From Highlander to Headliner
By Karolina Philmon, GSC marketing manager
More than a decade ago, Eli Joseph Ingram sat in the amphitheater at Gordon State College watching a band perform and imagining himself on the other side of the stage.
On Aug. 12, as Highlanders return to campus for the first day of the fall semester, he will be.
Ingram, a 2014 graduate and member of southern rock band Jack and Gin, will return to his alma mater to perform during Connect Fest, part of Highlander Nation’s Welcome Week activities. The performance brings Ingram back to the campus where his own aspirations as a musician first began.
“I saw a Temptations cover band at Gordon State freshman year at the amphitheater, and as I watched the band play and sing, I thought of how much I would like to do that,” Ingram said. “And here I am!”
Ingram attended GSC from 2012 to 2014, studying business and finding inspiration in experiences that extended well beyond his major. He remembers learning the power of a handshake during a “Dress to Impress” business event, meeting his astronomy class at midnight to study constellations through telescopes and gaining lessons from professors that have remained with him years later.
Music, however, was always part of the soundtrack.
Some of Ingram’s favorite memories include simply walking across campus with headphones on, listening to artists such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana. Years later, he would perform covers of those same artists during his own shows. He even wrote “Moonshine,” a song later recorded by Jack and Gin, during what he calls his “Gordon era.”
Following graduation, Ingram ultimately traded a brief career in insurance for a life centered around music. He moved to Florida, built a career as a musician and eventually joined forces with Sandi MarLisa to form Jack and Gin. The band has since reached audiences beyond Georgia, including an appearance on WGN in connection with an album release.
After 10 years in Florida, Ingram has returned to Georgia, having performed more than 1,000 shows at approximately 100 venues. He is also using those experiences to help aspiring musicians through “Let Your Music Sing,” an initiative he created to teach college students how to secure paid performances and build careers around their craft.
Ingram’s journey will come full circle Wednesday, Aug. 12, when Jack and Gin perform from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Lambdin Hall as part of GSC’s Connect Fest during Welcome Week.
For Ingram, the occasion carries special meaning. Years after watching a band perform at Gordon State and imagining himself doing the same, he now has the opportunity to provide that spark for another student.
“I want to give back to the community that helped bring me up,” Ingram said. “This Welcome Week is my opportunity to become the ‘Temptations band’ inspiration for the next Gordon alumnus.”
Jack and Gin will bring an all-original set featuring rock and roll, coastal, reggae and swamp-rock influences, with multiple instruments and an upbeat performance designed to keep Highlanders moving.
“As far as I go in life, I’m always proud of where I came from,” Ingram said. “This was a pivotal moment of my life, and I’m proud to know I was educated by a fine community.”
Now, the former student who once watched from the audience and imagined what could be possible will take the stage himself, hoping to spark that same possibility in another Highlander.
Maybe I could do that, too.
