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A IR T The Canadin Champion, Friday, August 10, 2007 - Bi Accident steers Sawyer back to his love of music Wîth passion rekindle4, local songwrîlter set to play Mohawk Sun. By Stephanie Hounseil CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Campbellville singer-songwriter James Sawycr didn't ntend to pur- sue music professionally In fact, he'd just graduated from college 1 for policing when a car accident turned bis world upside down. With a back injury, Sawyer's dream of helping others through law enforcement fizzled away Thats when he re-dîscovered music and quickly realized theres more than one way- and profession - to help people. ..- Take, for example, one of the songs on bis debut album, Next to You. lnspired by a local child - Michael Papaioannou - bravely dealing with a rare disease, Sawyer decided to write the song Save His World to raise aware- ness of Micbael's situation. One of the lines, "A life of chillin' hospital beds/testing bis wll witb aIl these meds,- poignantly illustrates the hardships faced by the three-year-old boy, whose parents run the Trail Eatery in Campbellville. Sawyer, 24, performed the song for the first time at the 2005 annual fundraiser for Michael, and said thats been the bigblight of lis career 50 far. Memorable experience "You could hear a needle drop as it was played," Sawyer said, adding its an emotion- al song for him to sing. "No matter wbat, ifs bard to sing.- Since then, Save His World, as well as the CD ifs on, bas garnered a positive response from fans and radio stations alike, perhaps the largest being play on 97.3 EZ Rocks Sick Kids radio-thon. If fans are lucky, Sawyer migbt play the MAKING HIS MARK: Wth his first album under his beit, James Sawyer is gradually finding a place for himself on the Canadian music scene. tune at bis Sunday nigbt performance at yas"b ad dighsbn ilb i il rc f i is luNx ohmefsedn llreaon ftm venueskSummetrakNigb oce srt erthe backing bim up for the gig. You, was released to, radio stations across promoting bis music to radio stations. Sawyer said bes excited about the npcom- Sawyer will play four L-minute sets Canada in April, and bas received air play on "We bave so man musicians and they're ing concert, which wiIl feature bis original between races on the grand stage. stations including ones in B.C. and Ottawa aIl trying to, get onto'the same radio (sta- songs as weU as a brand new tune written by The past few years bave been quite the - and thafs no small feat. tions)," he said. a friend. journey for Sawyer. His CD was recorded in 'IGetting air play in Canada is like win- SaIeris currently studying audio-engi- "I'm looking forward to playing my home- 2005 and 2006, and hes already gearing up ning the lotterl~ Sawyer said. neermng. Already having received a crash town of Campbellville where Ive lived for 25 for the next one. Its out of necessity that SaIe fintis sel PERSONAL on page 82