On Day: Music Inspired by Parkinson’s Disease. By Jeremy McDonald
This album represents one day in my 13 year battle(at the moment) with Parkinson’s disease. Each song expresses, through music composed and performed by myself, a snapshot of the different moods in my day. From the simple pleasure of waking to a beautiful sunrise to the joy of an outing with my family in nature, I have captured the positive energy of my life as it exists now. However, I also have composed several songs that reflect the deep struggles those of us with Parkinson’s disease such as isolation, loneliness and debilitating anxiety.
Having been an amateur musician since my teens and then later on a semi-professional singer/guitar player in a local rock band, it has been devastating to lose my ability to play my guitars. At times, every note was an exercise in frustration and discomfort. You may hear beautiful instrumental music, but behind the scenes I would literally sweat and tremble with the effort it took to play the simplest of musical phrases. In the end, the exertion was worth while to create such vivid melodies and sounds that I hope will find the ears of both fellow PD patients and their friends and families as well as those like minded souls who simply love good, soulful music.