What is Memories Unleashed – Jazz and The Great American Songbook, and how did it come to be?
Memories Unleashed – Jazz and The Great American Songbook is a live theatrical concert series accompanied by my new album release, Memories Unleashed – Impulse 1, and presented by my nonprofit, The Elijah Rock Foundation Inc. In addition to songs on the Memories Unleashed album, audience members were treated to the music of celebrated jazz legends Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nat King Cole. The songs are woven together to tell the personal story of my journey with my father, who is currently living with Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition to sharing music and jazz and honoring the memory of my father, the live show also collects survey data to help bridge the gap in clinical research participation among historically underrepresented communities. With funding from the Global Brain Health Institute at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the Alzheimer’s Association, the show enjoys Institutional Review Board approval to help advance this scientific endeavour.
The show has been performed live twice in late April and May in San Francisco and Miami, respectively. Both shows were filmed in addition to interviews with UCSF neurologists Dr. Bruce Miller and Dr. Charles Windon as well as geriatrics professor Dr. Victor Valcour to create a documentary in the future, and we have the intention of scaling the live show nationwide with support from other entities.
Who initially inspired you to grapple with dementia?
My inspiration stems from my father’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease. Witnessing his decline—his memories fading, his personality shifting—was heartbreaking, yet deeply transformative. It awakened a calling in me to use my art in the service of something greater.
As a performer, I’ve always believed in the healing power of music. When I saw how familiar melodies could still spark something in my father, even in his most distant moments, I knew there was something sacred there. That moment inspired me to create a bridge between music and memory—between culture and brain health.
This journey ultimately led me to become an Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health at UCSF, where I’ve committed to advancing awareness and equity in Alzheimer’s research through performance, storytelling, and community engagement. Memories Unleashed was born from that mission—it honors my father and the millions of others walking this path.
How has working on dementia-related art changed you?
This journey has shifted my art from performance to purpose. I now see art not just as entertainment, but as a form of healing and social impact. Working on dementia-related art has made me more intentional with every note I sing and every story I tell—it’s about legacy, connection, and compassion. Aging, to me, has become something sacred, not something to fear, but something to honor. Memories Unleashed fits squarely within my evolving body of work, which fuses jazz and theatrical performance with advocacy. It represents a pivot in my career: from artist to changemaker, using the stage as a platform for awareness, inclusion, and healing.
How has Memories Unleashed been received?
More than 40% of attendees were from underrepresented backgrounds, reinforcing the event’s commitment to inclusivity and community engagement. Additionally, nearly 10% of attendees expressed interest in learning more about clinical trial participation following the performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of using music as a platform for brain health awareness. Survey responses further highlighted the event’s success, as 80% of attendees reported feeling more comfortable with the idea of participating in research after the performance, bridging the gap between entertainment and education.
This work is dedicated to: My father, who is living with dementia, and all of the families and caregivers who are facing this difficult challenge. Memories Unleashed is dedicated to you.
Find more from Elijah Rock on his website, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
