TRIBUTES
Tesalyn Zizzy-Mustatia
April 10, 1984 - September 21, 2002
My daughter has inspired much of my writing since she left, and continues to guide me silently in my life. She Was Fire was the first of several songs I wrote in her honor. I have been fortunate to have had the power of music and songwriting to help me heal and try to make sense of her departure. I hope that my music provides others with strength, inspiration, and hope. Many of the lyrics come from a dark place of sadness. They attempt to seek meaning while making the best of the worst situation, but most of all, they look for ways to find lost our smiles and move on.
April 10, 1984 - September 21, 2002
My daughter has inspired much of my writing since she left, and continues to guide me silently in my life. She Was Fire was the first of several songs I wrote in her honor. I have been fortunate to have had the power of music and songwriting to help me heal and try to make sense of her departure. I hope that my music provides others with strength, inspiration, and hope. Many of the lyrics come from a dark place of sadness. They attempt to seek meaning while making the best of the worst situation, but most of all, they look for ways to find lost our smiles and move on.
TESS'S MEMORIAL MURAL
I would like to express my family's gratitude to Tess's friends who so freely and painstakingly created this memorial mural in Regina's Cathedral neighborhood in her honor. Although the design work took several months, the actual painting of the mural took place as part of the 2003 Cathedral Arts Festival, the same festival during which I made my debut as a solo artist at the first annual Soul Sisters’ concert. The mural was a work of love, as was Tess.
"TESSA"
Years later, in 2010, I commissioned my colleague and friend, the very talented artist, Val Moker, to paint one of my favorite photos of Tess. It was taken in our garden, and she was seventeen at the time. Val worked on the image for months, during which time she experienced a number of challenges that delayed the process. Val told me it was one of the most frustrating, but also most rewarding, pieces she had worked on. My response was that her statement pretty much described what it was like to raise Tess: never easy, but ultimately deeply rewarding. In spite of the challenges, Val succeeded in capturing the essence of Tess in her portrayal. I remain in awe of her incredible talent. "Tessa" was officially unveiled on September 21st, 2011, on the 9th anniversary of her departure.
Mary Prebushewski Zizzy
May 18, 1942 - November 13, 2006
My first musical inspiration, however, was my fashionable singing, dancing, harmonica-and-mandolin playing mother, Mary Zizzy. To quote the lyrics from the song I wrote as a tribute to her, Remember Me, “she’s the one who taught me to smile this way, she taught me how to laugh, and how to play”. She, like Tess, walks beside me now in silence. For these women in my life, I am forever grateful.