FORT BENNING, Ga. - The devil went down to Georgia, and the Charlie Daniels Band will sing about it.
The country music artist, who's most famous for his hits, The Devil Went Down to Georgia and He's Coming Back, will perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. Jonathan and Lisa Moore will open the concert.
During the day, there will be a luncheon and silent auction from noon to 1:30 p.m. held in the lobby. All proceeds will go toward the completion of Camp Laughing Child, a camp for kids with HIV or AIDS.
Also, during the luncheon, Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington will present Daniels with a key to the city and declare it Charlie Daniels Day. Eastwind Bluegrass Band will perform while those who attend eat Mike and Ed's barbecue.
Daniels said he looked forward to returning to Georgia to support the Christ-centered therapeutic adventure camp that provides a recreational escape for institutionalized children living with the condition. Camp Laughing Child was founded by his longtime friend and Columbus native Shane Clark. The two met 10 years ago on a benefit tour.
"He is a true servant of mankind and of God," Daniels said of Clark. "He really has a heart for pediatric AIDS cases. He just feels such a burden to do something about it."
Clark said Mother Teresa prompted his passion for the cause while working with her for six years in India.
The camp is located in Mexico, where Clark currently lives, and is half finished.
"We've been working really hard and doing things really simply with the goal of impacting the lives of those children," Clark said. "And Charlie (Daniels) gets it."
The performer said he was honored to help and gave all the credit to Clark.
"I just feel this is important work," Daniels said. "But Shane (Clark) is doing all the work, and we're just lending a hand with it. It's just one night out of my life."
The boys dormitory at the camp is named in honor of Daniels, and the girls house is named in honor of Daniels' wife, Hazel.
MG Michael Ferriter will also thank Daniels for his support of the military during the luncheon.
Event director John Boyd said Daniels is recognized as a military supporter, and Fort Benning's proximity was one of the reasons Columbus was chosen for the concert.
"He has performed for Soldiers at more than 300 shows domestic and abroad," Boyd said. Daniels recently returned from an annual trip to Iraq.
"(Service members) are just the best we've got," Daniels said. "I realize that if it wasn't for the military, there would be no America. We love entertaining the troops."
Tickets for the concert, which are discounted for military, can be purchased at www.tickets.com, the RiverCenter, Golden Acres Baptist Church in Phenix City or at the Sanctuary Bookstore in Columbus. Those who buy at the bookstore will be entered into a drawing for a Charlie Daniels autographed guitar.
Tickets for the luncheon, which will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. the day of the concert, can be purchased at any Mike and Ed's restaurant for $10.
With the help of the event's proceeds, Clark estimated the camp's completion date to be November 2010.
"The success of this event will be heard by heaven in the laughter of those children who receive healing and hope at Camp Laughing Child," he said.
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