Zach Sobiech

Zachary David "Zach" Sobiech (May 3, 1995 – May 20, 2013) was an American singer-songwriter and musician from Lakeland, 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.[1][2] It charted on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually becoming a hit also in the UK, Canada and France. "Clouds" hit #1 on iTunes in 2013.

Zach Sobiech
Zach Sobiech
Background information
Birth nameZachary David Sobiech
Born(1995-05-03)May 3, 1995
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMay 20, 2013(2013-05-20) (aged 18)
Lakeland, Minnesota, U.S.
GenresFolk rock, indie folk, indie pop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, piano
Years active2010–2013
Associated actsA Firm Handshake

Life and career

In his early years, Zach attended St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater, MN (Class of 2009). He later attended Stillwater Area High School (Class of 2013). At age 14, Sobiech was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer which mostly strikes children.[3] CBS reported that during his treatment he underwent 10 surgeries and 20 rounds of chemotherapy.[4] He started writing music after his diagnosis.[5]

In May 2012 his doctors informed him that he had up to a year to live.[6] Sobiech recorded the song "Clouds" about his battle with cancer,[7] 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 14 million views and counting.[8]

A Firm Handshake
A Firm Handshake
Years active2012–2013
LabelsRock the Cause
MembersSammy Brown
Reed Redmond
Past membersZach Sobiech

Prior to his death, Zach Sobiech formed the band A Firm Handshake with friends Samantha "Sammy" Brown and Reed Redmond.[1] A Firm Handshake's first EP and only release, Fix Me Up, was released digitally in early 2013,[9] charting in USA, the 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, seventeen days after his 18th birthday.[8][10] His funeral was held at the Catholic Church of St. Michael and he was later buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.[11]

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.[5][12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Artists have released many tributes, including many cover versions of "Clouds"—with a prominent version of "Clouds" released on SoulPancake,[15] featuring director Rainn Wilson himself, along with Bryan Cranston, Ashley Tisdale, Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles,[2] 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.[16] The video has been viewed over 5 million times on the SoulPancake YouTube channel.[17]

On December 5, 2013 a choir of an estimated 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.[18]

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.[19] In early 2016, it was announced that Warner Bros. might be making a film based on Laura Sobiech's book. Justin Baldoni is set to direct and it might be called 'Clouds' after Zach's own song.[20]

On October 16, 2019, a production directed by Justin Baldoni started in Montreal... “Clouds”.

Clouds (2020 film) will be released on Disney+ - Fall 2020.

Legacy

Sobiech's family established The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund at Children's Cancer Research Fund. In September 2015, Zach's fund reached $2 million and continues to grow.[21]

Zach Sobiech discography

Amy
Single Year Peak positions Album
US
[22]		 US
Rock
[22]		 BEL
(Wa)
[23]		 CAN
[22]		 FR
[24]		 SWI
 UK
[25]		 UK
Indie
[26]
"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
[27]		 US
Dig.
[27]		 US
Heat.
[27]		 US
Indie
[27]		 US
Rock
[27]		 CAN
[27]		 UK
[25]		 UK
Indie
[28]
Fix Me Up 20927462212124

Singles
Single Year Peak positions Album
US UK
"How to Go to Confession"
(featuring Sammy Brown)		 2013 — — TBA
gollark: That would be bizarre.
gollark: It is wrong.
gollark: [insert question here]?
gollark: There are, I'm sure, all kinds of fun steganographic techniques you could use to make safely disclosing some information or other harder, but I don't know how widely used those actually are.
gollark: If I *were* to share "classified knowledge" from a "sect" or whatever I would probably try and do it in a cleverer way than "post it online under my main account" or something.

References
  1. "Zach Sobiech: Finding peace through music". childrenscancer.org.
  2. "Zach Sobiech's 'Clouds' Headed For Hot 100 Debut". Billboard.com. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  3. Boehm, Kristin (20 May 2013). "Zach Sobiech Dies at 18, Teen with Cancer Who Sang Viral Hit "Clouds"". People. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  4. "MN Teen Whose Song Touched The World Dies Of Cancer". CBS. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  5. "Viral Video Sensation Zach Sobiech Dies". Fox2Now. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  6. Stump, Scott (20 May 2013). "Teen behind viral hit 'Clouds' dies of bone cancer weeks after celeb-filled tribute video". Today. Retrieved 21 May 2013.
  7. "Zach Sobiech, Terminally Ill Singer Who Channeled His Story Into 'Clouds', Dies at 18". Billboard.com. May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  8. Enayati, Amanda (May 20, 2013). "Teen featured in viral video dies". CNN. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  9. "Lakeland teenager with rare cancer saying goodbye through song". Twin Cities. 2013-05-20. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  10. "Zach Sobiech dies after his farewell song became a YouTube sensation". Christian Science Monitor. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  11. http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_23284467/zach-sobiechs-funeral-arrangements-set
  12. Dyball, Renni. "Stars Serenade Zach Sobiech in Appreciation of His Brave Cancer Fight".
  13. SoulPancake My Last Days series - Episode on Zach Sobiech on YouTube
  14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iTImZGOtc4
  15. Hastings, Deborah (May 20, 2013). "Zach Sobiech, teen who wrote viral YouTube hit 'Clouds' about cancer, dies from it at 18". Daily News. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  16. 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
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zxXAtmmLLc
  18. Divine, Mary. "5,000 sing Zach Sobiech's 'Clouds' in his memory at Mall of America". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  19. New book will tell the story of Zach Sobiech, who wrote the song "Clouds"
  20. https://variety.com/2016/film/news/warner-bros-fly-a-little-higher-movie-1201694182/
  21. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/09/15/zach-sobiechs-research-fund-reaches-1-million-in-donations/
  22. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Still Atop Hot 100, Zach Sobiech Debuts
  23. Ultratop.be/fr/ Zach Sobiech discography
  24. Lescharts.com Zach Sobiech discography
  25. Zywietz, Tobias. "Chart Log UK – 01/06/2013". zobbel.de. Tobias Zywietz. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  26. "2013-06-01 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  27. "A Firm Handshake > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  28. "2013-06-01 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  29. http://irockthecause.org/
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