Jelani Eddington to give organ concert at the Tennessee Theatre

KNOXVILLE -- The majestic grand organ at the historic Tennessee Theatre will rise again on Sunday, November 25, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. when one of the most prominent and sought-after artists on the concert circuit performs.

Jelani Eddington has performed in most of the major concert venues throughout the United States, has toured extensively abroad, and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including his selection as the 2001 Theatre Organist of the Year.

Jelani Eddington was born in Muncie, Indiana to Louise Eddington and the late Robert Eddington and grew up in a very musical family. Between the interests of his mother, a professional music teacher of many years, and those of his grandmother, Florence Arnold, a well-respected piano instructor, it was no surprise when Jelani demonstrated an inclination toward music at a very early age.

Shortly after beginning piano instruction at the age of four, Jelani began studying classical piano under the direction of his grandmother. At the age of eight, a trip to hear the 4-manual 42-rank Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ installed in the Indianapolis, Indiana restaurant, the Paramount Music Palace, introduced Jelani to the sounds of the theatre pipe organ. Soon thereafter, he began to pursue classical organ lessons and ultimately began studying theatre organ under the direction of John Ferguson, whose skills as a theatre organ instructor have been highly acclaimed internationally.

At the age of 13, Jelani won the American Theatre Organ Society's Young Theatre Organist Competition, prevailing over competitors ages 13-21 from the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand. Jelani remains the youngest competitor ever to win this title. Jelani went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University in 1996, and later received a Juris Doctor degree from the Yale Law School in 1999, after which time he was admitted to practice law in New York and later in Wisconsin.

During the course of his concert career, Jelani has been featured at numerous national and regional conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society, and has toured extensively throughout the world, including numerous concert appearances in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. In August 2001, the American Theatre Organ Society honored Jelani' s extensive career as a concert and recording organist by naming him the 2001 Theatre Organist Of The Year.

Jelani has also produced and marketed over 30 theatre organ albums on some of the best-known and most dynamic instruments in the country. He has recorded on the Tennessee Theatre Mighty Wurlitzer organ, and this recording along with his other recordings will be available after his concert at the Tennessee Theatre on November 25, 2012.

Tickets will be available on September 21, 2012 and may be ordered by calling the ticket office at 684-1200 or picked up at the Clinch Avenue ticket office. Admission is $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for seniors (over age 60) and students.

Published September 14, 2012