The Association for Music Students at Oakland University will be hosting a free night of music Saturday, Sept. 26 to honor the late Danny Jordan, department of music, theatre and dance professor. Varnerstock 09, which will run from 7 to 11 p.m. at Varner Recital Hall, was created with the hope of raising money for the Danny Jordan Endowment Fund.

James Talbot, vice president of the association and a sophomore in OU’s music education program, said the association wanted to do something in Jordan’s honor. He said creating a fund in his name for future music students was “the least we can do for him after all he’s done for us.”

The fund aims to raise $25,000 in donations through various events, including Varnerfest 09, over the next year or two.

Jordan created the jazz program at OU, served as the director of jazz studies and directed several jazz bands.  

He graduated from Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Music degree with Highest Distinction.

Jordan died in May of 2009, following a long illness. He was 64.

“The music department had to hire six sets of hands to do what his two could do on piano,” Talbot said.

Varnerstock 09 has five participating bands that all feature OU alumni and students, though not necessarily music students.

Mirage, a pop-rock cover band, is composed of OU students. The Groo Grux Kings, a Dave Matthews tribute band, is made entirely of OU alumni.

Solo singer-songwriter Courtney Robb is a current OU student. Country-western swing band Dandylyon Whine features OU student Jeremy Otto. The final act, It’s Our First Day, is a Flight of the Conchords tribute band.

Tickets are available through the Varner Box Office from 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, beginning Sept. 22 and one hour before performances.