~ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS SONG
WILL BE DONATED TO CITY OF HOPE~
www.cityofhope.org
In July of 2019, our family was hit with some news. My mom, Becky Escañuelas, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Additionally, the cancer had spread to her stomach and lungs, labeling the status as stage 4. As a family we were overwhelmed with emotion. Personally, it took me a long time to really digest the news.
My mother has always been the strong patriarchy of our family and in this situation she kept her spirits high and decided to tackle this cancer head on. She went through 4 rounds of chemo over the span of 3 months and went into surgery in December to help take out a lot of the cancer. The surgery was a success, but my mother and our family still have a long road ahead of us in 2020.
As we close 2019, my mom said, “2020 is all about taking my life back.” She’s the strongest woman I know and I wanted to do something special for her. Our family had also lost three amazingly strong woman in the second half of 2019 as well: Jeri Gonzalez, Rosie Escañuelas, and Tillie Escañuelas. This song may have been made for my mother, but I also wanted to dedicated to them.
When I was younger, my mom would sing this song by Patsy Cline. She would really only sing the first couple lines and then break off into something else, but that main hook always stuck with me. This song has always reminded me of her, so back in October, I asked Gabe to help me make a cover version for my mom as a gift.
We recorded the track at our home studio on weeks when I was not in Fontana with my family going in and out of hospitals. We finished the song on Dec 20th and I gave it to me mom the next day. I asked her what charity she wanted us to donate to with the proceeds from the song, and she was quick to request City of Hope; a group that has helped us throughout this entire journey and continues to help us as my mom continues chemo treatment (
www.cityofhope.org).
2019 has been a roller coaster of a year, but those words of my mom proudly shouting, “2020 is the year I’m taking my life back” ring so true in my ears and in my heart, I know whatever comes next we can tackle it together. Stay true to yourself and to those you love. I hope you enjoy this song and look forward to more music coming from us throughout the next couple months. We have big plans for 2020.
-Michael
released January 1, 2020
Lyrics by Willie Nelson
Cover based on the version performed by Patsy Cline
Music by nobody but you
Produced and recorded by Michael Paul Escñuelas & Gabriel Rodriguez
nobody but you is:
Michael Paul Escañuelas
Gabriel Rodriguez
Danny Meigh
Ryan Ohanessian
Mixed and mastered by Michael Paul Escñuelas
Artwork by Michael Paul Escañuelas
Recorded at The Lions’ Den located in Historic Filipino Town in Los Angeles, CA
Made with love for Becky Escañuelas
Dedicated to the amazing women we lost this year:
Jeri Gonzalez
Rosie Escañuelas
Tillie Escañuelas
