Walking down the street in early 1996, an idea suddenly came to John Beltzer that would deeply touch many lives. As a way of providing individuals with health challenges with an ongoing source of comfort and joy, and a therapeutic tool to help with the healing process, he set out to create personalized one-of-a-kind songs for them.
The very first “song of love” was for 5-year-old cancer patient Brittany, a patient at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. After receiving her song, her mother put her on the phone, and with the cutest little voice she simply said, “Thank you for my song.” After that defining moment, there was no turning back!
John quickly got busy gathering a team of volunteer songwriters and performers from across the country to compose and record the unique songs. The Songs of Love Foundation was founded soon thereafter, the only organization of its kind.
The pool of musical artists who have participated has grown to more than 1000 songwriters, lyricists, instrumentalists and vocalists who have experienced the excitement of being able to give back with the talents they were given. When you take into account that hundreds of schools, companies and charitable groups have lent their voices to songs as well, the symphony includes many thousands of people.
Songs of Love is dedicated to the memory of John’s twin brother Julio who wrote and recorded the composition ‘Songs of Love’ just two months before he died on April 12, 1984. This was his gift to all of us.