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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD The Boston Red Sox hasn't many fans more loyal than Rick Izyk after all he might have had a hand in breaking Babe Ruth's curse with his 2004 song "The Curse Will Be Over." Izyk wrote the lyrics for two more songs in 2005 "The Curse is Over" and "Red Sox are My Everything" and now the part-time tunesmith has a new song, "Boston Rocks, Red Sox Roll!" Izyk is hoping to have his latest song presented at a Red Sox game as the Sox organization is working on a fan music showcase titled "Fan Jukebox." A machinist by trade, Izyk explained to Reminder Publications that in 1987, he had an idea of writing a song expressing his hopes for the New York Giants. "I slapped together this quick thing," Izyk recalled, doing so with a small synthesizer borrowed from a friend in a band. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that season. While watching the Red Sox play at the end of their 2003 season, he declared he would do the same for the Sox as he did for the Giants. During the beginning of the 2004 season, Izyk's mother was losing a battle with Alzheimer's. Izyk noticed that as the Sox began winning, his mother was also rallying. There was additional inspiration for a song. This time, though Izyk teamed up with Patrick Cycz a professional musician with a studio, Silver Moon Productions, in Hadley. Cycz wrote and produced the music, while Izyk sang the leads and wrote the lyrics. Less interested in making money than in showing his support, Izyk sent the Red Sox organization 51 copies of the finished CD. After the World Series win, Red Sox President Larry Lucchino wrote Izyk, "I really enjoyed listening to your track and the lyrics especially ring true since the Red Sox not only beat the curse but also went through 'George' and the Yankees to do so." As a postscript, Lucchino wrote, "You were prophetic." Izyk didn't stop with that win. In 2005, he collaborated with David Pine of Pine Tracks Recording Studios in Holyoke on two more songs. His latest song, "Boston Rocks, Red Sox Roll!" is an upbeat composition with a 1960s Beach Boys flavor. Izyk hasn't made any CDs of the new song for sale and doesn't have a back stock of his other CDs. The pressings of those titles were primarily sent to the Red Sox and to radio stations. Getting rich off the songs isn't Izyk's goal. He's doing it as a fan. "It's been a lot of fun," he said. Besides hoping to hear his latest song played at Fenway, Izyk had submitted a special version of the Carl Perkins hit "Honey Don't" to the Sox. After seeing Ringo Starr perform the song this year the Beatles had performed a cover of the tune in 1964 Izyk worked on a special Sox version in the hopes the team management would get Starr to perform at a game. He's keeping his fingers crossed about that idea and his application to be a contestant on "Deal or No Deal." He has a vision of the models with the suitcases all wearing Red Sox hats and shirts. "I love to send out ideas," he said. Jordan Rich of WBZ radio recently said Izyk's songs are not only "catchy and fun" but "reflect what we as Red Sox fans are feeling." | ||||||
