Suncoast Serenade

Our Story

Thank you for your interest in supporting Suncoast Serenade and the team of songwriters we have participating this year. This event is planned as a writer’s retreat for selected Troprock songwriters. The idea is to give them some time to relax together in Osprey, FL, Sunny Jim’s hometown, and write some new music. With busy schedules that take them all over the country, our artists rarely get a chance to just hang out together and have fun – and we know this is what rouses creativity.

It's about the Music

When we introduced the idea for the first Suncoast Serenade last year, our songwriter team was ALL IN for a few days off to do some co-writing with the group. It was the weekend after Meeting of the Minds in Key West, which we all know is an extremely busy time for everyone. The artists came to Osprey on Florida’s Southwest coast, our hometown: Thom Shepherd, Coley McCabe Shepherd, Donny Brewer, Eric Erdman, Carrie Welling and Sunny Jim.

Supportive friends housed and fed the songwriters while they wrote in teams. Song ideas were pitched by fans attending the event and the songwriters reached into their pocket of unfinished songs, since they had dedicated time to work. During an event breakfast, the artists shared their stories and songwriting methods. The fans had a chance to ask questions and it was a very informative session. Songwriting is a mystery to so many of us.

New Songs Debuted

At the Grand Finale dinner/concert, the new songs were introduced to a great reception! Carrie and Donnie debuted “The Girl in the Red Sunglasses” which was an idea pitched by a fan. James and Coley introduced “Last Call at the Big Bamboo Lounged” one of the tracks on Sunny Jim’s new CD. They whole group played “Family Tree” a song Eric Erdman had been working on for a long time and finally finished with the group. The fans loved it, the songwriters loved it. We want to keep this idea going – give the songwriters dedicated time to write and the fans a chance to join in. This is where you can help.

sponsorship opportunities

2023 Suncoast Serenade

This year we have decided to give the songwriters a beautiful beachfront property on Casey Key to collaborate and write. Our Southwest Florida sunsets always inspire. Ticket sales cover entertainment fees, but there are limited funds set aside for the writing process, which will be at least three days. This year we are also planning a Jim Morris Tribute to cap off the festivities, and we are raising funds for Shoes for Kids, Jim & Sharon Morris's favorite charity.

This year's songwriters :

James “Sunny Jim” White, Donny Brewer, Eric Erdman,

Carrie Welling, Brent Burns, Jimi Pappas, John Patti

You can help our songwriter event by becoming a sponsor.