Photo credit: Staten Island Advance/Maura Yates | Article via silive.com
Like a genie in a bottle, for kids coping with life-threatening illnesses, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has made another dream come true.
This time, it was for Tracy Pulla, 17, of Westerleigh, an aspiring singer who got the chance to belt out her own songs, with help from a professional songwriter, and have them recorded at Manhattan’s Downtown Music Studios in SoHo.
Tracy was diagnosed at 10 with lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that affects various parts of the body. When her condition flares, it can be very painful, and has caused her to miss school. But through it all, she’s worked hard to always push herself forward, said her father, Diego.
The family learned about Make-A-Wish through Charla de Lupus, a program at the Hospital for Special Surgery designed for teens who are coping with the disease.
"She's happy doing it. She’s singing all the time, singing everywhere,” said her mother, Marita. Sometimes she’ll ask, “Please, Tracy, can you be quiet?"
“But when I hear her singing, I know she’s OK."
Studio Chief Engineer Zach Hancock explained the wish was made possible by Jeremy Yohai of Downtown Music Publishing, who reached out to Shae Taylor, a music producer who has worked with Ne-Yo and Beyonce, and who made the music tracks available for Tracy to sing on top of. Songwriter Wynter Gordon came on board, to lend her expertise crafting Tracy’s song. Ms. Gordon has worked with Mary J. Blige, and is currently featured in Flo Rida’s song "Sugar."
The rock star treatment started when a limo arrived to whisk Tracy, her parents, and sisters, Mary and Pamela, from their home to Manhattan, and continued with a two-night stay at The Roosevelt Hotel near the studio, which counts among its clients Tom Jones, Colbie Callait, and Roberta Flack.
After she picked out four of a dozen prerecorded melodies, Tracy sat with Ms. Gordon at a computer, going over ideas for lyrics and practicing over the background track.
After recording into the night, she will return today to finish the songs, and will end up with mp3s of at least two completed tracks, which she plans to plug on her MySpace and Facebook pages.
A graduate of McKee High School, she will attend New York University in the fall, to study mechanical engineering.
A music career, though, has always been a dream. “If something comes after this, I don’t know,” Tracy said.
“If nothing comes of this, she’s going to college!” her mother, quickly interjected. “She’ll have to finish college even if she’s famous.”
Said her proud dad, “Christina Aguilera, she better be careful, because Tracy’s coming around.”
For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or to find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.metrony.wish.org.