Joshua’s father Ron suggested using two of his son’s favorite songs, Jackson’s “Good Time” and Osbourne’s “No More Tears” to lure him out of hiding. “I heard them blaring ‘No More Tears’, ” Ron says, “and it was a very short time after that, we heard they ... had found him.”
Alan Jackson hasn’t commented on the story, but this isn’t the first time music has “saved” someone. Think of how music affects our lives. Celebration songs: first-love “our” songs, prom themes, weddings, babies, anniversaries.
Sometimes music speaks for us when the words just won’t come.
Music has played a huge role in my young friend Kyle’s life, the 21-year-old son of my dear friends Cindy and Geno. Kyle was born with Fragile X Syndrome, a form of autism. Bright lights, sudden loud sounds and transitions from one location to another can irritate him, but music has a calming effect.
He insists the radio be tuned to K99.1FM to listen for me, his pal “Nancy Wilson” (never just my first name, always both) and anything by Alan Jackson. Whenever I see Kyle, he always asks, “Hey, Nancy Wilson, where’s Alan Jackson?” As part of the game, AJ has been in a variety of places, my purse, the trunk of my car, at my house doing dishes or sometimes in Kyle’s pocket. Kyle always breaks into a huge grin and says, “No, he’s not! Where is he?” Several years ago, when Alan was in concert at the Nutter Center, I told him about Kyle. When I explained how his music sometimes prevents meltdowns and brings joy to Kyle’s life, AJ smiled that crooked smile of his and carefully autographed a CD “to my best buddy, Kyle.” The CD has long since worn out, but the autograph will forever be one of Kyle’s treasures. Once again, Alan Jackson to the rescue.
Readers can contact Nancy Wilson, a morning-radio personality at WHKO-FM (K99.1), by email through k99online.com.
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