Jayne Lina Rogovin

Posted by Jack Silverman on Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 12:24 AM

It's exactly a year ago today that I saw Jayne Rogovin — a veteran publicist who seemed to know just about every musician, journalist, manager and club owner in town — perform at a Valentine's Day event known as Love Is Deaf. Now an annual event, Love Is Deaf features musicians and their less musically gifted significant others performing duets.

With her boyfriend John McTigue on drums, Jayne did a version of The Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends." She had already been battling cancer for some time, and the song was the perfect shout-out to the community of friends that had embraced her throughout her fight. She strummed a few chords on an acoustic guitar at the beginning, but after struggling to hit the right chords, she gave up the guitar. Instead, she just belted out the song, vocal and drums, as chills went through the crowd. Midway through the song, she removed her wig to reveal her bald head, hairless from round after round of radiation and chemo. It was one of the most touching and electric moments I'd experienced seeing someone perform.

And that was Jayne. Bold, unafraid, open with her pain and struggles, unwilling to let a stupid disease cramp her style. (Shortly after that performance, a benefit show for Jayne at Cabana brought out movers and shakers like Steve Cropper, Raul Malo, Mandy Barnett, Foster & Lloyd, Jim Lauderdale and more. Read Kay West's touching story on the event here.)

Jayne died yesterday evening.

I'd known Jayne for many years, and the evolution of our friendship is kind of amusing when I look back on it. In the first couple of years we knew each other, to be frank, an email or call from Jayne would trigger a bit of anxiety. After all, I was a journalist, and she was a tenacious publicist, so intent on helping out the artists, events and organizations she represented that I knew she wasn't going to give up until she made the absolute best case why the Scene should cover her clients.

For instance, I remember several years ago, when she relentlessly argued for greater coverage for the Americana Music Festival, phone call after lunch after email after phone call. Finally, she convinced us to put it on the cover. In retrospect — and with the hindsight of seeing what a huge success the festival has become, in large part due to her work — it was clearly the right decision, and she knew exactly what she was talking about.

Soon thereafter, I started to develop a real respect and fondness for Jayne, not to mention trust in her opinion. She knew where to pick her battles, and respected us when we had to pass on covering an artist. And I'd start to see her at functions and concerts and such, and we became genuine friends. Not "call each other and hang out" friends, but friends who always took the time to catch up with each other.

After she was diagnosed with cancer, our friendship grew even more. She showed up at some of my band's shows at Family Wash. Just a couple months ago, I played a couple songs at the John Lennon Imagine No Handguns benefit, and I dedicated one to her: "I Dig a Pony," in honor of her lifelong passion for horses. In fact, I had to beg her to stick around till we got onstage, because she needed to get home for meds. I told her I had a surprise for her.

My girlfriend Wendy and I had a couple of long and lovely conversations with her over the past year or two. One such conversation, at a party last summer, was particularly memorable.

It's funny and strange and a little bit twisted how a devastating and deadly disease can seem to magnify the beauty and sweetness of a soul while it's ravaging their body. Anyone who spent time around Jayne during her illness knows that as wonderful as she was in health, she somehow became even more fabulous during her final months, exuding a glow and sense of peace that suggested everything was going to be all right, no matter what the outcome. Of course, I only saw her in public from time to time, and didn't witness the pain and suffering she endured privately. Still, when I saw her, more often than not, I felt like she was comforting me more than I was comforting her.

So I sit here at a computer keyboard at midnight, sad, though a little amused at the irony (an irony that I know Jayne would appreciate): Seven or eight years ago, I dreaded phone calls from a relentless and dedicated publicist named Jayne Rogovin, and here I am tonight, tears rolling down my face because I'll never get a call from her again.

If you're one of Jayne's countless friends and colleagues, and you need a little solace and company, I'm sure you'll find out at the 2012 Love Is Deaf, which takes place tonight at 8 p.m. at Douglas Corner. In fact, when I wrote the Critics' Pick about it last week, Jayne was the centerpiece. Little did I know what the week held in store.

Jayne Rogovin | 1959-2012

A longtime Nashville publicist who represented the Americana Music Association and a group of popular restaurants died Monday after an 18-month battle with breast cancer.

Jayne Rogovin, 52, moved to Nashville two decades ago after a career in television news that included Dallas and her native Miami. She worked for Channel 5 in Nashville and later launched her own marketing and publicity company, becoming known for dogged determination to get her clients’ message to the public.

“I met Jayne when I first moved to Nashville 10 years ago,” said Jed Hilly, the Americana Music Association’s executive director. “From that moment, it seemed that she had it planned out that we would be best friends, and that we would conquer the world.”

Restaurateur Randy Rayburn said he hired Ms. Rogovin as a communications consultant on the launch of Cabana in Hillsboro Village, but she had become a member of his “life family” before that. She also formerly represented clothing designer and costumer Manuel.

“Jayne just did everything, she hustled to make a buck,” said friend Kay West, a Nashville writer. “And she was capable of doing anything. She was one of the more capable women I knew.”

Ms. Rogovin attended Congregation Micah, and her interests included music and dance, but her true passion was horses, West said.

She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in July 2010 but never stopped working. In April, her friends and clients gathered at Cabana for a Kick the Crap Outta Cancer benefit to pay for her treatment, listening to performances from Foster & Lloyd, Jim Lauderdale, Steve Cropper, Mandy Barnett, Sam & Ruby, James Intveld and Matt Urmy.

Ms. Rogovin loved the Long Players and attended their performance two weeks ago. When she entered Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Feb. 5, West said, everyone assumed she’d be out soon, but she died there.

She is survived by her partner of 11 years, drummer John McTigue; her parents, Sandy and Larry Rogovin; her sister, Wendy Green; her brother, Evan Rogovin; and nephews.

There will be an intimate graveside service in Miami, West said, and a memorial service in Nashville in May.

Veteran Nashville publicist Jayne Rogovin passed away last night (2/13) from incurable breast cancer.

For eight years she ran her successful Jayne Gang PR, with most recent clients including The Americana Music Association, Sunset Grill, Cabana Restaurant, Midtown Cafe and Manuel Exclusive Clothier. A devoted publicist, she was working even in recent weeks, as her condition worsened. Friends say the decline in her health was sudden.

Proof of her courageous spirit and drive, she proclaimed in a recent interview, “I’m living, not battling.”

Best friend Kay West helped Rogovin keep on living, acting as a point person for others who wanted to help. “I met Jayne when Steve West asked her to direct the first Nashville Music Awards aka The NAMMIES 17 years ago and I wrote the script,” recalls West. “We have been dear friends since. Jayne was fearless, adventurous, insatiably curious, always learning, generous, devoted to her friends and clients and a damned fine horsewoman and dancer. She lit up a room and touched countless lives. I will miss her terribly.”

Longtime friend Kay Clary agrees, “Jayne was bursting with life and seriously had the widest circle of close friends of anyone I’ve ever known! She had an hilariously quick wit, the tenderest of hearts, and sharpest of minds. Yes, she did impassioned work as a PR and marketing exec, but she’ll be remembered most by so many as a vibrant and true friend.”

Rogovin’s more than twenty-year career included time as Pecos Films Director/Producer, as well as work in media, marketing and creative services.

The New York native graduated from the University of Florida and went into broadcast journalism. Later, after a two-month stint with a TV crew covering the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas, she decided a career change was in order. She eventually landed in Nashville, and became a much-loved, hard-working member of the music community. She was passionate about horses, and indulged her caring nature with gardening, and her feisty side with salsa dancing.

Friends rallied around Rogovin during her illness, organizing the Kick the Crap Outta Cancer benefit in her honor. Held April 5, 2011 at Cabana, the event attracted performers including Raul Malo, Jim Lauderdale, Steve Cropper, and Foster & Lloyd, and raised about $30,000.

She was as devoted to the community as it was to her, working with charitable causes including UPAW (United Partnership for Animal Welfare), and Billy’s Wish Foundation, which helps children with cancer.

Ronna Rubin saw her friend as an inspiration. She says, “In good health and in bad, Jayne inspired me. I will always remember Jayne’s passion; her passion for life, for her friends, for our creative community. Those artists, songwriters and singers lucky enough to have had her as their cheerleader were gifted with a rare combination of vision and devotion.”

In recent months Rogovin continued her longtime work with the Americana Music Association, including at its September Festival and Conference. She was one of the most devoted and earliest supporters of the organization and the genre it represents. According to her blog, she also enjoyed traveling to see family in the months before her passing.

Funeral Services held at Lakeside Memorial Park and Funeral Home 10301 NW 25th Street, Miami, FL 33172 on Sunday February 19th at 11AM. Rabbi Rojzman from Temple Beth Torah will officiate with interment following in the Park.

www.LakesideMPFuneralHome.com