Singer Chadwick Johnson: With music, we can all connect and make a difference
Editor’s Note: Robin Leach is working from the cooler climes of La Jolla near San Diego for the remainder of this hot August month in advance of our newly designed website launching shortly. We’ll continue with our guest columnists until his return for Labor Day Weekend.
Today, one of our guest columns is by Cindy Ortega on how she’s created an outdoor park oasis on the Strip. The other is from singer Chadwick Johnson, who has a touching and emotional story behind his two concerts at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts this weekend. Here’s Chadwick as he remembers love:
By Chadwick Johnson
Since I was a child, I had big dreams of taking the stage and performing for the masses. I saw it as an opportunity to perform for others and make them feel good, and it certainly made me feel good.
My voice teacher would always tell me, “When you stop learning, you might as well stop living.” So I kept on studying and I kept on learning. I learned a lot from her. She taught me great vocal technique. She taught me to respect all types of music. And she encouraged me to be a student of life.
She taught me that if I could connect to the story in a song, I could make the connection to my audience. There are many mediums of communication, but music is like no other. Music has a unique way of fusing meaningful words together with melody, and it is that specific combination that has the power to transport us to a specific moment in our life.
For a few years, I have regularly visited convalescent homes to sing for their residents. One day, I was invited to perform on a floor dedicated to people living with Alzheimer’s. As I was setting up my equipment, I spotted the familiar face of an elderly woman who had been previously introduced to me by her family. They had expressed to me that she hadn’t spoken to anyone for a few years and that it was difficult for them to see her unresponsive.
What happened next was incredible. I started singing “What a Wonderful World,” and that dear woman began to mouth the lyrics word-for-word. Her eyes welled up with tears that rolled down her cheeks. She had a connection. We had a connection. And, because of music, for that one moment in life she and I experienced something magical.
Recently, I shared this story at a work session with my songwriting partner, Kalani Queypo. It turned out that his grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s, and he shared how it affected him so deeply. At that moment, we were inspired, and we knew that our next song would be dedicated to people struggling with this disease and their loved ones.
“Remember Love” is a “heart” song. It is our lullaby to all those touched by this disease. With this song, we hope to shed light on the desperate need to find a cure for this growing epidemic that is affecting millions of people.
“Remember Love” is available for digital download on iTunes and Amazon.com. Proceeds from the sales of this single will be donated to local and national organizations dedicated to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.
This summer, “Remember Love” is the inspiration for my new show. This provocative production will be presented in two performances, for one night only, at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center on Saturday. The title song is “Remember Love,” and proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to Alzheimer’s research. With music, we can all connect and make a difference.
Be sure to check out our other guest column today from Cindy Ortega on how she turned a section of the Strip green with the new MGM Park. Robin also has an exclusive about Olympic gold medal hero Ryan Lochte’s plans to celebrate his belated 32nd birthday in Las Vegas. On Wednesday, we’ll learn about the new hotel Lucky Dragon and Dr. Jeff Cummings of The Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and their incredible fight against Alzheimer’s.