A bald man in a pink and yellow striped shirt plays an orange electric guitar against a backdrop of dark blue curtains.

Tim Snapke&nbsp;(1955&ndash;2026) spent decades making the Atlanta music community a warmer, more welcoming place. Whether he was anchoring the house band through countless rehearsals and shows, lending a treasured archtop guitar to a friend who admired it as much as he did, or dressing up as Santa Claus to handout candy canes at a toy drive concert, Tim showed up&mdash;again and again&mdash;for the people and the music he loved. Those who played alongside him remember a musician who was thoughtful and understated in a jam, but who let it rip when the music mattered most, especially with his beloved Steely Dan tribute band. Those who knew him remember someone who was quick with a joke, quicker with a hug, and always the first to ask if you needed anything&mdash;then insist on getting it for you. Tim was known throughout his community as a &quot;gentle giant&quot;: tall and imposing at first glance, but underneath it, one of the kindest, most generous people you could ever hope to meet. He made rooms feel safer just by being in them. He made new musicians&mdash;some in their very first band, some just finding their way into a scene &mdash;feel like they belonged. Why This Scholarship Tim believed that music was something to be shared, not guarded. He mentored, encouraged, and welcomed musicians at every stage of their journey, often quietly and without asking for anything in return. This scholarship exists to carry that spirit forward&mdash;supporting students who are working to grow their craft, the same way Tim spent a lifetime helping others grow theirs. Our Hope Every recipient of the Tim Snapke Memorial Music Scholarship will carry forward a piece of what madeTim who he was: generosity without hesitation, humor that could turn any room around, and a genuine loveof making music with other people. Rest easy, Tim.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790184573/wysiwyg/n9dghdc6fobfegcpdgzc.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790184581/wysiwyg/a4edwvrxgdbu8woszn6s.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790184589/wysiwyg/yvpi84pbqd29cwtiosa9.jpg" style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; user-select: none; max-width: 100%; position: relative; box-sizing: inherit;" fr-original-style="width: 600px; display: block; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">

Tim Snapke (1955–2026) spent decades making the Atlanta music community a warmer, more welcoming place. Whether he was anchoring the house band through countless rehearsals and shows, lending a treasured archtop guitar to a friend who admired it as much as he did, or dressing up as Santa Claus to handout candy canes at a toy drive concert, Tim showed up—again and again—for the people and the music he loved. Those who played alongside him remember a musician who was thoughtful and understated in a jam, but who let it rip when the music mattered most, especially with his beloved Steely Dan tribute band. Those who knew him remember someone who was quick with a joke, quicker with a hug, and always the first to ask if you needed anything—then insist on getting it for you. Tim was known throughout his community as a "gentle giant": tall and imposing at first glance, but underneath it, one of the kindest, most generous people you could ever hope to meet. He made rooms feel safer just by being in them. He made new musicians—some in their very first band, some just finding their way into a scene —feel like they belonged. Why This Scholarship Tim believed that music was something to be shared, not guarded. He mentored, encouraged, and welcomed musicians at every stage of their journey, often quietly and without asking for anything in return. This scholarship exists to carry that spirit forward—supporting students who are working to grow their craft, the same way Tim spent a lifetime helping others grow theirs. Our Hope Every recipient of the Tim Snapke Memorial Music Scholarship will carry forward a piece of what madeTim who he was: generosity without hesitation, humor that could turn any room around, and a genuine loveof making music with other people. Rest easy, Tim.<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790184573/wysiwyg/n9dghdc6fobfegcpdgzc.jpg" style="width:600px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;position:relative;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" /><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790184581/wysiwyg/a4edwvrxgdbu8woszn6s.jpg" style="width:600px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;position:relative;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" /><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/hxn9dbuhd/image/upload/v1790184589/wysiwyg/yvpi84pbqd29cwtiosa9.jpg" style="width:600px;display:block;vertical-align:top;margin:5px auto;text-align:center;cursor:pointer;padding:0px 1px;user-select:none;position:relative;box-sizing:inherit;max-width:100%" />

Roots of Rhythm Foundation Inc

The Tim Snapke Memorial Music Scholarship

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