No Treble At All: Anthem Exec Helps Produce CD to Raise Funds for Friend’s ALS Group

By Andrea R. Vitanza

March 13, 2000

Hearing of an opportunity to help a friend suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease was music to the ears of John F. Jesser, vice president of Cleveland-based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

As Jesser visited his friend at The Cleveland Clinic, the two discussed their days as musicians playing with the Snake Charmers and other southern Ohio bands.

It was then that Kyle Hahn asked Jesser to help him produce a CD of their old music to help raise funds for an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis awareness organization — The ALS March of Faces — that Hahn had founded.

Jesser — a one-time guitar player, vocalist and songwriter — jumped at the chance.

The experience, especially the time spent observing Hahn bravely battle the degenerative disease has taught him much, Jesser said.

“I learned that you can redefine what you think your purpose in life is depending on the circumstances,” Jesser said. “I think that’s what (Kyle) learned, and I’ve learned that through watching him.”

The 21-song, two-disc CD “Friends” features several songs written by Hahn and a few co-written by Jesser.

One of those collaborations is “All We Had,” a composition that earned the two an honorable mention award in the 1989 Billboard Second Annual Songwriters’ Contest.

Hahn turned to Jesser for help with the CD because Jesser had archived much of their old music. After combing through shoe boxes filled with cassette tapes, Jesser and Hahn produced 1,000 CDs to sell to raise funds for The ALS March of Faces.

The 18-month project was a labor of love for the two men, with the CD containing music that ranges from rock to blues to techno.

Though much of the music was recorded nearly 20 years ago, a few of the songs are new.

“There’s about four songs on there that (Kyle) did after he could no longer play guitar,” Jesser said.

But because Hahn still was capable of moving his arms, he traded in one of his guitars for a laptop computer. Hahn then used music-making software to sample instruments and build songs through an on-line keyboard.

The computer also has been instrumental in helping Hahn add material to his ALS March of Faces Web site.

According to that Web site, the organization’s purpose is to provide a resource where people with ALS can go to “empower themselves to better their lives and help accelerate the process of finding a cure.”

Hahn, as part of the “Friends” CD liner notes, explains his motivation for creating the organization and for producing the fund-raising CD.

“From the moment you are born,” Hahn says, “you start dying. Make a positive impact.”

“Friends” is available for $20 by calling toll-free (877) 884-4798,

or visiting www.march-of-faces.org