In a music career spanning four decades, bass guitarist Kenny Passarelli, father to eighth grader Maria, has played with more than a few celebrities.

 

He’s on a first-name basis with superstars like Joe Walsh, Elton John, Dan Fogelberg, Stephen Stills and Hall and Oates. He’s toured worldwide and made a living from creating music. Now he'll hear one of his own songs in a very personal and intimate setting as the Grade 8 choir performs Came into My Life at the 2013 graduation ceremony. For Kenny, donating the song was a very special gesture that honors the school his daughter calls home.

 

"I love Graland," he says simply. "Graland has been an amazing education for my daughter since she came here in fifth grade. The music department is outstanding in my opinion."

 

Earlier this week, Kenny joined music teacher Josh Gaffga and the Grade 8 choir to rehearse the song. Drawing on years of musical experience, he introduced ideas for vocalization and gave advice for performing.

 

"Don't worry about how you look when you sing," he told students. "Think of Stevie Wonder at the piano. He’s blind and he doesn't know how he looks when he sings, and his enunciation is flawless. Over exaggerate and you'll be surprised at how well it sounds."

 

At Kenny’s request, Josh was honored to write the choir parts that harmonize with the song's melody. When he first heard the arrangement, Kenny was blown away. "It's phenomenal. He went way beyond my expectations," he said. 

 

To conclude the rehearsal, the choir performed the song while Kenny, the renowned entertainer, accompanied on the piano. After the final notes played out, he told students, "It sounds awesome - so, so good."

 

"When Kenny offered our choir the chance to perform the song, I knew we had an amazing opportunity on our hands!” remembers Josh. “After listening to the lyrics, it was clear that Came into My Life had to be our graduation song. The chorus sings 'A photograph won't show all of the love we will know,' and I realized that with the prevalence of smartphone cameras and the social network Instagram in kids' lives, they could really connect with the realization that an image or other digital memory could never sum up the powerful connection between friends at this age."

 

As a special keepsake, the song will be recorded by Grammy Award winning sound engineer Clark Hagan and offered to all 2013 graduates. 
 

“As a family, we know these kids so well and to add their beautiful voices to the song is incredible," Kenny says humbly.