In March 2010, we featured Preston Hollow resident Julie Hersh in our cover story on neighbors who have turned their lives around and are now helping others in a big way. Hersh battled severe depression that drove her to multiple suicide attempts until she underwent the controversial electroconvulsive therapy. She wrote about her experience in “Struck by Living”. Read her full story here.
Now, local musician Brice Beaird has written a song “Hold Onto Me” inspired by the book. He’ll perform at a concert 7-10 tonight at the Kessler Theater as part of the event “Mental Health America Celebrates the Arts”. Tickets are $50. Buy them online.
Beaird’s sister committed suicide 25 years ago, and he became good friends with Hersh – sort of “sister substitute”, she said in an email.
“He told me once that he spoke with his sister on the phone and she seemed fine. The next call he got about her was the call telling him about her death. In a way, I think our friendship has enabled him to ask some of the questions he never could ask his sister.”
Hersh later met Austin music producer Gary Powell through a friend. She mentioned Beaird and, coincidentally, Powell went to school with Beaird at Highland Park High School. He produced the song, adding accompaniment and the knock-out voice of Helen Darling.
At tonight’s event also will mark the debut of the “Hold Onto Me” music video. There’s also an auction featuring local artwork. Proceeds from the show will benefit MHA, providing education, support and advocacy for mental health.
