Each year, I post this special recording of “Star Bright” in honor of my Mother, who passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on December 14, 2007. My family asked that I sing at her Memorial Service, but that was just not going to be a possibility… you see, between the shock of her death, and being the person who was handling getting all of her gifts to the family organized and wrapped… I was pretty much an emotional train wreck.

I knew there was no way I’d get through a live performance.  I also knew that I wouldn’t be able to provide an original piece, due to Church rules, so I decided to record a duet that my Mother and I performed together many times at Christmas over the years. Sometimes, she would accompany us on guitar.  Others, I would accompany us on piano.  We performed this in both the English and Spanish versions, and some of my most revered memories are of our time together working on this song.

This was recorded the night before her funeral and is, hands down, the most difficult recording for me (emotionally) to date.  I had not played or sung this song in a very long time, had no sheet music to go from, and was in tears during the piano tracking.  Even though it’s not perfect, this is my Dad’s favorite recording, and one of mine. My gift to you – Merry Christmas.

———————————————

“Star Bright” Words and Music by Lorin F. Wheelwright