Zach Sobiech

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Zach Sobiech
Zach Sobiech
Background information
Birth name Zachary David Sobiech
Born (1995-05-03)May 3, 1995
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Lakeland, Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Genres Folk rock
Occupation(s) Singer
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 2012–2013
Associated acts A Firm Handshake

This article includes, in addition to Zach Sobiech, coverage of the activities of the band A Firm Handshake

Zachary David "Zach" Sobiech (May 3, 1995 – May 20, 2013) was an American folk rock singer-songwriter from Stillwater, Minnesota, who was a member of the band A Firm Handshake. The single "Clouds" gained extensive media attention on YouTube, prior to Sobiech's death from cancer in May 2013.[2][3] It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually becoming a hit also in UK, Canada and France.

Life and career

At age 14, Sobiech was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer which mostly strikes children.[4] CBS reported that during his treatment he underwent 10 surgeries and 20 rounds of chemotherapy.[5] He started writing music after his diagnosis.[6]

In May 2012 his doctors informed him that he had up to a year to live.[7] Sobiech recorded the song "Clouds" about his battle with cancer,[8] and released it as a YouTube video in December 2012. It went viral, surpassing 3 million views at the time of his death. It currently has more than 10 million views and counting.[9]

A Firm Handshake

A Firm Handshake
Years active 2012-2013
Labels Rock the Cause
Members Sammy Brown
Reed Redmond
Past members Zach Sobiech (2012 until his death in May 2013)

Prior to his death, Zach Sobiech formed the band A Firm Handshake with friends Samantha "Sammy" Brown and Reed Redmond.[2] A Firm Handshake's first album, Fix Me Up, was released digitally in early 2013,[10] charting in USA, UK and Canada. The debut single by A Firm Handshake is "How to Go to Confession" featuring Sammy Brown.

Death

Sobiech died on May 20, 2013 of complications from osteosarcoma, at his home in Lakeland, an eastern suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota, at age 18.[9][11] His funeral was held at the Catholic Church of St. Michael and he was later buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.[12]

Tributes

Rainn Wilson's YouTube channel SoulPancake released a documentary about Sobiech, directed by director-actor Justin Baldoni, a part of its online reality series, My Last Days.[6][13] The 22-minute episode of My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech has been watched more than 14 million times on the main SoulPancake YouTube channel.[14] A further episode entitled My Last Days: Zach Sobiech, One Year Later was created to follow up with Zach's family and friends after his death.[15]

Artists have released many tributes, including many cover versions of "Clouds" — with a prominent version of "Clouds" released on SoulPancake,[16] featuring director Rainn Wilson himself, along with Bryan Cranston, Ashley Tisdale, Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles,[3] Colbie Caillat, Phillip Phillips, Passenger, The Lumineers and many others. The music video on SoulPancake presented in collaboration with Wayfarer Entertainment was directed by Justin Baldoni, produced by Baldoni and Ahmed Kolacek, with Fouad Elgohari as associate producer and Nick Pezzillo as editor.[17] The video has been viewed over 4.7 million times on the SoulPancake YouTube channel.[18]

On December 5, 2013 a choir of 5,000 sang Sobiech's hit song "Clouds" at the Mall of America. The event was organized by the KS95 Kids Radiothon in collaboration with the Children's Cancer Research Fund and Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare.[19]

Zach's mother Laura Sobiech wrote a memoir about his life, Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way.[20] In early 2016, it was announced that Warner Bros. will be making a film based on Laura Sobiech's book. Justin Baldoni is set to direct and it will be called 'Clouds' after Zach's own song.[21]

Legacy

Sobiech's family established The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund at Children's Cancer Research Fund. In September 2015, Zach's fund reached $1 million and continues to grow.[22]

Zach Sobiech discography

Single

Single Year Peak positions Album
US
[23]		 US
Rock
[23]		 BEL
(Wa)
[24]		 CAN
[23]		 FR
[25]		 SWI
 UK
[26]		 UK
Indie
[27]
"Clouds" 2013 26 3 29 14 26 73 50 8 From the A Firm Handshake album
Fix Me Up

A Firm Handshake discography

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[28]		 US
Dig.
[28]		 US
Heat.
[28]		 US
Indie
[28]		 US
Rock
[28]		 CAN
[28]		 UK
[26]		 UK
Indie
[29]
Fix Me Up 20 9 27 4 6 22 121 24

Singles

Single Year Peak positions Album
US UK
"How to Go to Confession"
(featuring Sammy Brown)		 2013 — — TBA

References

  1. ↑ http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2013/may/christian-teen-who-inspired-with-clouds-dies-of-cancer.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_23284467/zach-sobiechs-funeral-arrangements-set
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ SoulPancake My Last Days series - Episode on Zach Sobiech on YouTube
  15. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iTImZGOtc4
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Full credits include, SoulPancake presents, in collaboration with Wayfarer Entertainment / Director/Producer: Justin Baldoni / Producer: Ahmed Kolacek / Associate Producer: Fouad Elgohari / Editor: Nick Pezzillo / with appearances by Brian Cranston, Sarah Silverman, Ashley Tisdale, Colbie Caillat, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles, Andy Grammer, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Jenna Elfman, Jack McBrayer, Lumineers, Jason Derulo, Kelly Oxford, The Mowglis, Rachel Bilson, Kina Grannis, Passenger, Creed Bratton, Tyler Hilton, Mark Duplass, Josh Gad, Jason Wade, Paul McDonald, Ed Helms, Phillip Phillips, Justin Young, Alyssa Shouse
  18. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zxXAtmmLLc
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ New book will tell the story of Zach Sobiech, who wrote the song "Clouds"
  21. ↑ http://variety.com/2016/film/news/warner-bros-fly-a-little-higher-movie-1201694182/
  22. ↑ http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/09/15/zach-sobiechs-research-fund-reaches-1-million-in-donations/
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Still Atop Hot 100, Zach Sobiech Debuts
  24. ↑ Ultratop.be/fr/ Zach Sobiech discography
  25. ↑ Lescharts.com Zach Sobiech discography
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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