WAKE UP NASHVILLE! Songwriters Showcase to Raise Funding for Narcolepsy
Nashville Music Row Group judges national songwriter competition to raise money and awareness for Narcolepsy
Nashville, TN (September 6, 2011)— National non-profit Wake Up Narcolepsy, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and St. Thomas Health partners with Music City’s most acclaimed songwriters to present “Wake Up Nashville”, a fundraiser and songwriters showcase which will take place September 29th at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Doors open at 7pm and tickets may be purchased at WakeUpNarcolepsy.org for $75.
The event is locally supported by Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, Tennessee. “We are proud to be part of such a special event. Raising regional awareness about narcolepsy and the importance of sleep health is important to our wellness mission,” states Kelly Carden, MD, the event’s medical advisor. The hospital system network wanted to play a role in bringing together an important and underserved cause with local music industry expertise. “Everybody wins by working together—we can help those with Narcolepsy while leveraging what Nashville does best—music,” adds Carden.
Narcolepsy is a lifelong, disabling sleep disorder, affecting approximately one in every 2,000 people in North America which equals approximately 155,000 people in the U.S. Some of the history’s most influential names like Winston Churchill, Harriet Tubman and comedian Jimmy Kimmel have the neurological disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness. Upcoming entertainment includes movies in the works by Miley Cyrus (“Wake”) and Adam Sandler (“Narco”) and MTV’s “TrueLife—I Have Narcolepsy” that all involve people with the disorder. Before the national awareness spikes, Nashville is leading the way with its local event.
“Wake Up Nashville” is a creative collaboration spearheaded by music industry legend and General Manager of Savannah Music Group, Bob Saporiti. The former General Manager of Warner Bros. Records has challenged his industry peers to participate in the fundraising event. Songwriters Dave Gibson (Gibson Miller Band) and Bobby Wood (Elvis and Garth Brooks) are a couple of well-known artists who plan to take the stage as performers for the evening.
Local songwriters are encouraged to submit their original song for a $25 tax-deductible donation by September 20. Each song will be reviewed by publishers at Savannah Music Group for its craftsmanship, lyrics, creativity and other factors. The winner will be invited to perform their original work among industry songwriters and musicians at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. According to Saporiti, “It’s not easy for songwriters to get a fair hearing by professional music publishers. This event gives everyone a chance to be heard and at the same time raise much needed awareness and funds for a very worthy cause.” The group has already received entries from across the U.S. and local students from Belmont and Vanderbilt plan to participate.
Wake Up Nashville will be distinctly different from traditional fundraisers because it offers an opportunity for both songwriters and people with narcolepsy to be heard. It will provide an informal atmosphere to allow personal connections with Music Row executives, renowned medical sleep disorder experts, and families representing those with Narcolepsy.
To enter the songwriting contest or purchase a ticket for the event, visit www.WakeUpNarcolepsy.org.
Wake Up Nashville is one of the first major social green events to be hosted in Nashville.
About Wake Up Narcolepsy
Wake Up Narcolepsy is a 501C-3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the awareness and research of Narcolepsy. The Boston-based group works closely with Nashville-based Awaken the Cure organization to support multiple efforts. For more information on Wake Up Narcolepsy, visit WakeUpNarcolepsy.org.
About Savannah Music Group
Savannah is a grassroots music publishing company located in the heart of Nashville’s Music Row. The group was started by songwriting veteran Dave Gibson (who has penned six number one hits, 12 top 5 hits, and is the former front man of the ACM Award-winning Gibson/Miller Band) with his wife, former Mercury recording artist and songwriter, Daisy Dern. For more information on Savannah Music Group, visit SavannahMusicGroup.com.
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event contact: Tabitha Crawford, 615.423.4581, TCrawford@bbcgrp.com
media contact: Kia Jarmon, 615.592.6377, info@mepragency.com
