Nashville's Matthew West Honors Longtime Fan With Heartfelt ALS Awareness Anthem

Singer-songwriter Matthew West says his new song "Wonderful Life" is a tribute to a longtime fan who died in 2020.
Singer-songwriter Matthew West says his new music "Great Life" is a tribute to a longtime fan who died in 2020.
Sean Hagwell

Because the early days of his profession, Matthew West has got down to write and report songs which can be “extra than simply three-minute items of music,” and he’s hopeful his newest launch fulfills that pledge as soon as once more.

On Friday, the Nashville singer-songwriter unveiled the music video for “Great Life,” his newest monitor. He wrote the music after corresponding with Ronald Janca, a Texas-based fan, over Zoom in 2020. Three years earlier, Janca had been identified with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

Also called Lou Gehrig’s illness, ALS assaults nerve cells answerable for controlling muscle groups and progresses shortly. In line with the Nationwide Institute of Neurological Issues and Stroke, most sufferers die inside three to 5 years of an ALS prognosis.

“I figured I might play his favourite music and perhaps encourage him throughout his ultimate days, however Ron had different plans,” West, a five-time Grammy nominee, recalled. “He spent the complete name encouraging me, and I used to be left nearly speechless. Little did he know that at the moment, I used to be actually discouraged, however I used to be struck by his phrases and the thought that this man was preventing his personal battle, but was capable of see past it to talk life to me throughout mine.”

Catch the music video for “Great Life” under.

Janca died shortly after that change. After studying of his fan’s passing, West instantly started writing the lyrics of “Great Life” in tribute. The music’s video includes footage of West’s Zoom name with Janca, in addition to archival photographs of Janca along with his family and friends.

Whereas “Great Life” was impressed by his expertise assembly Janca, West hopes listeners from all walks of life will have the ability to relate to its message.

“Nobody will get to flee the laborious stuff, however there may be great things to be found even within the laborious stuff,” he mentioned. “Squeeze each ounce of life out of the one life you get. That’s what Ron did.”

West, who has collaborated with Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce and different artists all through his profession, is releasing “Great Life” forward of ALS Consciousness Month in Might. The music is a part of his forthcoming “idea challenge” that may also embrace his present single, “Me on Your Thoughts.” In September, he intends to launch a brand new e book.

The musician’s newest works are the results of practically two years of sudden downtime as a result of COVID-19, throughout which he poured himself into writing.

“I keep in mind pondering: ‘Simply because the tour bus is parked, I’ve acquired to discover a method to hold shifting ahead,’” West mentioned. “Perspective is a strong factor, and if you take the angle that so many individuals round you're preventing a tough battle, you've much less time to focus by yourself troubles and extra of a want to be a lightweight for another person throughout their darkest occasions.”

“That type of perspective leads us to a real sense of function in our lives,” he added. “These previous couple years have taught me that, and a lot extra.”

“No one gets to escape the hard stuff, but there is good stuff to be discovered even in the hard stuff,” said West, shown here at a 2020 performance.
“Nobody will get to flee the laborious stuff, however there may be great things to be found even within the laborious stuff,” mentioned West, proven right here at a 2020 efficiency.
Jason Davis through Getty Photos

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