Artists, Vanderbilt Patients Team For 'Everybody Has A Story'

Kix Brooks, Melinda Doolittle, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Alison Krauss, Maura O’Connell, Johnny Reid, SHEL and Phil Vassar perform songs written by patients at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt on the new project Everybody Has A Story.
The artists performed songs written by Austin Bagby, Ethan Carpenter, Courtney Gaoette, Erica Kilburn, Amy Overton, Gigi Pasley and Christopher Weber, along with music therapist Jenny Plume. The patients who participated were treated for a variety of chronic illnesses such as cancer and cystic fibrosis, two were heart transplant recipients, and one was hospitalized for pneumonia. Plume helped patients shape their thoughts and feelings into lyrics and a melody. Some lyrics were crafted out of a story idea, and some were created by long discussions about the patients’ feelings and situations. The song topics range from serious to fun and silly.
“Sometimes we wrote about a real life experience, other times I would ask questions and the answers would make the lyrics, sometimes we used their poems,” Plume said. “So, it was very collaborative, with me trying to draw those ideas and words out of them. I hope they will go on to know that they can do anything, they can create things, and hopefully music will always be in their lives. For those patients who have passed on, this will be a legacy to celebrate their lives.”
Proceeds from the sales of this CD will benefit the Julian T. Fouce Music Therapy Fund. Everybody Has A Story is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com and will be available May 14 worldwide at all digital retailers. The CD will be available at music retailers throughout the United States and Canada.