MJ&M stands for Mack, Jack, and McConaughey—former UT football coach, Mack Brown, musician Jack Ingram, and actor Matthew McConaughey. Last week this trio hosted their third annual fundraiser to benefit several children’s charities. The two-day event included a fashion show, a golf tournament, a gala dinner, and evening concerts at the ACL-Moody Theater.
Bill and I attended Friday’s Jack & Friends Songwriter Concert. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel started the evening off with a short monologue and then sat in the second row with his wife to watch the musicians. He had taped his show here during SXSW last month and obviously loves our city, especially our food.
The rest of the evening was dedicated to the songwriters. Each person introduced and sang two of their own songs, accompanying themselves on acoustic guitar. Most were from Nashville. I’m not a huge country music fan, but even I recognized some of their songs. Here’s who performed:
- Jack Ingram
- Willis Alan Ramsey (wrote Muskrat Love)
- Butch Walker (producer for Taylor Swift, Pink, and others)
- Holly Williams (Hank’s granddaughter) and husband Christopher Coleman
- Will Hoge
- Keith Gattis
- Bruce Robison (lives around Austin)
- Alan Shamblin (wrote The House That Built Me)
- Jon Randall and wife Jessi Alexander (co-wrote I Drive Your Truck)
- Brett James (wrote Jesus, Take the Wheel)
Various combinations of the hosts and their wives sat on the stage during the performances. In the photo above, that’s Mack in the back with his arm around Matthew.
This marathon event lasted over three hours, which was actually earlier than last year’s concert. Jack’s closing song was accompanied by Jon Randall, with Mack and Matthew singing along on the chorus. In keeping with his reputation, Matthew played the bongos on his chest…but with his clothes on.
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