If someone would have told us that Michael Martin Murphey (songwriter of the 70’s hit song “WildFire”) would be sitting on the steps of the Heartlight Conference Center singing for us, we never would have believed it. But this past year it became a reality.

“Murph” came to benefit Heartlight’s program twice this past year, first on the grounds of Heartlight, complete with hay bale-seating and an incredible chuck-wagon meal prepared by John Schaffner and then at a Cowboy Christmas Concert benefit for Heartlight.  Our sincere thanks go out to Murph for his support of Heartlight.

Few people get a standing ovation just for playing the guitar. Doyle Dykes was one of those people as he played at the Spirit of Heartlight dinner held in Dallas both this year and last. Doyle also joined us on the campus of Heartlight for another performance for the kids and friends of Heartlight in November. His love for Heartlight, his love for music, his wonderful daughter Haley, and his willingness to come to Heartlight was a blessing to us all!

For the past three years, we’ve been fortunate to host singer/songwriter Paul Overstreet at Heartlight. This year, he was back for another evening of rousing music, bringing along friends Jim Collins and Leslie Satcher from Nashville. They performed at Heartlight in an “in the round” songwriters concert - a setting that the Longview News Journal called “East Texas’ best kept secret.” It was a great night and a great time all rolled up into one, with the proceeds benefiting the young people and their families at Heartlight.