Jeffrey Steele to bring it home for Franklin 4 the Cure concert
By Donna O’Neil, Managing Editor
doneil@williamsonherald.com
 Songwriter Jeffrey Steele is honored to come “home” to perform at this year’s Concert 4 the Cure during the day-long Franklin 4 the Cure event, Saturday, Sept. 15 in Westhaven.
“Playing in my hometown is the most fun,” Steele said during a recent telephone interview from the road. “It’s been a crazy run of gigs in nine states and we get to finish off at Westhaven that night. It’s two miles from my home. It’s a really cool thing when you get to play for people you know.”
Among his many accolades, Jeffrey Steele has been named BMI Songwriter of the Year twice and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Songwriter of the Year three times! CMA has twice awarded him the coveted "Triple Play Award" for three No. 1 songs in a year (2010 & 2007). His mega-hits include a string of chart toppers including: "Here," "My Wish," "Me and the Gang", "These Days", "Everyday", and the groundbreaking "What Hurts The Most," nominated for Best Country Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards.
The Concert 4 the Cure will take place on the Great Lawn at the Westhaven Residents Club, 401 Cheltenham Ave. in Franklin. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. performance.
Another Franklin resident, Storme Warren, will serve as the evening’s emcee. Warren is a popular Sirius/XM Radio/GAC TV host.
This event has blossomed into a full day of activities since Stacey Brothers first organized the event in memory of their mother who died of cancer nearly 10 years ago.
Doug, along with brothers Pat, Stan and Paul Stacey III, decided to host Concert 4 the Cure five years after their mother, Theresa Reese Stacey passed away.
“We wanted a type of event that would honor her and raise money for a cure,” Doug Stacey said. “She was diagnosed at age 38 and battled for 13 years. She fought her situation courageously and was strong through those 13 years. She never made an issue of her disease and never complained.”
“After five years we thought it was appropriate to honor her and good to raise money for the cause of cancer research,” he said. “That’s what she would have wanted to do, focus our energy for the positive.”
Stacey said he and his brothers were inspired after attending a fundraiser concert to raise money for asthma research.
The Concert 4 the Cure was born out of that experience. “We wanted to do something similar,” he said, “Something to honor our mother. She loved having family around, celebrating, having cookouts and Sunday dinners and pulling people together for a good time. This seemed appropriate.”
The brothers were inspired to hold their concert in the Westhaven community in 2008, where Doug lives. “The home owners association was gracious enough to allow us to hold the event there,” he said.
Franklin 4 the Cure kicks off early with a 7:30 a.m. 5K Run 4 the Cure and an 8:15 a.m. Kids Race to benefit cancer research at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. A pancake breakfast will take place simultaneously.
Run 4 the Cure is a certified 5K route (3.1 miles) that will appeal to everyone, from the casual walker to the serious runner. The run/walk will start and finish at the Westhaven Town Center.
Front Street will be temporarily changed to "Hope Street" in the festival area where kids will enjoy inflatables, face painting, and other activities geared for great family fun. Register for the run/walk at www.Franklin4theCure.org or at Active.com.
Tickets to the concert are now available at www.Franklin4theCure.com. Beverages and food will be available for purchase at The Great Lawn. A limited number of VIP Experience tickets are available for $125 per person and include a private buffet dinner, open bar and a premiere, birds-eye viewing location from the second-floor balcony overlooking the stage.
Posted on: 9/12/2012
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