a message from C&J...

Hello all,

Meanwhile back at the ranch . . . After not nearly enough gigs, namely Las Vegas, Portland, Concord, Uncasville and Seattle, Akron and the Philippines, we are left contemplating the year's achievements. The conclusion is that we're thrilled about our reception and relieved to have established a toehold in the industry once again.

The reaction has been really fantastic and thank you all who came to the shows. For the record, we loved it just as much as you did. We can't wait to grow into the next phase. For us this would be "An Evening with Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde", in a theater as opposed to an arena, two hours as opposed to half an hour.

But having said that, we're thrilled to be doing these 60's shows with Tommy James, Peter Noone, the Buckinghams and the Grassroots. There is definitely strength in numbers. None of the above mentioned acts could pull in 8,000 people on their own, but that's what we did at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

This Summer's reunion of performers and fans has been a very fine thing. Let's hope that more of us get together in more cities next year.

I have one final thought and request. As most of you probably know by now, I have been a music teacher up here in Sun Valley for about fifteen years. My star guitar student's name is Tyler Shelly. This guy is beyond gifted, and he is only twenty years old. Two years ago he went to L. A. and studied at the Musician's Institute. He returned to Sun Valley a serious guitar slinger who could play rings around me. The fact that he had his left hand amputated in an accident at the age of twelve only makes his story more remarkable. You'll be glad to know that his hand was surgically re-attached and he regained the use of his thumb and forefinger. This enabled him to play guitar left- handed.

This story would have a happy ending right here, but for the fact that he has now been diagnosed with "PH." The letters stand for Pulmonary Hypertension and what that means is that his lungs can no longer process oxygen to his heart. He is now in the intensive care unit at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. He is wired up to every support system you can imagine and he has had a lung transplant. He is 55 poubnds lighter and weak as a kitten, but he looks like he is going to make it in time. If you have a compassionate bone in your body, please take down the address listed below and send him a card or a teddy bear or anything you can think of. It would be a wonderful thing if we could all send a deluge of cards and gifts to this young man who at the tender age of twenty has been dealt the most cruel of hands in the game of life.

His address is:

Tyler Shelly
University of Utah Hospital
50 North Medical Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84132

Our combined efforts will be a morale booster which is sorely needed.

Thank you.

My very best wishes to all of you,

Chad Stuart,

November 2004

Sadly, Tyler Shelly passed away on November 29th. Thank you for everyone who sent their words of kindness.

Previous editorials:
Chad's first editorial
Jeremy's first editorial Chad Talks About The Future Chad's Summer Vacation

An Electric Paintbox production. Copyright 2001 Frank Jason Rhoden.

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