Ronnie Winter of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus performs in Alabama in December.

I see where the red-hot band The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is planning a benefit concert to help raise money for band uniforms for Middleburg High School, which many of the group’s members attended.

This is an exciting idea on several levels. It benefits the school, it gives exposure to a worthy cause and it could be the catalyst for other home-grown celebrities to come to the aid of the cash-strapped education system in Clay County.

Consider the possibilities.

1. Country music legend Tim McGraw’s family was living in Middleburg when he was born. Do you think he could sell out the Clay County fairgrounds arenaseveral nights running and perhaps donate the money to an elementary school’s music program?

2. I know more than a few folks who would pony up some extra cash to listen to Slim Whitman yodel one more time. I don’t know if Whitman, who lives in Middleburg, is still doing concerts but I am sure he would sound good enough to yodel a few tunes at the Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts. And I am sure the center’s executive director Tony Walsh could be convinced to donate proceeds to a local school music program.

3. Professional golfer Mark McCumber, who helped develop the late, lamentable Ravines golf course in Middleburg, probably could be convinced to give a couple of golfing clinics in the area and donate proceeds to some of the county’s school athletic programs.

4. There are  number of college and pro football players from Clay County who could hold skills clinics or organize memorabilia sales to benefit athletic programs.

I am sure there are plenty of other notables with Clay County ties who would be happy to help contribute to alleviating the funding crisis that is facing our schools, if only they were asked.

I applaud members of Red Jumpsuit for their foresight in trying to put this together. Despite the name, which apparently was pieced together by band members throwing darts blindfolded at words on a wall, the group has a very nice sound. I listened to a free track on their latest album “Lonely Road” and was very impressed. 

And good for Middleburg High Principal David Brodsky for seeing the potential to do something for the school and jumping on board. This could be the start of something big. There is no word yet on when the event might be scheduled.