Local lawyer finds inspiration in his cancer diagnosis
Folk festival volunteer records album to say ‘thanks for being part of my life’
Joseph Schuck doesn’t know how much time he has left.
But for his nearly 11-year-old daughter Katie, he hopes he can somehow live forever.
In January, the 47-year-old Calgary lawyer, a partner with Miles Davison LLP where he specializes in estate litigation, found out he had pancreatic cancer.
That’s when Schuck knew he needed to put his talents to use before it was too late. Not his legal talents, however, but those of the musical variety.
He says he wants to “do some fun things just to get as many life experiences that I haven’t had or maybe some extra ones, just so that when I do die people can say, ‘He lived a full life,’ despite it being shorter than everybody expected it to be.”
An amateur guitarist since he was in Grade 5, Schuck plays in multiple cover bands for fun, including a law firm band called House of Lords. But he’s always dreamed of professionally recording his own original music.
So when he got his diagnosis, he went to work with the help of his bandmates and recorded an album. It’s called Flower Girl, which is dedicated to Katie.
“She’s a really good daughter and I wanted to make sure that she had a record of me singing and playing guitar, of my original songs,” he said.
“It was very important for me to sort of get my ducks in a row and do something that will last longer than I will. I’ve got to make sure she knows that I love her and I care for her and some of my songs really, really should get that home to her.”
Schuck describes the music as a mix of roots, rock and country, parlaying his “love of Dylan, Petty, Young and Cash into songs about love and loss.”
A longtime Calgary Folk Festival volunteer and board member, Schuck will also be performing his songs in concert May 18 at Calgary Folk Festival Hall to celebrate the album release.
“It’s going to be a really, really nice evening,” he said of the event, dubbed Schuckfest, which costs $40 per ticket and includes an album CD. “We’re raising all our money for the folk festival and their charitable events, so they can use whatever money we raise to help continue to bring music to our community.”
Schuck said the evening is as much about fulfilling a dream as it is a chance to show his gratitude to those around him.
“I wanted my daughter to both listen and have a physical copy of a CD I did, as well as hear me perform in concert, which I don’t think she’s ever had the chance,” he said. “I’m playing for all my family and friends as well as anyone else who wants to come because whether they knew me or not, I want to be able to say goodbye, thanks for being part of my life.”
Schuck said he’s been told he’ll live as long as his liver continues to function. Once it fails, “that’s gonna get me.”
He’s also encouraged Katie to explore her own musical talents and hopes she’ll one day take to guitar just like him.
“If she can get over her shyness, she’s going to be spectacular some day,” he said.