Free concerts set for July 16, Jeff Tuttle Day in Monroe

Sunday, July 16, is Jeff Tuttle Day in Monroe.

Tuttle, a longtime 98.3 Nash Icon radio personality, country music singer and community supporter, died of pancreatic cancer on Oct. 1. He would have turned 62 this Sunday.

To mark his birthday, Tuttle’s daughter, Kristen Gibson, and Tuttle’s wife, Michelle Tuttle, organized a day of free music at St. Mary’s Park, 111 W. Elm Ave. It will run from noon to 4 p.m.

“This concert is to honor him and everything he did for Monroe County,” Gibson said. “I got the idea when we were talking about his birthday coming up. We know how much he loved music, and he was known for his concerts at the park. Once we got it organized, we got a lot of support. All the performers are close friends of my father’s and wanted to do this in his honor. (Michelle and I) have been working together on this, and our good friend Denise Desgain has been helping a lot too.”

Monroe Mayor Robert Clark will attend and speak about Tuttle.

“I will be presenting a recognition from the city. This will speak to Jeff's career and community engagement that had a positive and memorable impact on Monroe,” Clark said. “(My) personal memories are many, as they are for many. I plan to briefly touch on our relationship during the on-air interviews and in-booth discussions we had during his time at the Nash Icon location in downtown Monroe.”

Performing live country, bluegrass and gospel music will be Tom Treece & Cross Point, T. Joseph Yoakum, David Manning and Jim LaPrad and the Bluegrass Band (formerly known as Nitro Hill Band).

“The bands that will be playing were all close friends of my father's and have played along with him in the past.  My dad had a love for country music, as well as bluegrass and gospel, and incorporated it all in his shows on 98.3 Nash Icon,” Gibson said.

“My band and I will be doing four or five songs off of Jeff’s CD ‘Living Like a Millionaire, Ain’t Got a Dime,’” Treece said.

Gibson’s stepdad, David Dauer, will sing the national anthem, and her uncle will be the master of ceremonies.

“My Uncle Woody (Jim Tuttle) will be the MC for the event,” Gibson said. “DJ Justin Batdorf will be there as well for intermission sound.”

Ralph Mahalak Jr., co-owner of the Mahalak Auto Group, will provide the sound company for the event.

“His best friend (Mahalak) wanted to help in any way when he heard about what we were doing,” Gibson said.

Nash Icon also will be onsite.

Attendees should bring a chair. Admission is free.

“We are not accepting donations,” Gibson said. “We just want everyone to come out and have a great time.”

Whiskey Jacks food truck will sell food.

“I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped make this possible,” Gibson said. “I know my father was loved so much by this community, and seeing this concert come to life really shows the love. Having people donate their time for this event is something my family will never forget.”

A Monroe native, Tuttle graduated from high school in Florida but had attended Monroe High School, where he began his radio career.

He started out in advertising sales at Nash Icon and worked his way into the studio with the Drive Time with Jeff Tuttle Show in the afternoons. He later moved into the morning time slot with the Jeff Tuttle Morning Show. He also hosted Sunday Gospel Time with Jeff Tuttle and Friends, a show that reached thousands of listeners.

Since Tuttle’s death, Gibson has been trying to continue some of his community service work.

“My dad did a lot for our community, so I try my best to keep that going,” she said. “My Uncle Woody and I rang the bell for Salvation Army in November to honor my father, since he hosted many radio-a-thons for them. Ralph had a golfing event last month to raise money for pancreatic cancer in my dad’s honor.”

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Tuttle's radio station is also keeping his memory alive.

“Nash Icon has been very supportive since my dad’s passing. They still keep his voice on the radio in a couple commercials, and we love hearing it,” she said.

Gibson said she and her family are doing well nine months after Tuttle’s death.

“My dad made it clear to us when he got sick that we needed to be strong, and we are doing just that,” she said. “It’s very hard some days, but I think about what he said to me, and I keep going.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Free concerts set for July 16, Jeff Tuttle Day in Monroe