Saxophone maestro Eirinn Abu is coming home. The multiplatinum artist (born Jerry Doyle) will be in town for a one-night-only show October 30 at The Lyric Theatre, where he last performed 18 years ago. Abu lived in Stuart for more than a decade before moving to Nashville to pursue his music career full-time. His discography includes the 2020 crossover album Sax in the Country, which features duets with Dolly Parton and country-pop star Deborah Allen, and 2024’s Anthem, which he recorded with Grammy-winning guitarist Manny Lopez and won the 2025 World Entertainment Award for “Best Instrumental Pop Album.”
The “Coming Home Concert” will benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides essential aid to injured veterans and first responders. The show will feature Abu alongside longtime collaborators (and former members of Miami Sound Machine) producer/guitarist Manny Lopez and acclaimed violinist Pedro Alfonso. The trio will perform selections from their discography set against a dynamic LED backdrop that will transform the evening into an immersive and cinematic experience.
Tunnel to Towers is a charity that means a lot to Abu. The organization helps injured heroes by building mortgage-free smart homes for injured military vets, paying off home mortgages for Gold Star families, and offering financial aid to the families of fallen law enforcement officer and firefighters. “I wanted to support an organization that truly pulls at my heartstrings, and Tunnel to Towers does just that,” says Abu. “I was living in Stuart when 9/11 happened, and I remember the fear and uncertainty we all felt. This foundation is about honoring and helping the heroes who stepped up in that moment and continue to do so today.” Abu and his wife, Brandy, also founded Music for Life Ministries, a nonprofit devoted to community outreach and spiritual healing through music.
Read on to learn more about Abu, his music, his passion for philanthropy, and his favorite local spots.
What is one of your favorite memories as a musician?
When Dolly Parton called me and asked if I wanted to “fly with the eagles”—her way of inviting me to record a song with her. We performed a duet that appeared on my album Sax in the Country.
What is the meaning of your stage name, Eirinn Abu?
It means “Ireland forever” in Gaelic. One afternoon, I was at Paddy Cassidy’s Irish Pub in Cocoa Beach and met a man who suggested flipping through a history book on Ireland they kept behind the bar. After a while, he looked at me and said, “Your name should be ‘Eirinn Abu.’” It sounded good to me.
Where do you like to spend time while in Stuart?
I always stay at Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina, and I love going window-shopping in historic downtown Stuart and strolling along the Riverwalk boardwalk. A stop at Kilwins chocolate and ice cream shop is a must.
Favorite local dining spots?
Conchy Joe’s Seafood and Crawdaddy’s in Jensen Beach are two
of my favorite hangouts for fresh seafood. I’m also a fan of The Black Marlin and Riverwalk Cafe and Oyster Bar in Stuart. And nothing beats the grouper Reuben at Shrimper’s Grill & Raw Bar!
Where do you like to go locally for live music?
Conchy Joe’s features excellent Cajun music, and I enjoy seeing my friend Bobby Gangloff and his band, Bobby and the Blisters, perform at Sailor’s Return.
What’s one thing you really miss about living on the Treasure Coast?
The energy and the way everyone genuinely appreciates each other make you never feel like a stranger.
To purchase tickets to the show, visit lyrictheatre.com.
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