‘Divine intervention’ led musician Colin Dussault to write benefit song for drummer John Adams

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Colin Dussault’s tribute music for John Adams was born on, of all days, the beloved ballpark drummer’s wa ke.

The longtime Northeast Ohio musician is popping out with “Left Centerfield-A Tribute To John Adams,” a CD launch that pays respect to Adams whereas elevating cash for his charity scholarships for the humanities. Adams died Jan. 30 after affected by a number of well being points. He was 71.

Official launch date is Friday, April 7, which is Opening Day for the Guardians at Progressive Subject.

“I used to be lucky to know him by way of the (Cleveland) Blues Society. And he took me and my daughter to a recreation years in the past,” he stated.

That day, Dussault met Adams at Nice Lakes Brewing Co., took the trolley to the sport, frolicked, and watched the drummer signal autographs. Later, they went to a country-music jam at a nook bar.

“He was superb,” Dussault stated.

Dussault and his band have been taking part in in Berea the night time of Adams’ wake on Feb. 3, and whereas onstage he known as out “Centerfield,” John Fogerty’s 1985 upbeat hit a couple of love of baseball (“We’re born once more, there’s new grass on the sector”).

Immediately, on the stage, inspiration hit.

“I made up the primary verse about John,” he stated. “I went, ‘Whoa, that was type of cool.’ “

That night time, Dussault drove by way of the Cuyahoga Valley to his Lakewood house and reworked the music.

“I rewrote that 20 instances. That was about 20 retakes, 20 edits, to get that the place it’s,” he stated. “I not often do this a lot work on one thing, nevertheless it all got here collectively so rapidly and completely, and the sponsors fell in, and even me getting a deadline of April 7 in my sights.

“When it’s presupposed to work, it really works. That is a type of issues – divine intervention.”

He and his bandmates recorded it Feb. 15.

The CD has two variations – an acoustic one and one other for radio. The latter is a little bit shorter with one fewer verse. The acoustic model is “extra heartfelt,” Dussault stated.

“I sat for hours, singing, writing, tweaking. That’s how I polished the music for myself.”

The preliminary urgent is for 1,000, however that would change.

“I began to second-guess myself – ‘Possibly I ought to simply do 500?’ I assumed as quickly as you do that you just’re going to promote, plus you need to give some away for promos. Additionally, that is a lot greater than something I’ve actually handled, by way of his enchantment, the enchantment of the baseball workforce. This will get into the large swath of Cleveland sports activities followers. And I feel it may transfer 1,000.”

He hustled for sponsorships from native corporations that “actually noticed the worth of it and have been excited for it.” Ultimately, he garnered help from shut to twenty companies, together with 5 breweries. A video launch is also deliberate.

Dussault grew up with Cleveland baseball and attended one of the crucial historic video games to ever happen within the metropolis.

In 1981, for his twelfth birthday, his dad promised to take him to a ballgame. Climate wasn’t nice, however that didn’t matter.

“It was raining, however my dad saved his phrase. ‘Oh, it’s his birthday, we gotta go.’ ” Due to the low attendance (7,290) at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Dussault stated they have been in a position to hold transferring nearer to the sector for higher seats. It was 49 levels when the sport began.

That recreation – on Could 15, 1981 – turned out to be historic. Len Barker threw an ideal recreation.

It took simply greater than two hours to play and stays certainly one of solely two good video games ever thrown by a Cleveland pitcher in Main League historical past. (Addie Joss threw the primary, in 1908.)

A buddy who went with him turned in his ticket stub for a free burger, however Dussault saved his. It’s signed, matted, framed and hanging in his workplace. These moments and mementos imply lots, nearly as a lot as what Adams meant to him and scores of Cleveland followers.

“He was only a nice individual,” Dussault stated.

To order: The CD is $13.50 plus $4 postage. A 16-page memento booklet accompanies the CD. Go surfing.

Associated protection

John Adams tribute music to be launched on Opening Day

Methods to keep in mind drummer John Adams? He wished to make folks really feel higher – Terry Pluto

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