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Issue date: 1/23/03 Section: editor's picks

Adam Dread in the Park

  The first thing you notice when you meet Adam Dread is his charisma. He is all smiles, and he is energetic; he is, all around, very friendly. And it is easy to see how he was recently elected to the vacant Metro Councilman-at-Large seat. If this is the way he treats everyone, then he is a natural to win any election.

  Being a former stand-up comic and radio DJ doesn't hurt his charismatic style. But, now that he is in a full-on position of responsibility, can Adam Dread step up to the challenge?

  Dread graduated from Vanderbilt in 1986 and has remained very close to the university. He was a DJ on WRVU, he was the chair of Vanderbilt Concerts in 1986, and he hosted Rites of Spring even four years after he had graduated. Now Adam Dread describes himself as a "Man of Leisure," even printing that on his old business cards. But now his cards read "Adam Dread: Council-at-Large."

  We met at Fido's, in Hillsboro Village, his "turf" as he calls it, and with good reason. Within five minutes of arriving, he had seen no fewer than five people who recognized him and wanted to speak with him, most of them congratulating him yet again for his win over a month ago. He is a large guy, tall and with a lot of mass, and he seemed uncomfortable in his suit. He would, no doubt, be more comfortable in his shorts and beach sandals, as on one of his many trips per year to Nantucket.

  Dread became heavily involved in Hillsboro Village as a student at Vanderbilt, when, at 19 years old, he became the general manager of Faison's, which he described as "the only hip restaurant" in the Village before the days of Fido's or Sam's.

  But to hear him tell it, his life's work, what there is of it, is really all owed to Vanderbilt and Rites of Spring, as both started him on his way to a stand-up career. And, he says that it is because of his stand-up that he is now a full-fledged politician.

  "In politics, it's kind of taking what I've done in stand-up where I get in front of 500 strangers who may have had a hard day, and just make them forget their problems and make them get a little more out of life. In politics it's kind of the same thing. You get out in front of an entire community and make them feel better."

  But Dread is not just a councilman. He is also in his third year at the Nashville School of Law, and he serves on three non-profit boards. One would think that being a full-time law student would be enough to occupy anyone's time twice over, but Dread is confident that he is giving his chosen charities enough of his time.

Continued...

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