The Power of Music, Quilts and Friendship

The healing power of music can change our lives. … It can comfort us like a warm blanket. Singer-songwriter Valerie DeLaCruz has seen firsthand that this is true.

(Left to right) Some of the women brought together by DeLaCruz’ song: Claudia May, Diane Skibinski, Coleen Stevens, Valerie DeLaCruz, Helen Eggenberger (sitting), and Merci Karr.

Two years ago, DeLaCruz, who has released three CDs of her contemporary country music, wrote a memorable song titled, “My Girlfriend’s Quilt.” The song became the basis for a musical album that celebrated the gift of friendship. “I’ve been blessed with a wonderful, fulfilling life full of friends,” says DeLaCruz. The lyrics to “My Girlfriend’s Quilt” compared the many varied pieces of fabric on a quilt to the different and unique personalities of our friends.

The cover of DeLaCruz’ CD, entitled “My Girlfriends’ Quilt.”

While she was personally inspired by the song, DeLaCruz never imagined how powerful it would be to others. At a concert, about six months after the album’s release, a woman from the audience approached DeLaCruz and wanted to thank her for writing the song. The woman, Diane Skibinski from Schenectady, N.Y., said she had heard the song on the radio and was struck by its message. At the time, Skibinski’s friend Coleen was suffering from breast cancer, and since Coleen was a dedicated quilter, Skibinski knew the song would be perfect for her. It would also give Skibinski the opportunity to express her feelings about their friendship. Skibinski not only bought the CD, she approached six mutual friends with a plan to create a quilt that would comfort Coleen during chemotherapy.

On the verge of tears, and so deeply inspired by Skibinski’s story, DeLaCruz decided to start donating $5 of the sales from “My Girlfriend’s Quilt” ($14.99) to The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organiz-ations (NABCO). “[Diane Skibinski] showed me the power of music. Knowing that the song touched the life of someone [in a way] I couldn’t even anticipate gave my music a deeper meaning,” says DeLaCruz.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information or to send donations, contact the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) at: 9 East 37th St. 10th floor New York, NY 10016 (888) 80-NABCO

Honored with awards

DeLaCruz, a resident of both Albany, N.Y., and Nashville, Tenn., makes a living as an interior design consultant, but focuses on her music, for which she has received much recognition. She was awarded the Northeast Country Music Awards’ Songwriter of the year award in both ’97 and ’98, and won the Great American Song Contest of ’99. She was recently inducted into the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame.

Since making the donations to NABCO, sales of “My Girlfriends’ Quilt” have increased by 25 percent. Knowing that there are people who are inspired by her lyrics, DeLaCruz has found new meaning in her music. “I realize that I’m not just writing for myself, but for many others,” she says.