The man behind the music

Fans attending Southeast Missouri State home baseball games -- not to mention players and coaches -- often leave Capaha Park raving about the impressive organ tunes that can be heard virtually nonstop.

The young man behind the music appreciates all the accolades.

"I have a lot of people come up to me telling me how much they like hearing me play, and it makes me feel good," Jeremy Boyer said. "It's great. I love the support.

"It's already a great atmosphere at SEMO games, and I'm glad I can add to it. It almost makes you feel like you're sitting at a pro stadium, but there are not that many live organists left anymore."

Boyer, a Potosi, Mo., native, graduated from Southeast in December with a degree in music. He is taking one class at the university this semester -- coaching baseball with Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan -- as he seeks a job teaching high school choir for next school year.

"What Jeremy does for our program is unbelievable," Hogan said. "He just adds such a first-class atmosphere. I get so many comments from people saying how much they enjoy his music, and the players really appreciate it. To volunteer so much time is really impressive. He's a super young man."

Boyer is in his third season playing music at Southeast home baseball games -- he said he has missed only a couple of contests, due to school functions -- a nonpaying gig that began after he approached Hogan.

"I've always listened to [longtime Cardinals organist] Ernie Hays and always patterned my stuff after him," Boyer said. "I e-mailed coach Hogan to see if he'd be interested in me playing at games.

"He said come on by, we talked, he knew I was in the [Southeast] Show Band for basketball games and played the keyboard, and he thought it was a good idea."

Boyer, always perched in his familiar spot beside the Capaha Park press box, said he has been playing the keyboard for about 13 years. He also is adept at other instruments and is an accomplished singer who has performed the national anthem before several Southeast basketball games.

"The keyboard is one of the reasons that drove me to major in music. It's my favorite thing to play," Boyer said.

Southeast baseball is not Boyer's only gig. For the past five years, he has been an organist at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, and he also sings at Shrine Choir in Perryville.

But it's at Capaha Park where Boyer can receive his most instant gratification as Southeast fans quickly react to his various music, from the "Star Spangled Banner" before the game, to "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" in the seventh-inning stretch, to his numerous catchy tunes at various points of the contest.

"I really enjoy it. It's a lot of fun. I like to get the crowd going," Boyer said. "I play whenever I get a chance, between batters, pitches, on foul balls, between innings."

Boyer said he enjoys all the music he plays at the games, but a special favorite is the Budweiser theme song.

"That 'Here Comes The King' song from the old Budweiser commercial, I really like that," he said. "But really, I just play whatever comes to my mind."

Boyer said his love for music and the organ basically began when he followed the Cardinals and listened to Hays, who has played at Busch Stadium for more than 30 years.

"I've always been a hard-core Cardinals fan, and I loved hearing Ernie Hays play," Boyer said.

Imagine, then, the thrill that Boyer received when Hays recently called him at home.

"I'd been trying to get a hold of him to get some of his music, and he actually called the house. He said to come by a game, and he'd give me some music," said Boyer, who added with a laugh, "A lot of people have always told me I should try and take his job when he retires."

Boyer should be able to hook up with Hays on April 26, when he and some fellow Southeast students will sign "God Bless America" at the Cardinals game against the Brewers.

"I heard the Cardinals were looking for people to do that at some games, so I called them and sent a recording of a vocal group we put together from our music fraternity," Boyer said. "They called back, said it sounded good and invited us to sing."

Depending on where Boyer lands a teaching job next year, this may or may not be his last season giving enjoyment to the fans who attend Southeast baseball games. But he's hoping to continue, especially for the evening and weekend contests.

"I'd like to keep living in Cape and commute to wherever I teach if it's close enough, because I have a girlfriend here and some other connections," Boyer said. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I'd love to keep doing it."