Richard Lee, music director of the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.

With the first airy notes of the tin whistle, ‘My Heart Will Go On’ instantly resonates. While the legendary Celine Dion brought this iconic song from the hit film “Titanic” to life, its heartfelt lyrics were penned by East Texas’ very own Will Jennings.

To honor the Oscar and Grammy award-winning lyricist, the East Texas Symphony Orchestra (ETSO) and Tyler Junior College (TJC) will unite for a special concert this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center on the TJC campus, and will include performances by Jennings’ friend and collaborator Rodney Crowell.

“ETSO and TJC wanted to do something together in honor of the great Will Jennings,” said Robin Hampton, executive director of ETSO. “Mr. Jennings’ friend and colleague Rodney Crowell wanted to honor Mr. Jennings as well. Jennings’ sister, Joyce Hudnall has been a board director and supporter of ETSO for decades.”

In addition to Jennings’ and Crowell’s works, the ETSO will perform music from the films “Titanic” and “An Officer and a Gentleman,” both of which earned Jennings Oscars for songwriting. Vocalist and TJC alumna Julianne Casey will be featured in these pieces.

“We’ve been planning and looking forward to this special concert for over a year,” said ETSO Music Director Richard Lee. “This opportunity has the feel of a homecoming, as we’ll perform and celebrate iconic music from two legends in the industry who have ties to East Texas.”

Jennings was born in Kilgore but attended school in Chapel Hill, then received a music scholarship to TJC, where he played trombone in the TJC Band. He later attended the University of Texas at Austin before transferring to Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Jennings returned to TJC as an English professor and later taught at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

“ETSO wants to bring music to our community and share the magic of song and how the legacy of music will go on forever,” Hampton said.

Throughout his illustrious career, Jennings has collaborated with composers and performers across a spectrum of musical genres. In addition to his close partnership with Crowell, he has contributed to chart-topping hits for a diverse range of artists including Mariah Carey, Tim McGraw, Barry Manilow, B.B. King, Whitney Houston, and many more. He co-wrote the iconic “Tears in Heaven” with Eric Clapton, which won Song of the Year.

“We are very excited about partnering with TJC and playing music that ETSO had exclusively arranged for symphony orchestra, and most importantly bringing to light the amazing talent of Tyler’s own Will Jennings – multi Grammy, Oscar winner and member of Songwriters Hall of Fame,” Hampton said.

Tickets begin at $20 and can be purchased at etso.org.