 Nashville, TN / Raleigh, NC (April 7, 2014) – Singer/songwriter JOHNNY ORR shares the heartache of Autism and the hope for a cure in his new single and video, “We’ll Get By (The Autism Song).” The release coincides with Autism Awareness Month and the track is available for purchase now on iTunes. The single is available to radio via CDX Vol. 592 and Airplay Direct. A portion of the song’s proceeds benefit Blooming With Autism, an organization founded in 2011. BWA‘s goals are to unite the Autism Community and provide the tools, resources, awareness and advocacy necessary for families affected by the condition.
Even those untouched by Autism cannot help but be moved – and inspired – by Orr’s poignant lyrics:
Maybe I don’t speak too well, but I’m coming outta my shell
And I like playing by myself if you can’t tell
I like to go to school, yeah I’m a miracle, and I’m glad to be alive
If you’ll wait patiently, well then eventually,
I will understand the words that you’re saying to me
My Autism, is like a prison, that I’m in
“A friend of mine asked me to write the song in 2012,” recalls Orr, a North Carolina native. “Candi Spitz and I became friends on Facebook, and she has twin sons who are autistic.” Spitz, now the Vice-President of Blooming With Autism, believed that a commercially-released song would help further Autism education – and as a motivated mother she wasn’t shy in asking Orr for his help. “Awareness is key, and I believe Johnny’s song will open a lot of eyes,” she says.
“It actually took a little over a year before anything came to me,” notes Johnny. “But I woke up one morning with the first couple of lines just dancing in my head.” A short while later, after researching more about the developmental disorder, Orr finished the song. For Spitz, hearing the song for the first time was a moment she will never forget. “God placed these lyrics in his heart,” she states. “Even though I have listened to this song at least a thousand times I still can’t make it through without crying.” For Candi, they are tears of happiness, tears of sadness – and tears because, for her, it is real.
Her six-year-old sons, Brendan and Jaden, were born perfectly healthy; however, within hours of receiving their 12-month vaccines they started acting “odd.” A few days later, it appeared that the boys were back to normal. But things were far from normal and by the age of 17 months the twins were regressing; losing the ability to walk, talk or feed themselves. The boys would no longer make eye contact and they began rocking back and forth for at least 12 hours a day. For Spitz, her babies were “gone.” Candi fought back the only way she knew how, by spending hours every day in research, planning and prayer. While her sons were in therapy at least eight hours a day, she became actively involved in the Autism Community. Now, after years of treatment, the family enjoys more days of progress than regression, and more smiles than tears. Having this single and video released is another move forward for Candi.
“We’ll Get By (The Autism Song)” is from Orr’s forthcoming EP, DOWN SOUTH (John & John Entertainment). |
