Jeffrey Steele Hosts Annual Fundraiser to Keep Son’s Memory Alive

On Thursday evening, singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steele hosted his 4th Annual Jeffrey Steele and Friends concert and auction, where proceeds benefited the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund. The fund was created after LeVasseur, Steele's 13-year-old son, lost his life in a tragic ATV accident at their Tennessee home in January of 2007.

The fund was designed to not only keep LeVasseur's memory alive, but to better the lives of kids in the Middle Tennessee area who enjoy the same passion as the songwriter's son once did: skateboarding. Its initiative is to provide safe and supportive opportunities for kids, as well as a skateboarding scholarship program that helps underprivileged youth by providing mentors and incentives to motivate them. In October 2010, funds from previous fundraisers in LeVasseur's honor went into opening the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Skatepark in Brentwood, Tenn.

Steele, who is one of Nashville's most respected and sought after songwriters, had no problem pulling in some heavy weights for Thursday's event, including Billy Ray Cyrus, Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery, James Otto, Frankie Ballard, Chuck Wicks, LoCash Cowboys, Chris Janson and Jeremy Lister.

"I met Jeffrey writing songs, as all songwriters who know Jeffrey Steele do," Ballard, prior to taking the stage, tells Taste of Country. "It’s such a tragic thing that happened to his son. I knew about the different fundraisers he's done in the past for Alex, and I told him any time that I’m in town and you’ve got one going on, I want to be a part of it. He called, and I was in town, so I’m happy to be here."

Throughout the evening, those in attendance were treated to numerous Steele-penned hits sung by the stars who brought them to the top, such as Montgomery Gentry's 'My Town,' 'Speed' and 'Something to Be Proud of,' and the current LoCash Cowboys' single, 'Keep in Mind,' which is in the Top 40 and climbing.

"We’d always dreamed about having Jeffrey Steele as our producer, but then when it actually happened, we got more than we bargained for," LoCash Cowboys' Preston Brust tells Taste of Country. "We got a best friend, a brother and a someone who teaches us all about life. He truly is like the third LoCash Cowboy. The three of us, whenever one of us needs one another, we drop everything, and we show up. It’s been that way since day one, and that’s probably why we’re all so close. Being here with Jeffrey is a no-brainer. I’m glad to be here and do my part to keep Alex’s memory alive."

"Jeffrey is fantastic," adds LoCash Cowboys' Chris Lucas. "What he’s doing to keep Alex’s memory alive and for all these kids by putting in the skate park -- not only doing that, but help tutoring them, helping them with school, making sure their homework’s done -- it’s just a fantastic thing. We love to be involved in anything that has to do with helping kids, especially for the Alex LeVasseur foundation."

For more information on the Alex LeVasseur Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee or to make a contribution to the organization, visit the official website by clicking here.