In the early 1960s, Garland Jeffreys became what is believed to be the first Black student at Syracuse Florence. That semester would prove transformative for the young man from Brooklyn, who later became a celebrated rock and soul musician—collaborating with legends like Lou Reed, writing songs covered by everyone from Rickie Lee Jones to John Mellencamp, and creating music that boldly addressed racial identity and urban life. His 1977 song “Wild in the Streets” became an anthem, and over a career spanning decades, he released critically acclaimed albums that blended rock, reggae, and soul while never shying away from confronting social issues.
Fellow Syracuse alumnus Martin Inn, Garland’s friend from that pioneering semester, brought Garland’s remarkable story to our attention. Inn had a similar experience as one of the first Asian Americans to attend Syracuse Florence, and he shared his wonderful story with us in the last printed issue of the Villa Rossa Voice (page 10). He also provided the black-and-white photo above of Garland with his host family, “taken at Via Benedetto da Maiano in Fiesole where we lived,” he explains. “Garland had the same family as me probably because they were Italian Communist and were accepting of people who were not white. They were wonderful people and we loved them.”
Today, Garland is living with late-stage Alzheimer’s and can no longer share his stories himself. But his wife Claire Jeffreys—who produced the 2023 documentary Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between, now streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube TV, and Tubi—spoke with us about Garland’s time in Florence, what the experience meant to him, and why he kept returning to the city he loved.
What has Garland told you about the time he studied at the Syracuse program in Florence?
Garland always spoke of his time in Florence with great enthusiasm and excitement. He said not many people from his neighborhood made it to Florence to study. He especially loved his host families and loved the home cooking with lunch every day. One of his Brooklyn friends said he came home with a round face from all that pasta! He spoke of being with the host family when Kennedy was murdered and hearing cries of “Kennedy è morto!”
Can you confirm whether he was the first Black person to attend the program, as claimed by his friend Martin Inn?
This is what I was told but I can’t confirm 100%. Garland said he went to the director of the program (or perhaps a professor) and argued forcefully that the reason he had been rejected from the program was because he was Black, and that they then reconsidered and allowed him to attend.
In the story he shared with us, Martin mentioned that Garland returned to Florence after having studied here. Do you know more about that? Did he ever come back to Florence with you?
He remained in love with Florence! We went back together many times, including our first trip (and my first) to Europe together in 1981. He took me to the Bargello Museum and showed me the Cellini statues, to the Uffizi, and to Fiesole, all the time using his art history knowledge to impress me! We visited his friend Piero Colacicchi, who later taught at the Accademia and had a family villa in Fiesole.
Garland was an art history major while he was here and then attended grad school in NY before dropping out to go into music. What was his favorite period? Did this interest in art history ever pop up later in life?
He was most interested in the art of the Renaissance. He loved to go to museums and look at paintings and that remained a constant throughout his life, though it never became a focus of his lyrics. One of his favorite painters was Giorgione. He also loved the frescoes of Fra Angelico and the paintings of Duccio.
What kind of advice do you think Garland might have had for students of color on a semester abroad today?
Never feel like you don’t belong. By nature of being there, you belong. See as much as you can see, don’t hold back on going out or taking day trips, because that precious time can never be duplicated. Talk to everyone you can! Let your horizons expand!