Tulsa Songwriter Contributes To Friday's Juvenile Diabetes Concert

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsan is one half of a song writing collaboration born on the Internet. The lyrics are from Tulsa, the music composed in Minnesota, joined in cyberspace, to be performed at a showcase for young talent at the Doubletree Hotel.

It will all benefit a great cause.

Tucker Hopper and Nial Hay are rehearsing a song they wrote for Elisa Coday's birthday. The lyrics go like this, "only three years old, a little girl all alone, sitting in that room."

Elisa was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age three.

"It was hard," said Summer Coday. "We shed a lot of tears, and didn't quite know what to do."

Elisa is now 7 and in first grade, and she's just part of the story of a song-writing pair. Tucker and Nial have written and even recorded lots of songs over the last year.

"We actually just met in person on Friday," said Tucker Hopper.

They've been communicating over the Internet emailing and video chatting. One thing they decided early on in this song writing collaboration was that they wanted their music to stand for something.

That's why the song "She's Ready To Go" about Elisa is so important. They've put together a showcase of young talent to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

While we talked young musicians stopped in to rehearse or check the layout.

Elisa's mom said she was so pleasantly surprised all these young people were so committed to doing something for kids they don't even know.

"We wanted to help make a difference, anyway we could by music," Tucker said. "This is a good way to start."

The showcase begins at 7 p.m. Friday at the Doubletree Downtown. Admission is $5, and half the proceeds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.