More than 20 years later, Brad Piccolo, John Cooper and Ben Han still have aches and pains from the fatal helicopter crash they were fortunate enough to survive.
But the core members of the beloved band the Red Dirt Rangers now see the 2004 crash near Cushing as “one of those really bittersweet moments,” Cooper said.
“It was horrific for the loss of life, and we were really hurt. But the outpouring of love and affection from around the country and around the world was incredible,” he told The Oklahoman in a 2024 interview.
“There was definitely a silver lining, which also led to the Red Dirt Relief Fund, in a way. We were left here for a reason: It was to make music, to make people happy and to help. So, that’s what we’re doing.”
A small, grassroots nonprofit, the Red Dirt Relief Fund, which provides a safety net for Oklahoma music professionals in need, is celebrating some big achievements in 2025. Over the summer, the organization marked the milestone of providing $1 million in direct aid to Oklahoma music creators since its founding in 2012, and in September, Cooper and Executive Director Katie Dale traveled to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to accept the honor for Best Organization or Individual Supporting Music in their City at the global Music Cities Awards.
“When we set out to start the Red Dirt Relief Fund, there was never a vision like this. It was, ‘We have some money from a festival that we can try to do some good with, and let’s just try to do the most good that we can.’ So, it’s wild to look back and think that that idea was so embraced by all kinds of people and fans and businesses and partners,” Dale told The Oklahoman.
“I think we are all looking for something that we can feel good about and a sense of community (where we) can make an impact. “
Plus, the organization’s second-largest annual fundraising event, Tulsa’s Skinnerfest, is celebrating its 10th anniversary of making music for a good cause on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Who’s playing the 10th annual Skinnerfest in Tulsa?
Celebrating the life and songwriting tradition of Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Tom Skinner, the 10th annual Skinnerfest is bringing together more than 50 Oklahoma musicians on two stages at noon Sunday, Oct. 12 at 18th and Boston in Tulsa.
The festivities will take place on two Tulsa stages: The Mercury Lounge, 1747 S Boston Ave., and The Venue Shrine, 112 E 18. Both are 21 and older venues.
Skinnerfest begins at noon with a limited-capacity VIP Brunch with King Cabbage Brass Band at Mercury Lounge. Requiring an additional ticket, the brunch includes general admission to the festival along with a Cajun meal from Nicky’s Smokehouse and two complimentary beverages.
After the brunch, King Cabbage Brass Band, which recently toured as the horn section for Oklahoma superstar Zach Bryan, will officially launch Skinnerfest with their signature New Orleans-style second line parade.
The King Cabbage Brass Band from Tulsa plays on June 4, 2023, during the Gay Pride Parade in Oklahoma City.
The lineup also includes rising country, funk and bluegrass star Johnny Mullenax, country rockers Keyland and Red Dirt music trailblazers Red Dirt Rangers, along with Oklahoma musicians Randy Crouch, Amber Watson, Brothers Moore, Science Project, Casii Stephan, BC & the Big Rig, Beau Jennings & Friends, The Poppa Foster Goodtime Band, Micefolk, HiFi Hillbillies, Drew Winn, Travis Linville, Jesse Aycock, Dustin & Ayngel Pittsley, Beau Roberson and more.
With support from a Tulsa Vision Arts Grant, the Red Dirt Relief Fund also is partnering with local funnyman Evan Hughes to deliver laughs at both stages throughout the day, with stand-up comedy from local comedians between musical sets.
The proceeds from Skinnerfest benefit the Red Dirt Relief Fund’s Financial Assistance fund to aid music creators facing unavoidable emergencies.
Katie Dale, Red Dirt Relief Fund executive director, holds up a guitar with a painting of Jake Flint on it in 2023 during the fundraising auction at the Bob Childer’s Gypsy Cafe in Stillwater.
Skinnerfest is second only to the organization’s flagship Bob Childers Gypsy Cafe songwriters festival, which takes place in spring in Stillwater, among the Red Dirt Relief Fund’s yearly fundraising events. In May, the 14th annual Gypsy Cafe raised nearly $32,000 for the nonprofit’s ongoing efforts.
The Red Dirt Relief Fund was founded in 2012 using the ticket proceeds of the first Gypsy Café, which was organized in Stillwater in 2011.
Since, the relief fund has provided emergency financial assistance that has helped more than 850 industry professionals in 100 communities recover from accidents, cancer treatment, medical emergencies, natural disasters, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and other unavoidable emergencies that prevent them from making music in our communities.
During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization gave close to 700 grants totaling almost $300,000, since so many musicians, venue owners and other music professionals were affected by the live entertainment industry shutting down.
En route to the $1 million milestone, Dale said the organization also has helped pay for funeral expenses, replace stolen gear and repair damaged or broken-down touring vehicles.
“On one hand, that’s a lot of struggle and hardship and hard times, and it’s certainly not something we want to celebrate. … But the flip side of that coin is that means that a million people put $1 in the pile in some capacity, and we’ve been able to create this community to take care of our musicians and the folks who work in music. And that feels like something worth celebrating,” Dale said.
“We have amazing volunteers, we have super supportive sponsors … and it’s a good time to express our gratitude.”
10TH ANNUAL SKINNERFEST
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What: Music festival benefiting the Red Dirt Relief Fund.
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Where: The Mercury Lounge, 1747 S Boston Ave., and The Venue Shrine, 112 E 18.
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Ages: Both are 21 and older venues.
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Cost: General admission is $25 advance or $30 day-of-show.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Red Dirt Relief Fund celebrating big achievements in 2025
