Jeremiah Ross

Live Oak — A Live Oak teenager is beyond thrilled after he was chosen to perform at the Suwannee River Jam which begins today at The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) on the banks of the beautiful Suwannee River in Live Oak.



Jeremiah Ross, 19, a graduate of Melody Christian School in Live Oak, is the lead musician at his own church where his father, the Rev. Alfonso C. Ross Sr., preaches. Jeremiah will practice for his Jam performance while fulfilling his duties as lead musician at his church after playing piano for the services at Melody every Sunday. Talk about energy, organization and talent.



After being chosen in early April as a “Wild Card’ winner during the annual Suwannee River Jam Auditions Finals at the SOSMP, Jeremiah had to wait a couple of weeks before he got the call from 1st Street Music & Sound Company owner Steve Briscoe in Lake City that a slot had been opened for him to perform during the 22nd Suwannee River Jam! It was a great day for Jeremiah, who had been preparing by writing his own songs and music to perform at the largest country music jam in the south.



Steve Briscoe, who sets up stages all over North Florida for music events, made the call to Jeremiah that he would have the chance of a lifetime to perform at the Jam. Steve said without 1st Street's involvement, "artists like Jeremiah all over North Florida would not have the opportunity to perform" as they do at the Jam. Steve works with SOSMP Marketing Director Teena Peavey in these elimination events that take as long as six months to complete and get the final winners. It is then the 1st Street Music & Sound Company/Budweiser Party Zone stage at the Jam, overseen by Steve, comes to life with national artists performing on that stage as well as these up and coming artists.



Jeremiah said immediately after the Jam Finals he started getting many great comments about being part of the event and even got phone calls from people he did not know. The excitement began after Jeremiah, a songwriter, keyboard player and singer who plays guitar “a little,” wowed the judges during the Jam Audition Finals with his voice, his stage presence and his style, winning him this opportunity that any would-be country artists would just drool over. Jeremiah isn’t drooling, but he is thanking God for the opportunity since he knows his talent comes directly from God.



When Jeremiah was about six, his dad prayed for a piano player for the church where he preached and where the family attended. When none came forth, his dad told Jeremiah one day on the ride home from school that he was still praying for that piano player and needed one badly. Jeremiah immediately spoke up and said, “Daddy, I can play piano for you!" Being a man of God and believing God is filled with miracles, the Rev. Ross immediately took his son to the church, sat him down at the piano and started giving him song titles to see what would happen….Jeremiah played every one of the songs, never having had any lessons. Since that time Jeremiah Ross has been known as a miracle child as he excels in music in many ways.



He’s extremely aware of God’s presence in his life and has devoted his life to music. He sings, writes and plays mostly gospel music with five solo albums already produced, one coming out next month, (Warriors Together) and one group album with his father, sister, younger brother and cousin called More Like You.

“I work in my studio every day, recording and writing music and songs,” Jeremiah said. “I wrote my first song when I was about age 9,“ he said proudly.

Jeremiah has also produced videos of himself performing so anyone can put his name into a search engine and find Live Oak’s very own talented musician performing.



Even though most of his experience has been gospel, Jeremiah entered the country contest to try something new and made it to the Jam line-up. Jeremiah won a Jam semi-final contest during Christmas on the Square 2012 to get into the finals. Asked how he’s getting ready for the big day, Jeremiah looks serious and explains.

“I am getting ready the same as any other event…music is God-given so I’m getting ready as I do for other genres of music. (For this country event) I still represent the same God as I do elsewhere, and I’m not ashamed to say I’m a Christian,” he said with a smile.



“He’s always been involved in music, they (the children) came up in it all their lives,” said Jeremiah’s dad. “I just know he’s going to be a singer and sing gospel and take it all around the world.”

This experience in country music could change the course of Jeremiah’s life but one thing is for sure, whatever choice Jeremiah makes, his dad, family and Jeremiah’s fiancée will be right beside him, supporting him and urging him on.

“We’ll do what we need to do,” Rev. Ross stressed. “We’ll adjust!”



While many people have recognized Jeremiah’s talent and talked to him about recording contracts and stardom, Jeremiah seeks his advise from the Lord and his father.

“Lots of people have talked with me about contracts, but they want too much control,” Ross said. Whatever happens in his musical career will happen, but Jeremiah Ross has a certainty about life.

“I am very honored and excited to represent my hometown at the Jam,” he said. “I really do, 100 percent, love this place called Live Oak and am so honored to represent my town. I love people, experiencing new things, love God, and this just gives me a chance to just spill over and represent God and my community."



Jeremiah will perform at 3 p.m. Friday on the Amphitheater stage and at various times Saturday on the SOS Café porch.
- Suwannee Democrat