Stories at the Center: Author Eric Gnezda in Conversation with Alec Wightman

Enjoy conversation, food, and drink beginning at 7:30 pm when doors open at Natalie’s to celebrate the book launch of award-winning singer-songwriter Eric Gnezda. Eric will discuss his moving memoir, Stories at the Center: A Memoir of Miles, Music, and Meaning, at 8:00pm on Charlie’s Stage with music producer/promoter Alec Wightman.

Tickets are $15 available through Natalie’s. In addition, one can pre-purchase Stories at the Center while registering. A book signing will follow the program. Books purchased in advance can be picked up after Feb. 1 at Gramercy Books or at the event. Additional copies will be available for sale at the event.

Natalie’s Grandview and Zeppelin Productions are Gramercy’s Community Partners for this program.

Chronicling Eric’s unconventional path in the entertainment business, Stories at the Center is set against the backdrop of his lifelong passion for distance running as he jogs through the hometown he never left, reflecting on a journey of resilience, sacrifice, persistence, and artistic purpose.

From a childhood with a disabled father, through adolescence when he discovered his passion for songwriting, and into adulthood, he remains true to his dreams, all the while refining them with an openness to what life offers him. Ultimately, he creates and hosts the PBS series, Songs at the Center, which spotlights music legends such as John Oates, Janis Ian, and Ray Stevens, as well as emerging artists, giving voice to the unsung heroes of the music industry—the songwriters.

Blending humor, tension, and resolution, he explores a life devoted to serving others in an entertainment industry often driven by ego and money. His path is interrupted by the loss of loved ones, mistakes, and cultural resistance. He navigates his way through an increasingly transactional world, cherishing his family, nurturing friendships, and finding that investing in the dreams of others can lead to the fulfillment of one’s own.

Eric Gnezda is an award-winning singer-songwriter and creator/host of the PBS series, Songs at the Center. His songs have been featured on ESPN, Entertainment Tonight, and All Things Considered. An Emmy-nominated TV journalist and a keynote speaker, Eric performs across the country for corporations, trade associations, and general audiences. He taught college public speaking for twelve years.

Alec Wightman’s passion and knowledge of music, particularly rock and roll, runs long and deep, as revealed in his 2021 memoir, Music in My Life. His Zeppelin Productions, Inc. has promoted national act singer-songwriter concerts in Columbus since 1995. He’s also a longtime member of the Board of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he served three years as Chair.

Food & Bar: Our full food and drink menu will be available before and during the show.