Jeff Farran:   2007 Keepin' The Blues Alive Award Winner

Jeff was president of the PBPS from 1991-1994 and remained on the Board of Trustees until 2005. He was the Carolina Blues Festival chair through 2001. It was Jeff's vision and foresight that led the Festival to be moved from the Depot in downtown Greensboro to Castle McCulloch in Jamestown. In 1994, Jeff renegotiated our sponsorship arrangement with Miller Brewing Company of Eden, NC, resulting in Miller becoming the festival's title sponsor from 1994-2003. When the festival needed to leave Castle McCulloch after 1997 because of new construction, Jeff suggested we move it to Emerald Pointe Water Park, where it stayed from 1998-1999. Jeff then oversaw the Festival's move to Forsyth County, at Tanglewood, from 2000-2002.

Even though Jeff stepped down from the Board in 2005, he remains one of the Festival's most ardent volunteers. He is one of the first people to show up for the all-important Thursday evening set up, as well as the final set-up on Saturday mornings. When we moved the Festival from Center City Park to Festival Park, it was Jeff who organized the layout, making valuable suggestions for where the tents, port-o-johns, Kids Area, etc. should go. Although most of Jeff's contributions are behind the scenes, his influence and trouble-shooting remain a crucial part of the success of the Carolina Blues Festival.