Nashville Recording Artist Glen Shelton, who resides in Amherst County, will perform Saturday night at a Raiders football benefit concert at the Appomattox County High School auditorium. Glen Shelton/Contributed

On Saturday, local country music singer Glen Shelton will team up with the Appomattox Raiders football program for a benefit concert at the Appomattox County High School auditorium. The show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Shelton, who resides in Amherst County, signed a record label with Nashville-based Jordash Records on March 15. His first CD as a Nashville Recording Artist, titled “Writing You A Love Song,” is to be released nationally in July.

Shelton has opened for singers such as Randy Travis, Joe Nichols, and more than 50 other nationally-known performers. He has also performed in Appomattox County for past events such as the Railroad Festival and Friday Cheers.

Shelton was asked to take part in this year’s concert, from which all proceeds fund the Raider football program. He gladly accepted, in part because of his admiration for two of the team’s football coaches, head coach Doug Smith and assistant coach Richard Trent.

“They asked me if I would come be part of this event for the football program and I’m just glad to help them out. There’s no two better guys than Doug Smith and Richard Trent,” Shelton said.

“Coach Smith is a one-in-a-million guy, and Richard Trent, he’s right there with him,” he continued. “The things that Coach Smith has done with that program is amazing. He’s more than just a football coach, he’s interested in making an impact on these kids’ lives forever. He wants to do whatever he can to help these kids be successful in life and just be the best influence on them that he can. That just makes it even more of an incentive for me to be involved in that because I know what Coach Smith is trying to do. He wants to continue to win championships for sure but I believe he’s more concerned making a difference in these kids’ lives, and that’s what’s most important.”

Saturday’s benefit will be Shelton’s first show in the county in about a decade.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to the Appomattox community, especially since I haven’t been there in a while, and I certainly would love to see a big turnout,” he said.

For more information about Shelton and his musical career, visit www.glenshelton.com. 

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