Steve Bottrill routinely tells the story of his near-fatal motor vehicle crash as a motivational speaker, but now his message about embracing life has been put to music.
Steve Bottrill routinely tells the story of his near-fatal motor vehicle crash as a motivational speaker, but now his message about embracing life has been put to music.
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The Chatham man’s story is featured in the song Tear Drops From A Phoenix, a collaboration between London author and motivational speaker David Carruthers and St. Thomas musician Justin Maki.
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The song recently took second place in the Aeolian Hall national song writing contest.
Bottrill, who was in a coma following a horrific crash in March of 1996, wrote in his book, Overcoming Impossible Odds: The Steve Bottrill Story, how he could hear a discussion about his organs being harvested, but he couldn’t make a sound.
He never imagined his story of survival and going on to become a motivational speaker would never be put to music.
“It’s just amazing,” Bottrill said of song.
“The first time I heard it, it just brought tears to my eyes.”
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Carruthers recalls hearing one of Bottrill’s talks about seven years ago and thinking, “This would make a great documentary.”
He said life got busy and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and like many things, the idea got side-tracked.
However, in the spring of 2023, Carruthers was talking to Maki about a potential documentary about Bottrill’s life, but wanted to make it a song title first.
Carruthers came up with Tear Drops From A Phoenix while thinking about how Bottrill shedding tears while in a coma got his doctor’s attention.
“When he told me he cried I’m just like, ‘Oh my God’ and the author mind in me thought, Tear Drops From A Phoenix,’” Carruthers said.
He said believes the visual of a magnificent, mystical fiery Phoenix bird contrasted with a tear drop would make a fantastic book cover or music poster.
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Maki describes his friend as “a bit of a crazy guy” who always has “ideas flowing in his head.”
However, when Carruthers told him Bottrill’s story “I was taken back, I was inspired.”
While collaborating with Carruthers on lyrics and ideas for the song, Maki said, “I just kind of took the reins and I ran with it.”
Tear Drops From A Phoenix got entered into the national songwriting contest because it was the song Maki had ready at the time.
Maki, who saw an advertisement for the contest, was working on numerous songs for his upcoming recording, but none of them were ready. So, he asked Carruthers about submitting their song.
The goal is to have Tear Drops From A Phoenix available for streaming, but the collaborators have some decisions to make regarding opportunities available from the Aeolian song contest.
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“It’s technically ready to go and radio ready,” Maki said of the song.
But since the Aeolian prize comes with an opportunity to re-record the song and have some marketing assistance it, Maki said they want to explore those options.
No matter when or how the song is released, the co-writers have confidence it will touch people.
“To me, Steve’s story is just one of incredible hope and inspiration,” Carruthers said, “one that will change many, many lives.”
Maki added, “It really demonstrates that miracles do happen and miracles are possible.”
Bottrill said having a song written about his life is an “honor,” adding the song “captures my story nicely.”
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