Journal-News.com

FAIRFIELD — Tom Rush has been credited with shaping the folk movement revival in the 1960s.

He is a musical idol of Country music star Garth Brooks and helped introduce the world to Jackson Browne and James Taylor.

On Saturday, April 26, he will perform at the Fairfield Community Arts Center, 411 Wessel Drive, as the third of four Sojourner Concert Series concerts. The proceeds from the series benefit Sojourner Recovery Services, which helps men, women and adolescents with drug and alcohol problems, said Brent Russell, Sojourner spokesman.

"There hasn't been a lot of those opportunities to get out there and spread the word," Russell said.

Being associated with a popular series, which has included a number of sold-out concerts in the 200-seat theater, leaves people with a positive experience that sticks with them, Russell said.

Sojourner has earned $15,000 to go toward its general fund, and the first two concerts this year have sold out, Russell said. The Rush concert is expected to be sold out by show time, he said.

Over the last three years, Sojourner has lost $100,000 — and government funding has been reduced due to budget cuts, Russell said.

All the ticket sales go directly to Sojourner which is because of the event's sponsors, he said.

Greg Ossmann, spokesman for Mercy Hospital Fairfield, which is the series' title sponsor, said the mission of Sojourner is important to the community.

"With the cutting of state and federal funds, this helped augment out what are vital services in the region, and we realize this at Mercy Fairfield because we see many times those folks, unfortunately, have had problems with alcohol and drugs," Ossmann said.

The easiest thing to do is to write a check, but Mercy Fairfield and Sojourner wanted the sponsors to be active partners, Ossmann said.

"We wanted a deeper partnership, we wanted to work together," he said. "Those are the things that last."

Duke Energy is one of additional sponsors of the series. Duke spokesman Tim Abbott said sponsoring events like the concert series only helps the community.

"We felt the Sojourner Concert Series is something we could support, and it would be beneficial in helping make our community, and the surrounding communities, healthier and overall a better place," Abbott said.

Russell said he is always looking for additional sponsors which will help to bring in bigger acts and provide more funding for Sojourner.

For more information, call Russell at (513) 868-7654 or visit sojournerrecovery.org.

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