to participating in this year’s Gunnison Tough event and showcasing the creative talents of the Elk Avenue Food & Beverage Culinary team.

Alyssa Atzenbeck

Cake Me Away

Alyssa always loved baking and began decorating cakes in 2012. An assignment at WCU ignited a spark that led to the formation of Cake Me Away, LLC, and a diploma in Pastry Arts from Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder.

Songwriter Soiree Chefs

TITLE SPONSOR

$50,000

SONGWRITER SOIREE MEET & GREET VIP DINNER & ACOUSTIC CONCERT

Monday, July 15th, 2024

• Meet & Greet Dinner & Acoustic Concert for Eight Guests- Hang out with the songwriters and enjoy an intimate evening of music and friendship at the Double Top Ranch
• Sommeliers from Garlic Mike’s will be serving a selection of fine wine.
• Top shelf open bar
• Framed Event Poster signed by songwriters 

SONGWRITER SHUFFLE CONCERT & AUCTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2024

• Reserved Table for Ten Guests in the VIP up close to stage area with Private Bar  – Best seats to watch the Songwriter Shuffle Concert & Auction at The Almont Resort
• Wait staff throughout the evening 
• A selection of fine wine served at your table chosen by sommeliers from Elk Avenue Prime
• VIP Parking Area at the Almont Resort
• Recognition on stage and on the Gunnison TETWP Webpage and Social Media Platforms
• Case of Distillery 291 award winning TETWP whisky
• Sponsor Bags with Gunnison Tough Goodies

#1 PRCA TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK RODEO

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

• Four seats in Mike Dawson’s Private Booth, at the Cattlemen’s Days #1 PRCA Pink Rodeo.  Spend the evening watching the rodeo action. Snacks & beverages provided.

PARADE

Saturday, July 13th, 2024

• Individual Sponsor Banner  – carried by riders on horses & mules-  in the Cattlemen’s Days July 13th parade on Main Street in Gunnison.

GRAND SPONSOR

$25,000

SONGWRITER SOIREE MEET & GREET VIP DINNER & ACOUSTIC CONCERT

Monday, July 15th, 2024

• Meet & Greet Dinner & Acoustic Concert for Four Guests- Hang out with the songwriters and enjoy an intimate evening of music and friendship at the Double Top Ranch
• Sommeliers from Garlic Mike’s will be serving a selection of fine wine.
• Top shelf open bar

SONGWRITER SHUFFLE CONCERT & AUCTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2024

• Reserved Table for Eight Guests in the VIP up close to stage area with Private Bar  – Best seats to watch the Songwriter Shuffle Concert & Auction at The Almont Resort
• Wait staff throughout the evening
• A selection of fine wine served at your table chosen by sommeliers from Elk Avenue Prime
• VIP Parking Area at the Almont
• Recognition on stage and on the Gunnison Tough Webpage and Social Media Platforms
• Bottle of Distillery 291 award winning TETWP whisky
• Sponsor Bags with Gunnison Tough Goodies

#1 PRCA TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK RODEO

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

• Two seats in Mikes Dawson’s Private Booth , at the Cattlemen’s Days #1 PRCA Pink Rodeo .  Spend the evening watching the rodeo action,  snacks & beverages provided.

PARADE

Saturday, July 13th, 2024

• Individual Sponsor Banner  – carried by riders on horses & mules-  in the Cattlemen’s Days July 13th parade on Main Street in Gunnison.

GOLD SPONSOR

$10,000

SONGWRITER SOIREE MEET & GREET VIP DINNER & ACOUSTIC CONCERT

Monday, July 15th, 2024

• Meet & Greet Dinner & Acoustic Concert for Two Guests- Hang out with the songwriters and enjoy an intimate evening of music and friendship at the Double Top Ranch
• Sommeliers from Garlic Mike’s will be serving a selection of fine wine.
• Top shelf open bar

SONGWRITER SHUFFLE CONCERT & AUCTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2024

• Reserved Table for Six Guests in the VIP up close to stage area with Private Bar  – Best seats to watch the Songwriter Shuffle Concert & Auction at The Almont Resort
• Dinner and Drinks included.
• VIP Parking Area at the Almont
• Recognition on stage and on the Gunnison TETWP Webpage and Social Media Platforms
• Bottle of Distillery 291 award winning TETWP whiskey
• Sponsor Bags with Gunnison Tough Goodies

#1 PRCA TOUGH ENOUGH TO WEAR PINK RODEO

Thursday, July 11th, 2024

• Seats for Two Guests, Cattlemen’s Days #1 PRCA Pink Rodeo. Spend the evening watching the rodeo action in the covered Grandstands. 

SILVER SPONSOR

$5,000

SONGWRITER SHUFFLE CONCERT & AUCTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2024

• Reserved Shared Table for Four Guests 
• Dinner and Drinks included. 
• Recognition on stage and on the Gunnison Tough Webpage and Social Media Platforms
• Sponsor Bags with Gunnison Tough Goodies

DAY MONEY SPONSOR

$2,500

SONGWRITER SHUFFLE CONCERT & AUCTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2024

• Reserved Shared Table for Two Guests 
• Dinner and Drinks included. 
• Recognition on stage and on the Gunnison Tough Webpage and Social Media Platforms.
• Sponsor Bags with Gunnison Tough Goodies

MARK OUT SPONSOR

$1,000

SONGWRITER SHUFFLE CONCERT & AUCTION

Tuesday, July 16th, 2024

• Open seating for two guests
• Dinner and Drinks included. 
• Recognition on stage and on the Gunnison Tough Webpage and Social Media Platforms.

All of these sponsorship levels are not limited as to the number of sponsors.

If these categories are not exactly what you are looking for, we are open to other unique sponsorship ideas or packages.

Please get in touch with Heidi Sherratt to discuss 970-209-6332

EARLY DETECTION & SUPPORT FOR LIFE-SAVING SCREENINGS

Provide life-saving cancer screenings for those who do not have insurance.  

Help to raise awareness around the importance of early screening for cancer. 

Gunnison Tough (TETWP) has ramped up our awareness campaign resulting in a 40% increase  in the number of women getting their annual mammogram! 

More and more women have been getting their annual mammograms at GVH. With this great success, we have also experienced an increase in requests for financial assistance to help cover the cost of mammograms, ultrasounds, and/or biopsies for the uninsured or underinsured. 

Our financial support program for mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies, and MRIs have seen increasing demand over the last couple of years. With more and more individuals becoming aware of the program and able to access additional diagnostic screenings at Gunnison Valley Health many women are getting their mammograms and following through with additional recommended diagnostic screenings.

In 2023, TETWP helped support 105 uninsured or underinsured women with screening mammograms, diagnostic ultrasounds, MRIs, and biopsies. In 2023, these charges added up to $45,526.48 for all screenings and diagnostic procedures. 

TETWP TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

A special thank you to Carol Ann May & Jim Saindon for donating Bucky!
And to Russ & Celina Harrison for donating Betty Ann!

Our three vehicles help get people with any type of cancer safely to their out of town appointments and treatments.

Our three transportation vehicles – Tuffy, Bucky, and Betty Ann are staying very busy getting people safely and comfortably to their appointments outside the valley.

Total Miles Traveled in 2023 : 45,530 miles
9 individuals with breast cancer, 15 individuals with other forms of cancer

LUCY’S HOUSE – LODGING PROGRAM

A special thank you to Norman & Dorothy Eastwood for generously creating & funding this critical program.

Since 2019, over 974 nights of lodging have been provided to individuals with various forms of cancer. 

In 2023 our organization saw a DRAMATIC increase in our Lucy’s House program utilization compared to 2022. 

Providing 461 nights of lodging for 24 individuals in 2023 compared to 164 nights of lodging in 2022! 

A 181% increase!  

FRIENDS OF TOUGH

Since 2015, Friends of Tough (formerly Friends of Pink) has given over $182,000 in financial support to individuals going through cancer. 

In 2023, this program assisted 6 individuals with over $24,000 in financial assistance, including but not limited to, treatment expenses, transportation costs, grocery and housing bills, house cleaning and lost wages.

GUNNISON VALLEY HOSPITAL

Provides state of the art equipment, physicians,  and services to be the best small town cancer care hospital in the USA.

In 2023 TETWP purchased an ABUS breast ultrasound machine for Gunnison Valley Health.
The cost of the machine was $279,807.50

Adding to the inventory of top of the line equipment that Gunnison Tough has provided to our local hospital which includes a 3D Tomosynthesis  Mammography machine, digital ultrasound, stereotactic biopsy equipment, and breast MRI coil. 

All of this state of the art equipment allows our community to receive  the necessary screenings and treatments for breast cancer here at GVH.  

Oncology Nurse Navigator

We support a portion of the salary of the nurse navigator who helps anyone going through a cancer diagnosis in the Gunnison Valley (not just those who are using the the services of the hospital)

Salary support in 2023 was $9,436.00

MAKE IT A GREAT DAY

Gunnison Tough gives cancer patients and their caregivers the opportunity  to access  integrative therapies such as reiki, massage, acupuncture, light therapy, nutrition, ortho bionomy.

These therapies have been proven to help cancer patients stay strong mentally and physically while they are going through their surgeries and treatments. Research findings show that integrative therapies can help to boost the immune system and reduce pain. 

In 2023, Gunnison Tough provided $12,736.00 in integrative therapy support.

SPARKY’S FUND

In 2023 Gunnison Tough was able to provide a total of $18,353.00 in financial support to six families with children.

This support included helping one family go on a quick vacation to a place they had always wanted to visit, help with college tuition, a purchase of a child’s bike, child care tuition assistance, support of a family whose child is going through a pediatric cancer diagnosis and a scholarship for two children who lost a parent to cancer.

Learn more about all of our Programs.

Please contact Heidi Sherratt at 970-209-6332 or director@gunnisontough.com if you would like to sponsor the Songwriter Shuffle. Thank you!