Several years ago good friends gave me a book called “Holding On” by David Isay. Inside there were many interviews with strange obsessive artist types, except one interview with a man named Moreese Bickham. At the time of the interview, Moreese Bickham had spent almost 40 years in Angola prison in Louisiana, with fourteen of those years on death row until the death penalty was abolished in 1972.

What struck me most about the interview was the spirit and dignity of this man. Despite being wrongly imprisoned for almost 40 years he still had hope to be released and reunited with his family. He did not seem angry or mad at life, he seemed grateful to be alive. His words inspired me to write a song called “Rosebush Inside”. It is more of a rant than a song, meant to be a reminder to not take life for granted. Not easily done! After a long struggle Moreese Bickham was finally released from prison in 1996, a few years after the interview in this book first took place.

I had always intended to send a copy of the song to Moreese, but he found me first. To my surprise I received an email from him asking to attend a show I was doing in San Francisco in January 2009. At 91 years old he is still not taking anything for granted. Getting out and living life. Inspiring!

For more information on Moreese Bickham’s story visit:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moreese_Bickham








Photos by Adrianne Koteen