Light in father's eyes inspires professor's CD

(Belleville, 01/18/2012) Loyalist College professor Joe Callahan takes time away from his guitar to teach at the college. Photo by Mike Wobschall

By Mike Wobschall

After watching his father struggle through a stroke a few years back, Joe Callahan thought he’d never witness the “light” in his father’s eyes again.

Callahan’s father survived the heart scare and inspired Joe to create the title to his upcoming CD Watching the Light.

“My father had this sparkle in his eyes and I consider that to be the light,” says Callahan, a Loyalist College journalism professor. “It started out about him but then it ended up being about family and relationships.”

It has been a long work in progress for Callahan and his band. They started recording last October, but different schedules and availability made it hard to record together.

“Even though I planned it well in advance, and how it was going to go, it’s still been pretty demanding. But it’s amazing what I’ve learned from the process.”

Although the band wasn’t able to record the track together, they did get the opportunity to record three of their 11 songs “live from the floor”.

Callahan admitted that it was tough not being able to record with the crew. He has been writing lyrics, strumming his guitar and voicing those lyrics by himself since he was a kid. So Callahan’s band recorded their bits and sent it to him to be incorporated into the CD.

“I remember as a kid, singing out in the barn after watching an Elvis Presley movie and fantasizing.”

And it’s that particular love for music that inspires Callahan’s productivity.

“I love music because music brings people together in a way nothing else does. Everyone remembers that concert where everyone felt they were together. People can relate to the music in whatever way they will and hopefully they’ll like mine.”

The difficulty creating one CD was enough of a struggle and the idea of another CD isn’t in the cards quite yet for Callahan.

“My nephew asked if I would do another one and I said that this one wasn’t even done yet. And that making another isn’t high on my list.”

Although Callahan doesn’t intend to make a second CD, he hasn’t put down his guitar. He admitted that he will continue to play gigs and perform around the Quinte area, at least a couple of times every month.

The CD was released at Greenley’s Bookstore here in Belleville earlier this month.

You can get a copy at Greenley’s, Sams music store in the Quinte Mall and at the Loyalist College Bookstore.

For more information on his CD visit www.watchingthelight.ca