Watch CBS News

Man with Alzheimer's on a mission to save his music

Saving his music
Man with Alzheimer's on a mission to save his music 03:09

PORTLAND, Ore. -- To welcome us to Portland, Oregon, 67-year-old Steve Goodwin would like to play one of his songs for you.

You have no idea how much he would like to play one of his songs for you.

"It made me almost hate the piano. But then I realized it's not the piano's fault, it's this thing that's going on in my brain," he said.

Three years ago, Steve was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He had to give up his job as a software designer, but his wife Joni says the cruelest part is the toll it's taking on the music he composed.

hartman-otr-saving-music-0804-transfer-frame-421.jpg
Steve trying to remember songs at the piano CBS News

"Losing the songs would be like losing him," she said.

Steve and Joni have been married 47 years, and along the way, Steve composed more than two dozen songs, mostly for her. He played them daily, and they became the soundtrack of their lives.

hartman-otr-saving-music-0804-transfer-frame-1595.jpg
Joni Goodwin CBS News

Unfortunately, he never wrote down most of them. So when his memory started failing -- and the songs started fading -- there was no way to get them back. Until a family friend, a professional pianist, offered to launch a rescue mission.

And so, for the past two years, Naomi Laviolette has been reconstructing his compositions note by note.

"I said if he can at least play through it, even in pieces, I can learn it," Naomi said.

And of course they're recording the songs, never to be lost again.

"I realized there was a part of him that wasn't going to fade away," Joni said.

Hear a performance of Steve Goodwin's new composition 00:40

But this may be the best part: With Naomi's help, Steve was able to write a new song.

Although he forgets entire conversations, and can no longer add even single-digit numbers, somehow his mind dreamed up this.

Alzheimer's steals a lot, but today we score one for the beauty left behind.

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, email us: OnTheRoad@cbsnews.com

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.