Not for Profit Event "Wake Up Nashville" to Raise Awareness and Research Funding for Narcolepsy

Not for Profit Event "Wake Up Nashville" to Raise Awareness and Research Funding for Narcolepsy

-- Song Writing Contest and Fundraising Event Bring together Nashville's Music Legends to benefit People Living with Debilitating Sleep Disorder

-- Songwriting Artists Encouraged to Submit Entries by September 20th for Review by Music Row Legends at Savannah Music Group

-- Winner to perform alongside industry greats for music event in Nashville on September 29th

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North American artists get the unique chance-of-a-lifetime to connect with Music Row legends as part of a not-for-profit fundraiser for Narcolepsy taking place this September in Nashville, TN. Music Row and the Wake Up Narcolepsy foundation have come together to give aspiring artists the chance of a lifetime at the first annual "Wake Up Nashville" event to be held September 29th at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Savannah Music Group has agreed to provide a review of songs submitted by aspiring artists as part of a fundraising event for Narcolepsy--a lifelong, disabling sleep disorder, affecting approximately 1 in every 2,000 people in North America or approximately 125,000-200,000 people in the U.S.

Proceeds from the event will be used to support awareness of and research in Narcolepsy. In exchange for a $25 tax-deductible donation per song to the Wake Up Narcolepsy foundation, artists may submit original songs for review before September 20, 2011. The winner will be invited to perform his or her original work among industry songwriting and musical performance legends on September 29th at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

"Wake Up Nashville" is the creative concept of music industry legend, Bob Saporiti. Saporiti is currently General Manager at Savannah Music Group. Before joining the group, he created the first ever International Department for a major record label in Nashville, achieving two Country Music Association Awards, an Academy of Country Music Award, and a Canadian Country Music Association Award in the process. Saporiti was formerly Senior Vice President /General Manager of Warner Brothers Records and he helped develop the idea for leveraging Nashville's music industry expertise to generate interest, awareness and funds to support Narcolepsy.

According to Saporiti, "It's not easy for songwriters to get a fair hearing by professional music publishers. This event gives everyone a chance to be heard and at the same time raise much needed awareness and funds for a very worthy cause. The winner of the contest will be receiving a chance to perform their song alongside successful and in some cases legendary songwriters and artists, as well as being exposed to the other industry elite in attendance."

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a California-based specialty pharmaceutical company with a strong commitment to patients with narcolepsy, is a primary sponsor of the event through its support of Wake Up Narcolepsy. The event also is supported by Baptist Hospital, a member of St. Thomas Health in Nashville, Tennessee.

The event also is supported by Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, Tennessee. "We are proud to be part of such a special event. Raising regional awareness about narcolepsy and the importance of sleep health is important to our wellness mission," states Kelly Carden, M.D., the event's medical advisor. The hospital system network wanted to play a role in bringing together an important and underserved cause with local music industry expertise. "Everybody wins by working together--we can help those with Narcolepsy while leveraging what Nashville does best--music," adds Carden.

Wake Up Nashville's finale will be distinctly different from traditional fundraisers. It provides an informal atmosphere to allow personal connections with Music Row executives, renowned medical sleep disorder experts, and families representing those with Narcolepsy who will benefit from your donation. To enter the songwriting contest, or purchase a ticket for the event, visit: www.WakeUpNarcolepsy.org.

About Wake Up Narcolepsy
(www.WakeUpNarcolepsy.org)

Wake Up Narcolepsy is a 501C-3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the awareness and research of Narcolepsy. The Boston-based group works closely with Nashville-based Awaken the Cure organization to support multiple efforts. For more information on Wake Up Narcolepsy, email mgow@WakeUpNarcolepsy.org.

About Savannah Music Group
(www.savannahmusicgroup.com)

Savannah is a grassroots music publishing company located in the heart of Nashville's Music Row. The group was started by songwriting veteran Dave Gibson (who has penned six number one hits, 12 top 5 hits, and is the former front man of the ACM Award-winning Gibson/Miller Band) with his wife, former Mercury recording artist and songwriter, Daisy Dern. For more information on Savannah Music Group, email info@savannahmusicgroup.com.

About Jazz Pharmaceuticals
(www.jazzpharma.com)

Jazz Pharmaceuticals is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing innovative products to meet unmet medical needs in neurology and psychiatry. For further information see www.JazzPharmaceuticals.com.

About Sleep Medicine of Middle Tennessee

(www.smomt.com)

Drs. J. Brevard Haynes and Kelly A. Carden are board certified sleep medicine experts with Sleep Medicine of Middle Tennessee and Saint Thomas Physician Services. Both physicians specialize in evaluating and treating a variety of sleep disorders, including Narcolepsy. Dr. Haynes has been in private practice since 1979 and founded Sleep Medicine of Middle Tennessee in 2006. He was the first physician in Middle Tennessee to devote his practice exclusively to sleep medicine. Dr. Carden joined the practice in 2011. Before coming back to her home state of Tennessee, she completed her sleep medicine fellowship at Harvard and also worked with Sleep HealthCenters® in Boston as one of its medical directors and as an instructor for the Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard University Sleep Medicine Fellowship program.

For more information contact:
At Wake Up Narcolepsy
Tabitha Crawford
615.423.4581
(Event Specific Contact)

SOURCE Wake Up Narcolepsy

Wake Up Narcolepsy

Web Site: http://www.smomt.com

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