Concert Planned to Benefit Veterans and First Responders
By Gary S. Hatrick
Saxophone recording artist Eirinn Abu is scheduled to bring his award-winning style of music to San Antonio in a benefit concert on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
Abu and his Miami Sound Machine will perform on the stage of Discover Fellowship Church on Smith Road to raise funds in support of Tunnel 2 Towers. Tunnel 2 Towers provides housing for catastrophically injured first responders, veterans, and their families here in Florida.
Abu, 64, was born Jerry Doyle and at the beginning of his career performed under the name Jerry D. “I just didn't feel like Doyle had a ring to it,” he chuckles, “so I went with Jerry D for the first two albums that I did.” His current performance name Eirinn Abu reflects his Irish heritage and a desire for change in his life.
An instrumental musician, Abu began his career in the late 90s and produced eight solo albums between 2000 and 2016. Dolly Parton lent her vocals to several of the albums, elevating his status in country music.
“Dolly Parton brought a lot of notoriety to my career,” Abu said. “It opened some doors. Country music is very finely defined. If you are an instrumentalist, then you perform with somebody. Country music is all about the vocalist, so we were bringing a new idea to country music, although they did have some back in the day with Boots Randolph. So, I came in at the right time. It couldn't have been any better timing.”
Even with his successes in country music, Abu says he belongs to the genre of instrumental pop artists. His latest album, “Anthem” produced in 2024, won Best Instrumental Pop Album in the 2025 World Entertainment Awards.
Although a full-fledged performing artist, Abu is also dedicated to Christian ministry, and that’s what brings him to San Antonio.
Abu became a Christian in the mid-2000s after a “personal storm” that brought him crashing emotionally in the midst of a successful, rising career. The personal storm led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and his life changed. That is, he changed his name and his focus in life. His testimony can be found on his website at eirinnabu.com/our-ministry.
In 2009, Abu and his wife Brandy founded Music for Life Ministries, where he shared his gift of music and his testimony with millions each year, teaching them how they can find their way out of their own personal storms through Christ.
While still performing in the secular music world, he also makes himself available for ministries in churches and chooses to perform at fundraisers for charities and ministries that he believes are helping people. He is attracted to the Tunnels 2 Towers Foundation. “I wanted an organization that was actually 100 percent legitimate. There are two sides: you're either raising money for the organization or you're raising money for the people. I focus on the people,” he said. Tunnel 2 Towers helps the folks who need it. They build these smart homes that are donated to veterans and first responders. They give the keys, and there's no money exchanged. It's very cool. Veterans and first responders, you know, they're basically doing the same thing. They're putting their lives on the line for us.”
According to its website, the official mission of Tunnel 2 Towers is to honor the sacrifice of firefighter Stephen Siller, who lost his life on 9-11, as well as “other fallen heroes by supporting our nation’s first responders and military service members. The organization accomplishes this through a variety of programs and initiatives, including their Smart Home Program, Fallen First Responder Home Program, Gold Star Family Home Program, and In the Line of Duty Program.
“One of Tunnel 2 Towers’ most notable programs, the website continues, “is their Smart Home Program. This program provides mortgage-free homes that are specially designed for severely injured service members. These homes are equipped with cutting-edge technology that makes it easier for injured veterans to live independently and regain their independence.”
There are 600 seats to fill at the upcoming concert and Abu hopes the seats will be filled. “We just need everyone to come,” Abu said. “We need people there. We've never had ticket prices this low because we want people there. This is twofold. It's about fundraising funds for the charity, but, more so, it's about creating awareness of who Tunnel 2 Towers is and what they do. This is an important part of this event. We should never forget 9-11, we should never forget.”
Tickets for the Eirinn Abu concert on Nov. 15, 2025, cost $20 a piece. Discover Fellowship Church (formerly First Baptist Church of Dade City) is located at 12561 Smith Road, Saint Leo, FL 33525. Call (615) 708-2472 for tickets or order online at eirinnabu.com/shows. Learn more about the beneficiary Tunnels 2 Towers at t2t.org.
