A Tribute to a Lost Brother

Eddie, about to smash me to the ground. Circa 1998.

It is my heart's greatest desire to use this platform of music to encourage and uplift you. To me the best way to do that is to draw from my own life's experiences, the triumphs and the tribulations, and to simply tell the story of how it all works out for good in the end. You and I may not have experienced the same joys and the same heart aches, and I am grateful for that, as you have unique experiences that need to be heard and told, and have the potential to change a life, that I could never reach. My hope is that you would be able to find meaning special to you and your circumstances, and pay it forward.

A specific crucible I experienced as a kid was losing my best friend, Eddie, to a drunk driver. To honor his legacy, and to remember him on what would have been his 28th birthday, I wrote a song, called “17”. That is how old Eddie and I were when he passed away. It is the most honest and intimate song I've ever written.

Eddie was a best friend to me in the years of my life where I didn't have many friends, and when my self confidence and self esteem were extremely low. Eddie didn't care and he was my friend any way. He helped me to be myself and to have confidence in who that was. I am forever grateful for the time I was blessed to spend with him.

I feel a responsibility to spread awareness of the cruelties in this world that are relevant to me and the people I love. Here are the facts: Drunk Driving is the #1 cause of death on our roadways. There are more than 300,000 drunk driving incidents a day. There are an approximate 10,876 deaths a year, which equates to 30 deaths per day, or one death every 48 minutes. All of them 100% preventable.

I love you Eddie, your legacy lives on.

Love you best bud, Shannon aka “LIAM”