Jeff Cohran is a South Memphis-born artist, writer, educator, DJ and producer of music and live events.
From 2009 to 2022, Cohran served as Tour and Production Manager for Oscar-winning, Grammy-nominated Atlantic Records artist Janelle Monáe and her Wondaland Records label. During his tenure, he produced eight world tours, with performances at premier global stages including The White House, the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, the Oscars, the Grammy Awards, the Sydney Opera House, Saturday Night Live, Coachella, Glastonbury, Montreux Jazz Festival, the BET Awards, and Essence Festival, among others.
Following the 2018–2019 Dirty Computer World Tour, Cohran was encouraged by his mentor and business partner Monica Young (Oscar-winning producer of Hair Love) to explore scriptwriting and film production. Under her guidance, he is currently developing both a sitcom pilot and a feature film script.
In 2020, Cohran and longtime collaborators TANGELA and Amanda Davis (Tegan & Sara, Tank & The Bangas, Tiny Habits, Janelle Monáe) relocated operations to Memphis to produce TANGELA’s genre-bending Splendid Mind EP. This creative shift sparked Cohran’s evolution into SOUTH MEMPHIS JEFF, focusing on music for sync and placement opportunities.
His work has been featured in short films by London-based director Tajana Tokyo, including a 2021 Burberry campaign and a feature in Somesuch magazine. His score for Tokyo’s short film Salone Love (“Platinum Plus”) screened at major festivals including the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, and SFFILM Festival.
As SOUTH MEMPHIS JEFF, he produced four tracks on Talibah Safiya’s 2026 album Eternal (“Eternal,” “Breakout,” “Shhhhh,” and “The Message”) and is currently working with Keri Lee on her debut album. His own debut album, Better Late Than Never, is slated for release in Fall 2026.
In 2021, Cohran joined the University of Memphis’ Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music as Assistant Professor of Teaching in Music Business. He teaches courses in Record Operations, Music Marketing and Management, Music Business Entrepreneurship, Concerts and Touring, and Songwriting. He also serves as Area Coordinator for Music Business, leads the internship program, and contributes to faculty and community committees. During his tenure, the program has launched its first artist-in-residence, revitalized the High Water record label, and strengthened industry partnerships.
That same year, SOUTH MEMPHIS JEFF launched his weekly radio show, Funkytown, on WYXR 91.7 FM Memphis. Since then, he has performed at Riverbeat Festival (2024–2026), MEMPHO Music Festival (2023–2026), Crosstown Theater, and curated live experiences at venues such as the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Dixon Gallery & Gardens, and the Metal Museum. In 2025, he introduced signature events including The Funkytown Dance Party and Movement, hosted at venues like Crosstown Green Room, BAR DKDC, Cameo Memphis, and Eight & Sand.
Cohran remains active in live touring. He served as Production Manager for Maverick City at the 2022 BET Awards, Production Manager for EARTHGANG (including The Gorillaz World Tour 2022 and Coachella 2023), and Road Manager for Bruno Mars’ 2023 Asia tour. In 2024, he produced a Clio Award-winning performance for Jon Batiste at Rickwood Field in collaboration with Fox Sports and Major League Baseball. In Summer 2025, he tour managed Ledisi across Europe.
Since 2007, Cohran has been a partner and Creative Director at Muddy Water, an Atlanta-based entertainment company specializing in creative consulting, artist management, A&R, marketing, and live event production. His work includes managing visual artist Fabian Williams, producer DJ Xavier BLK, WERC Crew, DEEP COTTON, and jazz sextet Jaspects. He also A&R’d Jaspects’ albums Double Consciousness (2007) and The Polkadotted Stripe (2009).
Cohran co-founded All Cows Eat Grass (ACEG), where he served as Creative Director, percussionist, producer, and vocalist from 2011 to 2017. He contributed to the group’s EPs, remix projects, and debut album Self-Help.
A 2006 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (Journalism, Electronic Media; minor in Political Science), Cohran also has a background in sports journalism and activism. At UT, he was a staff writer and political columnist for The Daily Beacon, covering football, basketball, and track. A former standout track athlete at Memphis Central High School, he also served as student manager for the 2005 Lady Vols National Championship track and field team.