Hi my name is Renee. I am not sure how to tell you this catastrophic story but my goal is to share everything I have learned so that we can help each other get through this or find some help and or support. Do you know anyone with Alzheimer’s disease? Do you have any ideas and suggestions that you would like to share? Please write me rschyjer@gmail.com with any comments, questions, ideas, and stories. I married the love of my life. He was brilliant, a genius in fact, handsome, and so loving and giving, the sweetest person you could ever meet. He was an amazing songwriter, musician and singer. We would have conversation until the early hours of the morning and being together was heavenly.
After 35 years of loving each other and marriage, we got the horrible news that Rick had Alzheimer’s disease at age 60. But 60? It is such a young age 60. Men even have kids at 60, my dad did. People don’t retire until 65. Getting this news was the saddest day of my life.
As Shannon said, the other day, the book “It’s Not A Rumour” is on track to be published by Rare Bird Publishing in the Fall of 2021.
This all started in 2014-2015 when Rick was posting his stories on Facebook and Ron Manus of Alfred Music Publishing commented that he should have a blog or write a book. Ron invited us to the NAM show, which was very cool to discuss the project. It proved to be too much work to pull the stories out of Rick for Alfred Music.
After that, I thought that it would be important to get Rick’s stories in a book and at the same time help him recall memories. We had so much material; his illustrious music career, songwriting, childhood, the Alzheimer’s and our love story. Telling Shannon his stories did help his memory improve a little even though it made him emotional while working on it.
I researched co-writers and bought a book on how to write a memoir. I realized that I needed help. I contacted the L.A. Writer’s Group. Nicole Criona recommended several co-writers. We met with one at the Daily Grill in Studio City. He was arrogant and said that he would send over a couple of typists to take down Rick’s stories and then he would develop those stories into a book. Rick did not like that guy. Then I went back to Nicole and she recommended Shannon.
We met Shannon at Aroma Coffee in Studio City we had an instant connection. Shannon is beautiful inside and out and she “saw” Rick. She truly understood his vision for the book. She wanted to do justice to Rick’s vision and she did. What is amazing about Shannon is how hard she works, how she respects the stories, how much research she did and she stayed true to Rick’s vision.. She helped Rick put across his stories that were; funny, heartfelt, interesting, unbelievable, and so cool. I am positive that Rick would be proud of this book.
During the process, we would get chapters from Shannon. Rick and I would cry at some parts because the truth of his disease hit us and we cried because this was really happening to him. We laughed out loud at some chapters, we were blown away by all the life that he had lived. This book became the best way to preserve Rick’s memories which were fading. We enjoyed every minute that we spent with Shannon. She is truly a gem. We are so lucky to have found her.
The pictures above are of Shannon and me celebrating the culmination of all our hard work and dedication to this project. This book will finally be published.
Rick and I at my cousins anniversary party years ago. I don’t remember how many years but it was prior to March 2016 which was the year Rick had the brain bleed. He was wearing his stage outfit and his eyes were clear and not vacant like now. He was still Rick and not Alzheimers Rick. He hadn’t morphed into what he is now which is heart wrenching and sad. He would hate himself now and I know him, he would.
I hate Alzheimer’s for ravaging his beautiful brain.
Seeing him in this picture makes me remember what he used to be like; strong, smart, witty and loving.
You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN No matter what you may try You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN Bad boys never die They just fade away
Up and down the city From South Street to the outer limit Urban girls are pretty Bad boys gotta gotta gota get down Across the countryside Pretty girls are giving bad boys hard times
But you CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN No matter what you may try You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN Bad boys never die They just fade away
Bad girls get crazy Good girls sit and pout Old boys get lazy And sit another out Big Boys put on gloves And punch each other out Good boys fall in love bad boys scream and shout
You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN No matter what you may try You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN Bad boys never die
You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN No matter what you may try You CAN’T KEEP A BAD BOY DOWN Bad boys never die They just fade away
Ed Stassium, the engineer for the “Boy” record and one of Freddy’s (Rick’s) associates and friends, sent me the master tape for “Boy” from 12/01/1981. The songs listed are:
Show a Little Emotion
Too Good to be True
Can’t Keep a Bad Boy Down
Show a Little Emotion (Acoustic Guitar)
Everyone affiliated with Rick (Freddy) has been so kind sending their best and asking about him and some have even sent me memorabilia. I am truly lucky to know you ALL as was he.
I am going to convert this audio tape to digital and will share once I have it.
