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A new CD by
Home Health Aide Keith Burroughs will benefit the HomeCare & Hospice
Foundation.
Burroughs, known as the “Music Man” in the Genesee and Wyoming
county offices, has pledged 25 percent of the profit from his album
“Shelter of the Cross.”
The album contains the song, “Can You Hear?” which was inspired by
Burroughs’ experiences with Hospice patients. While not a licensed
music therapist, Burroughs and his guitar have been making visits to
homes for 14 years, providing a musical outlet for patients.
“I started singing ever since
I can remember. Jokingly I say that I came out of my Mother's womb
singing ‘Hear I Am Baby.’ I started playing guitar when I was about
11. Back around 1995, I acquired an Atari computer with some music
editing software, and that opened up a new world for me. I started
working for Hospice providing music for the patients (music therapy) and
have been doing it ever since,” he said.
Burroughs -- who holds down another job, volunteers time at nursing
homes, runs a DJ service and delivers Elvis-grams -- serves only a
limited number of patients and only in the northern parts of the
agency’s service area.
The one-of-a-kind aide
served hospice patient Jim Bowman, of the Batavia area, until his death
this month. Mr. Bowman said the Music Man’s singing and guitar playing
reminded him of childhood memories.
“When I was seven or eight years old, a distant cousin of my mother
used to come around and he played like Keith. When we were moving he
came, there were a lot of people there helping us move and they really
enjoyed his music,” he said during his final weeks.
His visits provided Mr. Bowman an opportunity to enjoy live music in his
home again, which he said “breaks up the week..”
‘I hum along with the old songs,” he said adding that he preferred
not to sing.
Bowman’s daughter, Rebecca, said “Hospice has been wonderful,
allowing Dad to stay at home. Everyone is very caring and supportive.”
Burroughs said he is hoping that by donating some of the proceeds form
the CD, he can help HomeCare & Hospice provide care and support to
even more patients.
The
CD can be purchased through the Batavia HomeCare & Hospice office
(1-877-277-2615) for $8 or two for $15. It can also be purchased online
at www.kbmusicman.com and there
is an additional $2 charge for shipping. The song “Can You Hear?”
can be heard on the website. The title song from “Shelter of the
Cross,” as well as other songs from the CD, can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/kbmusicman.
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