A touching song about this composer/author’s older brother, Marc, who is living with terminal brain cancer. Despite many obstacles and uncertainties during his life, he had the courage to pursue and accomplish his goals – educationally, personally, financially, and professionally.   His odyssey began in a paper mill town in western Maine and it eventually took him to the San Francisco area where he currently resides with his lovely wife, a woman of courage herself who escaped Vietnam back in the 1970s and made her way to the USA.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

No vocals or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

No vocals (except for background vocals) or instrumental melody line which allows for listener to sing with the arrangement as if he/she were the vocalist.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Based on images of refugees fleeing their country during war stricken Kosovo back in 1999, this instrumental expresses the despair and sadness of people having to leave their homes and all their belongings because of the killing and destruction.  At the same time, however, it evokes a bit of hope for something positive to arise from the ashes.  Arranged and performed by Bill Cronin.

Instrument replaces vocals.

Based on a dream the author/composer had a few months after the passing of his mother.  In the dream she was being waked in a funeral parlor, got up from the casket looking perfectly healthy, and went over to her son, i.e. me, who was talking with someone to tell him that she was okay.   Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Country/Pop tune with great female vocals.  The song questions at what point a relationship is over. Is love an illusion? A game of pretend?  The singer would prefer to be alone rather than be involved in a lukewarm love affair.  Arranged by Shahe Sinanoglu and sung by Trish Costa.

A warm, touching song based, with some changes, on a poem of an unknown author.  The song is not a farewell, but rather a “see you later” type of song.  It expresses thanks for the love and joy he was given in life and a sense of consolation for those mourning.  I first heard this poem read at the funeral of my brother-in-law, Constantine Taleas, and was truck by the tenderness of the words.  From these words the composed melody just seemed to flow.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Lush and elegant children’s song, male vocal, wondrous synth work.  A song about a dad talking to his daughter trying to find out why she is so sad.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Tender and heart warming song of thanks to one’s mother for the gifts of life, love, and family.  Originally sung at author/composer’s mother’s funeral by Lorraine Louvat in December of 1982.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Easy-going, folk song about a childhood friend who passed away from lymphoma. He was the class clown who always made people laugh and brightened up their day. He had joined the military, sobered up, straightened out his life, married, and had young children at the time of his death.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.

Somewhat of a folk song, this is a warm, nostalgic tribute to this author/composer’s father who was alcoholic, a very hard worker, lived for his family, and showed his love through his works, not his words.

Arranged, recorded and performed by Jim West of Sparta, TN.

A children’s lullaby intended to allay the fears of a child.  Originally written for a 92 year old man, Joe Ingemi, in a nursing home who would cry before going to bed.  He missed his wife who had pre-deceased him.  Arranged and performed by Jim West.