Pryor & Lee Virtual Concert to Benefit Animal Shelters, Rescues

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When fellow The Voice alumni Pryor Baird and Kaleb Lee combined their music skills to form the country duo Pryor & Lee back in January 2020, little did they know that one of their songs would become a rallying cry for pet lovers. In fact, the duo will showcase the song, “Good Ol’ Dogs & God,” during a virtual music concert to be broadcast live on the social media platforms of 130 humane organizations, rescue groups and animal shelters on June 23.

“We had just signed [a recording deal on Black River Entertainment] in January 2020, after being friends and solo acts before then,” Lee recalled during an interview with Pet Age. “No one knew us as a duo. We had actually signed before we even had a name for the duo, so it was all so brand new. We had a song [Y’allsome] that was coming out and a tour that was booked and then COVID shut it all down like it did to so many other things for so many other people.”

Lee notes that the pandemic was a learning experience for the duo, and it allowed fate to step in as well.

“It taught us patience,” he added. “It gave us the opportunity to take some time to find songs – like ‘Good Ol’ Dogs & God’ – that meant something to us and allowed us to have opportunities that we’re talking about today.”

A much different song than the get-your-heart-pumping “Y’allsome,” “Good Ol’ Dogs & God” celebrates the loving bond that we share with our pets. Self-admitted dog lovers, Pryor and Lee nearly didn’t have the opportunity to record the tune, which was co-written by their producer Doug Johnson along with veteran songwriters Elvie Shane, Adam Wood and Trent Fisher.

“We had been in a song meeting one day last summer,” Pryor explained. “And we had been listening to songs for four hours. We were just about to walk out when our producer Doug says ‘Hey guys, you know what? I’ve got this song we wrote the other day. I’d love for you guys to take a listen to it and just tell me what you think.’ When we got to the first verse, we were like ‘Doug, why didn’t you play this four hours ago?’ We knew it from the very beginning, being that we’re dog lovers, that this was our song.”

The country music artists were so connected to the song that they even included their own Vizsla dogs, Pryor’s Winnie and Lee’s Whiskey and Remi, in the lyric video, which is comprised from clips of their own dogs along with fan-submitted videos showcasing the loving relationships between people and their pets.

“We could have created anything for the video, but we wanted it to be fan submitted,” Lee said. “The song is a rallying point for all those folks who love their dogs and who want to make sure they have a great home. It just seemed right.”

“Our dogs are the best,” Pryor added. “As much as those dogs adore us, we adore them a thousand times more.”

According to Pryor, he knew that the song was going to be special from the moment it was completed. He and Lee both believe that the song can connect with a lot of people, and not just music lovers.

“When we were done cutting the song. I remember talking to Kaleb,” Pryor said. “You can do so much with this song. So much good can come from it. From the very beginning, we knew this song was powerful, and it could do things. It’s just nice seeing it come to fruition.”

“It’s not a big, flashy song,” Lee added. “It’s not a feel-the-base-drum kind of song. It’s more of a live song. It’s an identity song. It’s who we are. What we wanted to do is use this song and benefit those who see their pets and animals the way we do. We know there’s a pet population crisis out there, there are so many pets that don’t have homes, are in shelters or even worse. Our passion for our pets. This song is a great fit for us, and we can give it to these organizations to raise awareness, raise support and hopefully change the minds of some folks who’ve been thinking about adopting. And maybe, after hearing the song, they will.”

Pryor & Lee have two major events coming up this month, starting with the NASCAR Cup Series return to the Music City on June 20. The duo will showcase “Good Ol’ Dogs & God” as the primary sponsor aboard Corey Lajoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE in Sunday’s Ally 400. The country group is no strangers to NASCAR events, as last year the duo kicked off the Daytona 500 with a pre-race concert and performed the national anthem at the NASCAR Bank of America ROVAL 400.

In addition, as a way to celebrate “Good Ol’ Dogs & God” and the unconditional love that pet parents share with their companion animals, Pryor & Lee will be partnering with 130 humane organizations, rescue groups and animal shelters across the country and in Brazil, Puerto Rico and Canada for a virtual music concert on Wednesday, June 23.

“Each organization gets a custom show for them with plugs for their organization and how local folks can help them,” Lee noted. “We share a little bit about our story and we play a few acoustic sounds. It should be an eventful and enjoyable time for the people who tune in.”

The event, which will feature an acoustic version of “Good Ol’ Dogs & God” as well as other songs, will air across the social media platforms of the following organizations at 7 p.m. central time on June 23:
4 Paws 4 U 4 Ever – West Chicago, IL
A Tail to Tell Puppy Mill Rescue – Newsmanstown, PA
Across America Boxer Rescue – Burnsville, MN
Adopt A Happy Tail INC – Gun Barrel City, TX
Angels of Assisi – Roanoke, VA
Animal Advocates Rescue Fund (AARF US) – Phoenix, AZ
Animal Friends for Education & Welfare, Inc. (AFEW) – Highstown, NJ
Animal Rescue New Orleans, Inc. – Jefferson, LA
Animal Rights Fur-ever (ARF) – Ripley, WV
Ark-Valley Humane Society – Buena Vista, CO
Autumn Acres Animal Rescue – Richmond, MO
B & C Equine Rescue Inc. – Carbondale, KS
Bark Animal Rescue,Inc – Greenville, OH
Bedford County Humane Society – Bedford, PA
Berkeley Humane – Berkley, CA
Blue Mountain Humane Society – Walla Walla, WA
Bluetails Pet Rescue – Marrero, LA
Bobbi and the Strays – Queens / Long Island, NY
Brookhaven Animal Rescue League – Brookhaven, MS
Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue – Warrington, PA
C.A.R.E. – Skokie, IL
C.A.R.E. aka: Cat/Canine Assistance, Referral & Education – Los Angeles, CA
Canine Castaways, Inc  – Arcadia, FL
Canines in Crisis inc – DeSoto, MO
Cannon County Community for Animals – Woodbury, TN
Caruthersville Humane Society – Caruthersville, MO
Castle of Dreams Animal Rescue – Cliffwood, NJ
Cause Four Paws – Rural Pattison, TX
Cober’s Canine rescue – Muskegon, MI
Columbia Humane Society – St Helens, OR
Cooper’s Chance Animal Rescue – Chandler, AZ
Dog and Cat Shelter, Inc – Sheridan, WY
Doggie Protective Services – Palo Alto, CA
Dogs in Brazil – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
EASEL Animal Rescue – Ewing, NJ
Fayette Humane Society – Fayetteville, GA
Franklin County Humane Society/Planned Pethood Clinic & Adoption Center – Rocky Mount, VA
Friends of Michigan Animals Rescue (FMAR) – Belleville, MI
From the Heart Animal Rescue – El Paso, TX
Fuzzy Pawz Rescue – Boise, ID
Good Old Tails Senior Animal Rescue – Hanover, PA
Great Dane Rescue of South Florida – Jupiter, FL
Great Pyrenees Rescue Montana – Hamilton, MT
Halo for Animals – Sullivan, MO
Harbor Humane Society – West Olive, MI
Hearts for Rescue – Poplar Bluff, MO
Helping Out Pets Everyday — AKA H.O.P.E. – Upland, CA
Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation – Guthrie, OK
Hospets – Marysville, OH
Houndhaven, Inc. – Minneola, FL
Humane Society of Central Illinois – Normal, IL
Humane Society of Lincoln County – Fayetteville, TN
Humane Society of the Ouachitas – Mena, AR
Jackson County Animal Shelter – Cottageville, WV
Jersey Shore Animal Center – Brick, NJ
K9 Resque – Okeechobee, FL
Karin 4 Kritters K9 Rescue – Greenfield, TN
Kate’s Rescue – Modesto, CA
Ken-Mar Rescue – Los Angeles, CA
Keely’s Dog Rescue – Nashville, TN
Kibblez of Love – West Palm Beach, FL
Kings Harvest Pet Rescue – Davenport, IA
KK Love and Biscuits Animal Sanctuary – West Helena, AR
Lac La Biche Regional Humane Society – Lac La Biche, Alberta
Las Vegas Valley Humane Society – Las Vegas, NV
Let Them Live Rescue – Louisville, KY
Lifeline for Pets – Pasadena, CA
Lucky 13 Rescue – Kansas City, MO
Lucys Lost Loved Ones – Fort Worth, TX
Madera County Animal Shelter – Madera, CA
Misfits, Mutts and Meows – Crescent, OK
Montgomery County Humane Society – Rockville, MD
Nashville PITTIE – Nashville, TN
New River Humane Society – Fayetteville, WV
NFR Maine / North Florida Rescue, Inc – N Monmouth, MN
No Animal Left Unfed Inc – West Hartford, CT
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary – Rockford, IL
Nocona Lucky Paws – Nocona, TX
Ozarks Kat and K9 – Sunrise Beach, MO
PA Caring Hearts – Breinugsville, PA
Paris Animal Welfare Society – Paris, KY
Patter Pets Inc – Eastover, SC
Paws and Hands United – Branson, MO
PAWS Brave Hearts – Calais, ME
Paws For Seniors – Bealeton, VA
Paws Place Dog Rescue – Winnabow, NC
Pintler Pets Animal Rescue – Anaconda, MT
Remembering Ruthie Rescue – Martin, GA
Rescue A Life – Daytona Beach, FL
Rescue DOG & End of Life Sanctuary – Mountain City, TN
Rescue Rebels by Cash 4 Canines Inc – Delray Beach, FL
Robin’s Nest of Indy – Indianapolis, IN
Rock City Rescue – North Little Rock, AR
Safe Animal Shelter – Middleburg, FL
Sauver Des Chiens German Shepherd Dog Rescue – Sealy, TX
Save Our Strays – Brevard, NC
Save the Strays Animal Rescue & Sanctuary – Camden, SC
Saving Paws Rescue AZ – Phoenix, AZ
Second Chance Animal Services – East Brookfield, MA
Shih Tzu Rescue Adoption & Education Safehouse – Homer Glen, IL
Sioux Empire Pit Rescue – Sioux Falls, SD
Snake River Animal Shelter – Idaho Falls, ID
Southeast Volusia Humane Society – New Smryna Beach, FL
Southern Skies Labrador Rescue & Adoption, Inc. – Huntsville, AL
SPCA of Brazoria County – Lake Jackson, TX
St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter – Luling, LA
Stone County SPCA – Wiiggins, MS
Stray Animal Adoption Program (SAAP) – Newport, KY
Street Paws, Inc. – Locust Grove, GA
Tail To Paw Animal Support – East Haven, CT
Texas Best Choices Animal Rescue – Quinlan, TX
The Adoption Center NY – Massapequa, NY
The Humane Society of Harford County – Fallston, MD
The Humane Society of McCormick County – McCormick, SC
The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach – North Myrtle Beach, SC
The Humane Society of Sumner County – Hendersonville, TN
The Humane Way – South Fulton, TN
The Kris Kelly Foundation – Los Angeles, CA
Those Left Behind Foundation – Las Vegas, NV
Town and Country Humane Society – Papillion, NE
Tri County Technical College – Pendleton, SC
Tucson’s Cause for Canines – Tucson, AZ
Tupelo Lee Humane Society – Tupelo, MS
Tyson’s Chance Animal Foundation – Shelbyville, KY
Vieques Humane Society – Vieques, Puerto Rico
Watermelon Mountain Ranch – Rio Rancho, NM
Wet Noses Animal Rescue – Blue Ridge, GA
White River Humane Society – Bedford, IN
Willow Creek Sanctuary – Danville, KY
Wish Bone Canine Rescue – Bloomington, IL
Wolf PAWS Inc. ‘Positive Awareness Wolf-dog Sanctuary’ – Dandridge, TN

(Photo courtesy: Jeremy Cowart)