NASHVILLE, TN — It’s rare when artists from across the spectrum of Nashville’s music community unite on behalf of any political figure, but Jeff Syracuse is quite different from the standard politician. A music major in piano and minor in the recording industry at MTSU, and a 25-year BMI veteran who’s represented the organization on the Blues Foundation board for 11 years, Syracuse has always taken to heart a mission of seeing that musicians and artists are compensated fairly and treated with dignity.
He’s put special emphasis on seeing blues artists getting paid for their live dates, and his numerous achievements over the years have included creating the “Music at the Mansion” summer series at Two Rivers Mansion and also working with club owners and music union officials to create a $5 parking program for downtown musicians.
Now, the music community is showing Syracuse its appreciation for his years of service. A host of top performers will assemble September 7 at the East Side Bowl for a jam-packed show. “Jammin’ For Jeff,” gets underway at 7 p.m. and the lengthy list of scheduled artists reads like a Hall of Fame lineup for popular Music City vocalists and musicians. The list includes Carlos Deford Bailey, John Hall (of the band Orleans), Shaun Murphy, Jon Byrd, Bob Delevante, Tommy Womack, Kenny Vaughan, Rachel Rodriguez, Hannah Fairlight and Shannon McNally. There’s also an all-star house band featuring Andy Peake, Al Hill, Paul Ossola, Terry Downing and other special guests.
Syracuse is already a two-term council member and he’s now among those in the runoff for Metro Council at large. Besides the already mentioned attributes, Syracuse also led the Metro Historic Overlay over the Elks Lodge (formerly Club Baron), the final building remaining that reflects the great musical legacy of Jefferson Street that was shattered by Urban renewal, and he’s secured funding for a study of local independent music venues designed to help create tools, policies and programs designed to support a foundational system which allows small music businesses to thrive.
As if all that weren’t enough, Syracuse was also heavily involved in the “Save Music Row” effort,’ helping to prevent the destruction of the historic Studio A. He also was very involved in the creation of the Music Row Vision Plan, and has served with industry leaders on the Nashville Chamber’s Music Industry Advisory Group and is a past Chair of Music Makes US Advisory Group that supports music education in Metro Nashville’s Public Schools.
Program organizers say the music will go on “till the last musician’s standing” on Sept. 7, and the public is invited. There is no cover or admission charge.
“Jammin With Jeff,” a free musical concert September 7 at Madison’s East Side Bowl, 1508A Gallatin Pike South, Nashville. Things get underway at 7 pm
