Releasing one last album for a great cause.
Jeff Carson, the ACM Award-winning singer and songwriter best known for 1990s hits like “The Car” and “Not On Your Love,” passed away last March after a heart attack at the age of 58.
Carson had 14 singles on the Billboard charts before he retired from music in 2009 to become a police officer with the Franklin Police Department just outside of Nashville, where he remained until his death.
But Carson had recently returned to music, signing with Encore Music Group, and had been in the studio recording a speciality album containing duets with artists like Michael Ray, Darryl Worley and Craig Morgan.
And now, that album is finally going to be released – and the proceeds are going to benefit his fellow men and women in blue.
The album is titled 448, which was Carson’s badge number with the Franklin Police Department, and features re-recordings of some of his biggest hits as well as Carson’s version of MercyMe’s hit “I Can Only Imagine.”
Speaking with Jeff’s widow, Kim Carson, she tells Whiskey Riff what it means to have these final recordings of Jeff for their son:
“Jeff was just so excited [about the new album]. He was kind of at his happiest place when he was able to do that, so we’re just so thankful about it.
And of course you just never know when something like this happens, now we’re thankful to have it and I’m glad for our son that he has these most recent recordings of Jeff…
I’m thankful that our son has this. I mean, he would always have the recordings, but to have these current recordings for our son Dayton is priceless.”
But Kim is especially proud that the album is going to support the Franklin Police Department through the organization’s Law Enforcement Assistance Partnership (LEAP) project:
“Jeff loved being a police officer and he loved singing, and he was doing both of them. He loved being in Franklin and was so appreciative of the job and everything it stands for…
He really was so fortunate and so blessed, he really got to do both careers that he’s always wanted to do…
Not only is [the album] keeping Jeff out there, but it’s all for helping the Franklin Police Department and the LEAP partnership that they have, and Jeff would just be so excited for both things. He would love his music out there and being played, and he would love what we’re doing and backing the blue…
He would just really love this and anything that we can do to help them.”
But the album’s not the only thing in store to help Jeff’s former police department: A fundraiser will be held tonight, May 9, at the Nashville Palace to help raise money for LEAP.
Called Blue Lights and Country Nights, last year’s event was a memorial for Carson and raised over $80,000 for the Franklin Police Department. And this year, names like Bryan White, Jeannie Seely, Keith Anderson and Halfway to Hazard will be on hand to help raise money for the men and women who were so near and dear to Jeff Carson’s heart.
Carson’s final album, 448, will be released this Friday, May 12, and anyone who dates $25 or more at www.adoptacop.com will receive a copy of the album.
It’s great to see Jeff’s legacy carried on by his family – and being used to support such a great cause that was so near and dear to his heart.
‘448’ Track Listing:
1. Yeah Buddy
2. Not On Your Love – featuring Darryl Worley
3. The Car – featuring Michael Ray
4. Holdin’ Onto Something
5. Butterfly Kisses
6. Almost Never Loved You
7. Real Life (I Was Never The Same Again) – featuring Craig Morgan
8. I Can Only Imagine
9. Shine On