Music Is Seth's Medicine Normal Teens, Seth Is Developmentally Delayed
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Music is Seth's medicine normal teens, Seth is developmentally delayed. They loved him after the mix-up even Unless a cure comes, he will never catch up. more. But Seth doesn't fret much. As with most Williams children, Seth is Listen to one line from ''Peaces of Me,'' eager to please. But there's nothing in the which says that ''worry only lets the mind medical journal about parents reciprocating grow thin.'' Seth knows his disorder's origin -- as much as the Links, his older brother and his mind. little sister Sarah do. And his heart. ''Seth . what can I say?'' Becky asks. That organ led his mom, Becky Link, and ''He's the son who loves so openly and freely. his dad, Chris Link, to the discovery that to Anybody. Strangers.'' their tiny son, music was medicine. Sometimes Becky fears that someone Seth was 9 months old when he had could easily take advantage of him because open-heart surgery. Morphine couldn't deaden of the generous spirit characteristic of Seth the pain in Seth's chest then. The only thing and other Williams people. that seemed to ease his pain was a little tape of There are competing factors in raising a lullabies his parents always played for him. challenged son, both parents say. They want ''The nurses were amazed,'' Becky him equally functional with the other kids in remembers. ''I was amazed. I had never his junior class at Gallatin High School, yet heard of Williams syndrome.'' they wouldn't change one curly lock on his Becky wouldn't hear of the disorder until head. Seth was in the second grade when he was Recently, at the Vanderbilt Kennedy diagnosed with Williams. And she learned Center Music Camp for people with that her son's heart condition was another Williams syndrome, Seth spent his first characteristic of Williams. That and his night away from home. And at camp, aching knees and back and his little pixie Seth's love of song was like that of the face with its button nose. other campers. In music, they made magic, Somewhere in the recesses of her own many playing and singing by ear. Some mind, Becky couldn't bring herself to admit her couldn't read music. Others had never had instincts. She felt, deep down, that something a single lesson. All, though, made the music might be wrong. of angels. Firstborn son Ethan, now 20, was always When they sang onstage at the ''Grand ahead of the curve. He sat alone at 4 months. Ole Opry'' the last night of camp, life had Seth didn't walk until he was 14 months. never been finer. Seth played the tambourine As with others who have After the couple digested the diagnosis, they and the maracas. He and the other campers Williams syndrome, Muse Seth wants you to have the poem. You take remembered that one of Seth's favorite toys received a standing ovation. is better than morphine it. Then he begins to play the real drums in his as a baby was a little plastic drum. And for a moment, Seth didn't care that room, a set of skins larger than some cars. Now their son has the real thing in his bed - his mom still has to tie his shoes and that the First he plays jazz with his brushes, then room. He plays at full volume, but it doesn't kids he meets in the hall at school too often By SYLVIA SLAUGHTER he picks up his sticks and plays blast-the- send his parents screaming. ''We've heard it for look right through him. Staff Writer windows-out rock. so long that we don't hear it,'' Chris says. Seth Link knows far more about himself Seth is just being Seth, a kid with a kinship Besides, the Links are charmed with their than they probably do about themselves. Seth has written a poem, ''Peaces of Me.'' to music typical of all kids with Williams handsome son. He was the one who talked his Never forget that in the first lines of He hopes you like it; you can tell. He leans syndrome. Williams syndrome is a little-known mom into taking tap-dancing lessons with him ''Peaces of Me,'' he's the kid who poses the toward you, waiting for a little critique, a kind genetic disorder that steals away a piece of the when he was maybe 12. question, ''Can't you tell I'm broken / and word, recognition. brain yet leaves behind a love affair with He was the one who had his father why my felings are skatterd everywhere?'' Seth Link, 17, plays the ''air drums'' while music. coaching T-ball and other sports. Drum roll, please. There's a young man he waits. That's the plus side of the syndrome. He was so cute, he was the one the crowd who really knows who he is. ''I love it,'' you say. There's a negative side. Though Seth can cheered, even when Seth was so thrilled to hit Seth forgets his air drumming, runs and play enough instruments to be a one-man band, the ball in one game that he ran to third base Reach Sylvia Slaughter at 259-8053 or at gives you, almost a total stranger, a bear hug. he can't tie his shoes. In the world of so-called instead of first. [email protected]. Music Row pitches in for Williams camp Joe Nichols Shawn Camp Nashville's Music Row community opened exploded onto the country has written its heart to people with Williams syndrome, a music scene with two multi-week No. 1 sin - material for artists ranging from genetic disorder that causes developmental gles, ''The Impossible'' and ''Brokenheartsville.'' Ricky Skaggs to Garth Brooks. disabilities, among other problems. A music Nichols was named CMT's Breakthrough He is also a multi-instrumentalist camp was held recently at Vanderbilt Artist and ACM's top new male vocalist. His who's played with artists, University for children and young adults who latest album, III, has already gone gold. including Alan Jackson, the have Williams. During the week, the campers Nichols signed autographs for the campers. Osborne Brothers and John Mindy Smith interacted with several country music artists appeared with a list of Prine. Camp participated in the and others in the industry, including: superstars on the Lifetime Network's ''Women songwriters' night. Dann Huff Scooter Carusoe is one of Music Row's most Rock'' special, and she had the lead-off single is most in-demand producers. His resume lists Faith on the acclaimed Dolly Parton tribute album, known for the hit ''Anything Hill, Keith Urban, Lonestar and Carrie Just Because I'm a Woman. Smith is most But Mine,'' recorded by Kenny Underwood. Huff's session work appears on known for her recordings of ''Jolene'' and Chesney. Carusoe also has albums by artists ranging from Madonna to ''Come to Jesus.'' Smith participated in song - penned songs for Montgomery Amy Grant to Michael Jackson. Huff produced writers' night. Gentry, among others. Carusoe the campers' 2006 camp song. Jedd Hughes Jay DeMarcus has penned many songs participated in the songwriter's is bass player for Rascal and served as the guitar player for artists such night. Sam and Annie Tate Flatts. The harmonizing trio has seen hit after as Patty Loveless and Rodney Crowell. He , a hit on the charts including their latest, ''Me and spent several hours in the recording studio with husband and wife songwriting My Gang.'' In addition to being a vocalist and the campers and played guitar for the camp team, have written for Randy bass player for the band, DeMarcus plays song track. Travis, Collin Raye, Gary Allan, Odie Blackmon guitar, keyboard and mandolin. DeMarcus 's work has been record - Joe Nichols, Reba McEntire, spent several hours with the campers in the ed by Martina McBride (''Learning to Fall''), Mark Wills, Montgomery recording studio. Lee Ann Womack George Strait (''She'll Leave You With a Gentry and Chely Wright. was a big winner at Smile'') and Lee Ann Womack (''I May Hate They gave Chely her first hit The highlight of music camp for Seth Link, second this year's Country Music Association awards. Myself in the Morning''). Blackmon helped the single with the song ''Shut Up from right, and other campers was performing on the She won single of the year with ''I May Hate campers write this year's camp song. and Drive'' and were co-writers Jay Knowles "Grand Ole Opry." The campers received a standing Myself in the Morning,'' album of the year for ' writing credits include on Kershaw's recent hit, ovation and were invited back to perform on the There's More Where That Came From and best George Strait, Chris LeDoux, Montgomery ''I Want My Money Back.'' "Opry" next year. musical event for her duet with George Strait. Gentry, Billy Ray Cyrus and Charlie Robison. The Tates participated in the PHOTOS BY GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN She surprised the campers with a visit to sign Knowles co-led the songwriting workshop for campers' songwriter's night. – SYLVIA SLAUGHTER, STAFF WRITER autographs. campers and helped write this year's camp song..