Jake’s Backroom to Host Musical Tribute in Honor of Garland Ray Peterson, Jr.

Sunday, August 7, Jake's Backroom will be hosting over eight hours of music from some of Lubbock's finest local musicians to benefit a local musician who tragically lost his life.

D.G. Flewellyn, Gypsy Jane, Mike Pritchard, Bryan Wheeler (who is also an incredible visual artist) and many more will perform at the benefit show for Garland Ray Peterson Jr., who was suddenly and tragically killed in a multi-vehicle accident on July 16.

Peterson was active in local music, so there's no more appropriate way to honor his life than with a night of music and love.

Michael X-Ray will also perform. If you're old school, you'll remember him as a DJ for many years on FMX.

There will also be silent and live auctions on many desirable items, including a guitar handcrafted by David Polk valued at over $1,200. Door charge for the day-long event is $10, and all proceeds go directly to the family that Peterson loved so dearly.

Since Peterson's death, his family and friends have been reeling in heartbreak and disbelief, but have also united to ensure that his wife Cortnee and his daughters are taken care of.

I never had the privilege of meeting Garland, but as someone who grew up in the Lubbock music scene, I know more people who knew and loved him than those who did not. That's truly incredible. He must have been a special person indeed, and I'll let his friend Vanessa speak for him:

I really do think of LOVE when I think of Garland. He loved with every ounce of his big ass Irish heart. Every since I first met him in the late 90's, he would tell everybody he cared about he loved them. Garland was a hard worker and music and family are what drove him. Oh! He was brilliant cook!! He loved to feed us! He used to host Sunday suppers years ago.

If you're unable to attend but would like to donate to Peterson's family, their friends have also set up a GoFundMe page.

Special thanks to my dear Vanessa who helped me compose this article, and through whom I was able to get to "know" Garland.