Nearly $170K Raised at Jeffrey Steele & Friends Benefit as LeVasseur Family Continues Mission for Youth

Music and community came together once again in Franklin, Tennessee earlier this month as the 19th annual Jeffrey Steele & Friends benefit concert returned to the stage. The long running event brought artists, fans, and supporters together for a cause that continues to make a real difference for young people across Middle Tennessee.

Held March 2 at the historic The Franklin Theatre, the evening raised close to $170,000 for programs that support at risk youth. The fundraiser is organized in memory of Alex LeVasseur, the son of songwriter Jeffrey Steele, who passed away in 2007. Over nearly two decades, the event has grown into one of the most meaningful nights on the local music calendar.

This year’s concert was hosted by radio personality Storme Warren of The BIG 615 along with Casey LeVasseur. As always, the night featured an impressive lineup of artists who stepped onto the stage for a mix of planned performances and spontaneous collaborations.

Fans were treated to surprise appearances from names including Billy Ray Cyrus, LOCASH, David Lee Murphy, Uncle Kracker, Lit, and Phil Vassar. Each performer joined Steele and his band throughout the night, creating the kind of collaborative atmosphere that has become the hallmark of the benefit.

One standout moment came when several of the artists joined together to perform Steele’s recent single “A Voice,” filling the theater with a powerful group performance that brought the crowd to its feet.

The evening began on an uplifting note with a performance from the Music Monday Band, a group made up of young musicians involved in programs at the Alex LeVasseur Music Lab. Their opening set highlighted exactly why the event continues to matter year after year.

Later in the show, Steele and Vassar delivered a heartfelt tribute to legendary guitarist Steve Cropper, honoring his influence on generations of musicians.

Through the years, the Jeffrey Steele & Friends concert has helped raise more than $2.3 million for youth initiatives. The funds support the work of the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Those resources have helped support a wide range of programs that focus on mentorship, creative outlets, and safe recreational spaces for young people. The fund has worked closely with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee to support programs such as Teen Centers, Y-CAP, and skatepark initiatives designed for youth who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities.

Another key partnership includes work with The Beat of Life, which helps provide music education, instrument lessons, and mentorship for vulnerable youth. The organization also collaborates with The Skatepark Project, created by legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk, to build skateparks in underserved communities across the country.

Through those efforts, the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund has helped support the construction of fourteen skateparks nationwide while also providing skate gear through grant programs that encourage young people to stay active and connected.

Closer to home, the LeVasseur family helped establish the Alex LeVasseur Music Lab inside the Brentwood YMCA Teen Center as well as the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Skatepark. A newly designed concrete skatepark at the Brentwood Family YMCA officially opened in August 2024, offering a welcoming space for skaters of all ages and experience levels.

This year’s benefit once again showed how powerful music can be when it is used to bring people together for a purpose. Along with the headline performers, the night also featured appearances from Bridgette Tatum, Ira Dean, Silence X Noise, and Emma Zinck, each adding their voice to the cause.

After nineteen years, the Jeffrey Steele & Friends concert continues to do more than fill a theater with music. It keeps a promise alive while opening doors for young people who need it most.