Meet Eli Joseph Ingram
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Meet Eli Joseph Ingram ’14
Musician, marketer and educator Eli Joseph Ingram attended Gordon State College from 2012 to 2014, studying business before building a career that has taken him to stages across the country. Now back in Georgia after 10 years in Florida, the Jack and Gin musician is returning to his Gordon roots and using his experience to encourage others to pursue their passions.
Why did you choose Gordon State?
“I was inspired to attend Gordon State because I enjoyed the community and on-campus support.”
What are some of your favorite memories from your time at GSC?
“Some of my favorite memories were walking around Gordon State with my headphones on listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana,” Ingram said.
His GSC experience also included a “Dress to Impress” business event where he learned what he calls “the POWER of the handshake,” a midnight astronomy class spent studying constellations through telescopes and lessons from professors that have stuck with him well beyond graduation.
When did you discover your passion for music?
“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. And here I am!”
That inspiration eventually became a career. Ingram has performed more than 1,000 shows at approximately 100 venues and joined forces with Sandi MarLisa to create southern rock band Jack and Gin. He even wrote “Moonshine,” a song later recorded by the band, during what he calls his “Gordon era.”
How are you using your experience to help other aspiring musicians?
Ingram created Let Your Music Sing, an initiative that teaches college students how to secure paid performances as musicians while sharing lessons from his own career.
“I teach them everything I know from the over one thousand shows and a hundred venues I’ve played and inspire them to reach for their dreams.”
What advice would you give Highlanders pursuing their own passions?
“It’s important that whatever your dream is that you fully dive in. Don’t let any outside sources control your inspiration. Let it come from you and don’t be afraid to embrace it. As long as you stay authentic, the world will see it.”
What advice would you give your Gordon State student self?
“Laugh when life gets hard. There’s always ups and downs, and if you learn to laugh when life gets hard, it’s a little easier.”
What does being a Highlander mean to you today?
“It means as far as I go in life, I’m always proud of where I came from. This was a pivotal moment of my life, and I’m proud to know I was educated by a fine community.”