When a wounded combat soldier stepped onto the stage, everything changed. When he sang Bill Withers’ classic, his voice appeared to carry the weight of a lifetime of struggle and survival. Each note was a visceral expression of his perseverance and suffering. Before he began, he conveyed a stunning reality that hit him like a blow in the chest:
“Music is the only thing keeping me going.” And with that, he poured every ounce of his emotions into the song, each line reflecting the power that had gotten him through. By the time the final note lingered in the air, not a single person in the room had been spared—tears ran down their cheeks, and stillness hung heavily in the aftermath.
Here’s a fantastic film about a soldier who lost his leg fighting for freedom and, now that he’s home, has committed himself to utilizing his music and abilities to assist other wounded warriors.
Sal Gonzalez joined the United States Marine Corps straight out of high school. After only two months in Iraq, an IED caused him to lose part of his leg, leading to his medical release. When he came home, he switched on music.
“Having music as a tool for my recovery, I was able to put down and let go of a lot of pain,” Sal told me. “It kept me going; it kept me alive. It is life. “It’s who I am.”
Sal now works with the Wounded Warrior Project in the United States, assisting those like himself who have sacrificed their lives to ensure America’s freedom. In his audition, he sang Bill Withers’s classic “Ain’t No Sunshine.” I believe you’ll appreciate it.
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