I am so excited about this new track I just released. This one is called, This Song Of Love and I co-wrote it with lyricist Larry Perfetti and the amazing Will Lee, world renowned bassist for The Late Show CBS Orchestra, The Fab Faux, and a million other amazing credits.
What a ride it has been. A few years ago I began working for the Songs Of Love Foundation, where I compose and record custom songs for sick children.
I was so happy to have written a song for the amazing Kiersten Hickman-Perfetti, who passed away in 2008. She was such an amazing girl, who fought so hard with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. I only wish I could have met her personally. Being a part of her family recently through the medicine of music has been such an inspiration to not only them, but me as well.
So when Kier’s father contacted me about collaborating on a song with him, I absolutely jumped at the opportunity.
Larry had written lyrics to a song that he intended to dedicate to John Beltzer, creator and director of Songs of Love as well as to the memories of Kiersten Hickman-Perfetti, Miles Levin and Jordan Paganelli.
Larry Perfetti speaks about these three brave souls as “three young people who died of rhabdomyosarcoma, but not before each one became a model of human excellence, a fountain of love, passion, and compassion, and a forever monument to the affirmation of life. This song expresses our deep love and admiration for them.”
He also told me that his good friend, Will Lee also wanted to help us with the song.
As a kid, I grew up trying to figure out how to play the bass, and Will was one the icons I followed (I still do to this day). So this collaboration was getting more exciting day by day.
Through the internet, Will, Larry and I passed our ideas back and forth. Eventually Will and I sent music files to each other from our respective home studios.
In April of 2010, we arrived at a final mix and I flew up to New York to meet Will and Larry. We invited John Belzer and a few other close friends over to Will’s house to play the song for them. The evening was full of magic and love, as we enjoyed good company, wonderful food and the overall sense that that moment was planned by a Heavenly Hand.
Will’s wife, Sandrine Lee, so kindly created a wonderful piece of art to be the album cover for this single release, which is now available online on such places as iTunes, etc.
The three of us would love you all to go get a copy there and help us spread the love as we want to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Songs of Love Foundation.
Here is a little bit from Larry about the song:
“We dedicate this song to John and Julio Beltzer in honor of the fact that they have been the impetus for the creation of so many songs and so much love for so many kids and their families. For their wonderful accomplishments and their loving hearts, we believe that John and Julio deserve their own song of love. The song is also dedicated to the memories of Kiersten Hickman-Perfetti, Miles Levin and Jordan Paganelli, three young people who died of rhabdomyosarcoma, but not before each one became a model of human excellence, a fountain of love, passion, and compassion, and a forever monument to the affirmation of life. This song expresses our deep love and admiration for them.
A portion of the profits from this song will be donated to Songs of Love so that other kids can have their own song of love. The song, by the way, was written from the perspective of person who loves another person who is going through a difficult time. Parents of sick kids take note! Please consider buying a copy of the song (99 cents), asking your friends, relatives, and co-workers to do the same, and even calling or emailing your local radio stations to play it.
I hope to utilize any media attention we get for this song to talk about children who suffer from serious illnesses, esp., cancer, and about the help that they and their families need to meet the challenges of the disease. I hope also to advocate for more funding for research and treatment of children with serious illnesses and especially cancer. And, of course, I will talk about Kier, Miles and Jordan.
Please help us help the kids. Please help us honor Kiersten, Miles and Jordan and their families. Please buy a copy of this song and let your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and radio station DJs know about the song.
Thanks to Geoff, Will and Sandrine for being a part of this adventure. Thanks to Mimi, Keith, Laura, Molly and Sandrine for supporting Geoff, Will and me during this process.
Thanks so, so much to you for helping us. We truly appreciate each one of you.
Here is our collective chance to do something that will benefit sick kids. (More songs to come!)
Love, Peace and Thanks,
Larry
