Musicians Create Songs of Love

Musicians Create Songs of Love

By Tiffany Razzano

Just two years ago, Todd Shusterman's college band, Third Floor John, was the farthest thing from his mind. After all, the last time the group had done anything together as a complete band was in June of 1974, at the wedding of one of the band members. This was just one month after four of the five graduated from Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Then, Shusterman, the band director and director of the television studio at South Side Middle School since 1979, received an email that would bring the group back together and change his life. In 2004, Central College's alumni association called up guitarist Steve McCombs, who still resides in Pella, asking if the group would be interested in performing for their 30-year-reunion. McCombs reached out to the rest of the group and before they knew it they had agreed to perform.

The group had reunited for a previous reunion, their 10-year, but Shusterman, the band's drummer, was unable to attend. The band then lost touch over the next 20 years. Naturally, they were all incredibly nervous for their September 2004 reunion.

Shusterman came in from Long Island, Ted Grubb flew in from Colorado and Steve Mark from Arlington to join McCombs and Terry Van Zee, both of whom were still in Iowa. They had recorded an album of covers in college, mostly acoustic songs by the likes of John Denver and Jim Croce, as well as medleys of songs by Carole King and Chicago. Prior to the reunion, Mark had transferred the album from vinyl to a CD so everyone could hear the music and practice on their own. They didn't actually play together until the day before the show.

"That first rehearsal was like we had just left rehearsal the day before," Shusterman said. "Thirty years was nothing. It was like magic. It all came back."

After the show that weekend, they realized they had something too special to forget about again. Mark had been working with the Songs of Love Foundation for about six years, writing individualized songs for children with illnesses. The group decided to work with the program as a full band.

"The songs he'd done were so emotional," Shusterman said. "It was a way for us to stay together and have our own personal reunion one time a year. It's not about the money; the music is for the kids and for the group."

For the past two summers, the group flew out to Mark's home in Arlington, Texas, spending a week writing, recording and mastering songs for Songs of Love. Each year they were given profiles of two children. The profile listed the child's likes and dislikes, such as colors, hobbies and television shows, as well as family member and pet names, so the group could make the songs as personalized as possible.

"Out of everything I've done throughout the 30 years since college in music, nothing compares to the feel of being with the guys, doing this music for kids," Shusterman said. "We get no money and it doesn't boost our ego. It's just five guys who have something together."

The group is already making plans for the summer of 2007. They hope to go back to Pella, Iowa this time, where McCombs is building an addition on his home that can be used as a recording studio. They also hope to go back to Central College to perform a show on campus.

"I've donated money to funds, but that doesn't compare to actually doing something," Shusterman said. "We have talents that make a difference, that are a way to improve these kids lives."

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