Start Living (feat. JR Etrata)

I recently met JR Etrata, a senior at Lanai High and Elementary School (where I work).  JR is physically disabled, and has to be stretched every day.  In February/early March, I was trained on how to do this. The Educational Assistant who works with JR was going to be out, and I would have to take over his duties.

I began working with JR several times over the next month, and got to know him.  I found out that he was into music--specifically hip-hop and rap--and that his dreams were to someday work as a DJ.  I also learned that for graduation in May, he was going to surprise everybody, and walk in without using his wheelchair.   This gave me an idea: What if JR could have a special song playing when he came in? More specifically, what if JR and I could write a song specifically for that?

On a day in late April, when I was stretching JR, we came up with the lyrics to the song, and decided that the verses of the song would be for JR to rap, and the choruses would be sung by his talented classmates.  Here are the lyrics we came up with:

Start Living
by Matt Glickstein and JR Etrata

Verse 1:
Skankin' down the aisle with my buddies at my side
I look up at my mama and her face is filled with pride
Sittin' on the stage looking out at every face
Got through all the fazes, and made it to this place

Chorus:
This is not my end, this is my beginning
Listen for J-Dawg, he'll always be winning
This is not your end, this is your beginning
Listen with your heart, and start living

Verse 2:
In my future I can see it, I'll be walking down the street
People calling my name, "J-Dawg, lay down the beat."
When I roll into the party, give a shout out to my brother
Even though you're gone, we'll always be with each other

Chorus repeat

End:
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." (class of 2011 senior quote)


I then met with JR about a week later, and came up with the melody to the chorus, and the specific beat that JR wanted to use in the song.  I worked on producing the track, and gave JR a CD (with me rapping!) so he could start practicing.

A couple of weeks before graduation, I was able to bring my recording equipment into school, and record JR and his three classmates--Neidine, Chelsea, and Ceysha.  They were all very talented and incredibly quick learners--we were able to record the whole song in just over an hour.

Yesterday--May 21, 2011--JR graduated, and walked in to a standing ovation, while the original song we wrote, "Start Living" was played over the loud speakers.   Needless to say, it was a tear-jerking moment for everyone at the ceremony, and something I will never forget.

The song can be heard on my homepage or at Soundcloud, and is a free download.  Instead of making any money, we'd like to be able to get this inspirational song and message of hope to as many people as we can.  JR and I proved that anything is possible, and you can achieve your dreams. I also hope to be able to secure video from the ceremony and make this special moment available to the public.

To end, here are a few of photos of JR that we took a few days before graduation.