Retired chemist, Al Vanderplow was playing pickleball when he had a sudden heart attack. Al's perspective on life and death changed a lot that day, but it wasn't until he attended a Stories That Heal workshop that his story was put into song. At the workshop, Al connected with Ella Stevens – an Interlochen singer-songwriter student – over their mutual admiration for a small bluegrass group called the Wagler Sisters. A few weeks after meeting, Ella wrote a song about Al's brush with death.
Stories That Heal will present a concert at the Garden Theater this Sunday at 5:00 pm. It’s free and you can find out more at gardentheater.org.
Stories That Heal is a Community Partnership project by the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network with funding from Arts Midwest, Michigan Arts & Culture Council & National Endowment for the Arts.