P.C. Elementary receives Arts grant

Singer/Songwriter Jacky Jack White performed for grades K-6 inside Phil Campbell High School auditorium on Friday. | Nathan Strickland/FCT

PHIL CAMPBELL- The Alabama Council of the Arts awarded Phil Campbell Elementary with a grant to help present different types of culture to their students.

The $800.00 grant is used to expose students to the different types of professions offered in the “real world.”

Friday school officials invited singer/songwriter Jacky Jack White to hold two performances and explain what it means to be a songwriter for students in grades K-12.

“I didn’t realize it would be this much fun to go around to different schools, singing songs and explaining songwriting to students,” said White. “I tell them that songwriting is like painting a mood. All kids who have drawn a picture, painted something or played with their mom and dad’s video camera have the potential to be a songwriter and that’s one of the things I like to draw their attention to.”

White has had several songs to hit the charts as a singer/songwriter since 1985. Some of the artists that have picked up his songs include Ray Stevens, Charley Pride, Buddy Jewell, Neal McCoy and Mark Lowery. One of White’s most recognizable songs that he wrote to date “If I Didn’t Love You,” which was recorded by Steve Wariner, won an ASCAP award. White has also been seen in the Southern Gospel circuit, winning an NSAI award for “When Men Pray.”

White has lived in Alabama for twenty years, and after a suggestion from his wife, Jody, who serves as a drama teacher at Demopolis High School, he decided to get involved performing for schools throughout the state.

“We are glad to have Jacky to come and enhance the minds of our students and show them an aspect in the performing arts field,” said Jackie Ergle, principal of Phil Campbell Elementary. “We would also like to thank Senator Roger Bedford, who played a key role in getting us the grant money and for working closely with the Arts Council to bring in these such performances for our students.”

The Alabama Council of the Arts offers grants to all rural schools that are unable to include an Arts program into the curriculum.