ORANGE PARK – Paul Wane got his first guitar when he was 8. Now, 35 years later, he said the gift from his “Uncle” Chester saved his life.

“Without that guitar, I’d be with the guys I used to hang with,” he said, “and they’re either dead or in prison.”

That message wasn’t lost on the lead guitarist and anchor of the popular local band, Duval County Line. His “Rising Star: Guitars for Kids” program has given away nearly 200 guitars to aspiring musicians, and many of them packed Big Dawgs Family Sports Restaurant Monday night to join Wane on stage.

The first “Celebration of Rising Stars” attracted young players with a variety of skill sets. But all shared one common bond – they all have bought into Wane’s commitment to providing children a more positive outlet than drugs.

“This is all about substance abuse prevention,” he said as parents and fans clapped. “We need to give them something else to do, something positive.”

Wane said the children in the program not only are learning to play the guitar, but most have better grades in school.

The four-man lineup for Duval County line features three players from Clay County and Wane, who lives in nearby Hawthorne. Oddly enough, none live in Duval County. Three of the four members of the band were part of the standing-room-only crowd Monday.

The children all joined Wane on stage – many with their guitars – at the beginning of the program. Then some of them performed with Wane, including JT, who played Christ Stapleton’s “Midnight Train to Memphis” and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy.”

“Caveman” Bill also joined the gathering. He teaches many of the children to play guitar at his music shop in Jacksonville. He also has provided children with instruments.

“I’ve given away a couple dozen guitars to my students, too,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun watching them learn to play.”

Wane said too many of his friends and family have been victims of drug abuse. He knows the best way to deal with substance abuse is to stop it before it starts. And that means working with impressionable children.

“It’s got to be crazy to be a kid right now,” he said. “It’s always been tough, but it’s a real challenge today. We need to give them their own little universe so they can do their own thing.

“I tell parents don’t punish their kids by taking their guitar away when they act up. I say, make them practice another 30 minutes. If we build them with love, they will turn out to be lovely people.”

The Rising Star: Guitars for Kids is supported by The Howlin Wolf, JJ’s on 5th, Carter’s Music Center, Jay Murphy Custom Guitars, Oakie’s Design & Signs and Big Dawgs. They help Wane and “Caveman” get and refurbish guitars so they can be regifted.

Duval County Line will perform Saturday night at the Cheyenne Saloon in East Palatka from 2-6 p.m. and at the Middleburg VFW from 8 p.m. to midnight on Friday, June 4, and at Renegades on the River Restaurant in Crescent City on June 5.