Perryville native and country music star Chris Janson surprised Perryville High School students Thursday with a very special Christmas gift.
Janson, a Warner Music recording artist, Academy of Country Music award winner, outfitted the Marching Buccaneers' drum line with new instruments and gear after a request by band directors Jerry Childers and David Barani.
The presentation was made during the PHS Winter Band Concert, an event Janson, a former member of the PHS Band, is very familiar with.
“We were trying to figure out how we could replace our aging percussion equipment,” said Childers in a statement issued by the Perry County School District. “Chris’s cousin, Jared, is a band student and one day we remarked that he was probably performing with some of the same instruments that Chris played when he was in our band. From there, we wondered if Chris had contacts that could help us obtain donated drums.”
Chris’s grandmother, Bonnie Bowling, a teaching assistant at District 32, relayed the request to Janson in Nashville. Within days, he contacted Childers and offered to donate a complete marching band percussion array to the school.
“We were stunned,” Childers said. “Chris said that he had wonderful memories of PHS and his time in band and choir, and wanted to give back to his school and community. He has fond memories of former teachers Eric Seibel, Bill Fischer and Terry Edwards. He also wants to encourage our students who are interested in music."
Janson, who, according to his publicist, is on vacation, was unavailable for comment Friday, but responded to the school district's announcement of the gift on Twitter.
"Proud to do it," Janson wrote. "Can't wait to hear the music. Merry Christmas!"
Childers praised the singer for his generosity, along with KHS Music, who filled the order.
“He put us in touch with Derek Frank at KHS Music and told us that he’d get us whatever we needed," Childers said. "Derek helped us put together a list of equipment, and Chris checked in several times to make sure everything was going well."
The school received the Mapex instruments on Tuesday, and kept the secret until tonight’s concert. Chris donated three marching snare drums, a marching tenor, and five marching bass drums of different sizes, plus carriers for each instrument.
"He did a good and generous thing," Bowling told the Republic-Monitor on Thursday.
According to the school district, It had been approximately 20 years since the PHS Marching Band had new drums.
“These instruments would have cost over $8,000 if the school had purchased them, something that is impossible at this time,” Childers said. “Chris’s generosity has a ripple effect as well; we can now trade our well-used percussion instruments for a couple of new instruments.
“This is an incredible gift that will benefit young musicians for many years. All of us at District 32 are grateful for the gift, and proud that Chris cares so much for Perryville High School and our students.”
