65 Roses
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| Kevin Holden |
Roses make the perfect gift.
It's a gift that reflects the admiration Robert Crowell and Midnight Magic host Kevin Holden have for Coach Brian Hill's daughter, Kim Tsamoutales. Facing death from the effects of cystic fibrosis, she underwent a life-saving double lung transplant in 2004. Inspired by her courage, positive attitude and passion for life, Holden recognized there was a song -- and a message -- in her life.
"The music industry has been inundated with negativity," Holden says, "and there seems to be no place for positive music. We wanted to do something positive and dedicate a song to her. But we needed to find a way to eloquently write an inspirational song."
Sharing the mission was Crowell, who, with Holden, created the Score Foundation of Central Florida to introduce kids to the magic of music and produced CDs to raise money for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (OMYF).
"We really admire Kim's attitude and wanted to honor that," Crowell explains. "Lyrically the challenge was creating a message that could be applied to any situation in which someone -- a teacher or coach or parent, anyone -- inspires you or helps you accomplish a goal."
For that, the challenge was given to Daniel Alan. Having worked with Holden and Crowell through the OMYF, Alan, a composer and musician, was also a trusted friend. They explained the toll Tsamoutales's illness had taken on her and her family, yet how her spirit lifted those around her.
"Then they asked me, 'Can you give us a song based on this?'" says Alan. "I've written tons of songs, but usually it's based on myself and events in my own life. This came out of nowhere, but it was something I could look at from a distance and see how those feelings could apply to different situations. It was almost like writing for a movie."
Within three days, Kim's successful fight had inspired a song, called "65 Roses," that Alan felt would help others and raise awareness about the disease. Credit the title to a nickname for the disease created when a child couldn't pronounce "cystic fibrosis," and instead came across as "65 Roses."
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| Michael Crain |
"This very easily could have turned into something that was sappy or depressing or overblown," Crain observes. "So we guarded against that in an effort to create a song that was uplifting. We all did that, but then it was up to me to make it sound like a record. So throughout the session, I had to think, 'If we can't turn ourselves on with the song, how are we going to get others turned on to it?' So we really worked on it until we created a song that's uplifting and something we're all really proud of."
With a goal to make this a song used by cystic fibrosis chapters around the country, Holden is encouraged by the total team effort he's seen, from Matt Biggers of Orlando Magic's marketing department, to his friends and colleagues ... and Kim Tsamoutales.
"We all go through little struggles every day, so when I think of Kim having gone through a double lung transplant and not knowing if she'd make it..." Holden begins. "And then she has the grace to become a foot soldier for the CF Foundation and speak to groups and thank them for what they've done. I just wanted to turn that around and say thank you for the kind of strength you've shown and showing us what life is really about."
The CD containing the song "65 Roses" that is being sold to raise money for the OMYF, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Score Foundation is available at Orlando Magic games, orlandomagicshop.com, Virgin Megastores and FYE Music.
Gary McKechnie is a freelance writer from Mount Dora.
This story originally appeared in the January issue of Magic Magazine. Get your favorite Magic fan a subscription to Magic Magazine! To subscribe call 1-877-841-7070 or e-mail subscription.service@skies.com and specify you want Magic Magazine. A one-year subscription is $18.95 and two-year is just $24.95.
