Video: Musician Killed in Tragic Accident Receives National Music Award

Video: Musician Killed in Tragic Accident Receives National Music Award

Widow seeks to continue legacy with posthumous CD, song rights as one-year wedding anniversary approaches

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Sarah Tallman announced today that her late husband, Chris Tallman, a San Francisco musician who performed and composed under the name Matthew Chase, has posthumously won the 2008 Independent Singer-Songwriter Association (ISSA) Songwriting Contest Lyrics of the Year award for his song "Believe."

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mcm/35897/

Chase, 33, wrote "Believe," a tender and poignant love song, last spring for his then bride-to-be, Sarah. In April 2008, just five months after the couple's Nov. 15, 2007 beachfront wedding, he was killed off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, when a rogue wave capsized the shark diving vessel he was aboard.

Despite her husband's death, Tallman continued to support his music, submitting him into the ISSA contest.

"'Believe' is such an appropriate song to win the 2008 ISSA Song Contest, made even more special with the timing so close to our one-year anniversary," said Tallman, who is staying with her parents in Charlotte, N.C. "Since his death, 'Believe' has certainly taken on a completely new meaning for me. It's almost as if he knew what was going to happen."

In addition to his Lyrics of the Year award, Matthew Chase was a final nominee in the ISSA contest for Single of the Year ("Feel You Near") and Best Pop Song ("All You Gave"). All three songs appeared on Matthew Chase's third CD, Everything, a combination of alternative rock and pop that was completed just weeks before his fall 2007 wedding.

ISSA judges selected Matthew Chase from thousands of talented artists who entered this competition, which supports the disciplines of songwriting, musicianship and performance by recognizing outstanding, independent singer-songwriters. A panel of music professionals -- who are knowledgeable in songwriting, the music industry and today's musical trends -- judges submissions. Songs are judged on composition, musicality, melody, marketability, lyrics and originality.

"Matthew's music is pleasing, and his lyrics are moving and inspirational," said Shyla Nibbe, president of the Independent Singer Songwriters Association. "It was an honor to announce him as the judges' choice for winner of the Lyrics category in the 2008 Independent Singer Songwriters Song Contest."

Chase's debut CD, Tomorrow, featured a compilation of eight primarily acoustic-based songs, experimenting with several different textures and musical styles. Building on this achievement, Chase released a more expansive and edgy CD, Remember Why, in 2006.

Tallman has plans to not only compile a fourth CD, Everything & After, which will be a medley of all Chase's music, but she also plans to offer some of his songs to recording artists.

"I will always treasure this endearing love song Chris wrote for me, especially as the one-year anniversary of our wedding approaches," Tallman added. "My greatest hope is that the world will get to know Matthew Chase as the singer/songwriter I knew him to be."

Matthew Chase Music can be found at www.matthewchasemusic.com and http://cdbaby.com/cd/matthewchase4.

Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/mcm/35897/
Source: Matthew Chase Music

CONTACT: Kim Banks for Matthew Chase Music, +1-704-953-9303,
kim@simkocomm.com

Web Site: http://www.matthewchasemusic.com/

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