“To be around such tenacity, grace and creativity lifts everyone. It’s how life is: we often learn the most, and gain the most joy, from the worst experiences.” – Mark Rubel, Blackbird Academy Instructor and Co-Director
In April 27, 2016, musician and music production student David Francisco was riding his bike home from The Blackbird Academy in Berry Hill when he was hit by a distracted driver who ran a red light on 8th Avenue South. His body slammed into the windshield, was launched 10 feet in the air and crashed onto the pavement. His left forearm was torn open and his spinal cord severely damaged. The 24-year-old’s life was permanently changed. He spent the next year at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta fighting to regain his ability to walk and make music again.
To raise money to support Francisco’s recovery, and awareness for bicycling and pedestrian safety, Walk Bike Nashville hosts a special benefit event and concert on Monday, September 25 at 7 p.m. at City Winery. The event will include the premiere of a new short documentary about Francisco’s recovery, Back to Blackbird, and a performance by the young musician. A trailer for the film is pasted below.
“David’s ability to come back from a catastrophic injury is both inspiring and impressive,” says Kevin Becka, instructor and co-director of education at The Blackbird Academy. “He maintained a positive attitude throughout his recovery, when he returned to school and now on to a career as a musician and songwriter. David is loved by anyone he’s touched.”
“David’s accident was traumatic to him, his family, and all who loved him (and do all who know him),” adds Mark Rubel, fellow instructor and co-director at The Blackbird Academy. “To be around such tenacity, grace and creativity lifts everyone. It’s how life is: we often learn the most, and gain the most joy, from the worst experiences.”
For Nora Kern, executive director of Wall Bike Nashville, Francisco’s crash was “a sobering reminder of how much work our city has to do to ensure its streets are safe for all.”
“No person should ever have to go through what David has had to undergo over the last year,” said Kern in a press release. “
What happened to Francisco became a rallying call for the Vibrant, Safe 8th Campaign, an initiative to recognize 8th Avenue as a “community, not a cut-through” that hopes to use the planned 2018 TDOT repaving of the road “as an opportunity to right-size the street where possible, changing layout from four inefficient lanes to three vehicle lanes” and lowering vehicle speed limits to 25-30 mph.
Earlier this month, TDOT Commissioner John Schroer announced that the street would not be narrowed, as it was too significant of a corridor for commuters. Proponents of the Vibrant, Safe 8th Campaign were disappointed with the news, but not completely discouraged. In an email to campaign supporters, Kern said, “It is … our understanding from Metro that they (TDOT) are moving away from a road diet configuration at this point, though they are still hoping to add improvements for pedestrians (like refuge islands and enhanced crosswalks), and for the completion/improvement of parallel bike routes.”
“Obviously we are very disappointed and frustrated that TDOT has announced they are more interested in commuters passing through 8th Ave than the safety and quality of life for those who work, live, walk and bike near the street,” she added. “However, I think we have already ensured that there will be several improvements in the area for those walking and biking. And we’ve learned a lot about what to do, and not to do, on future grassroots campaigns in support of complete streets.we have already ensured that there will be several improvements in the area for those walking and biking.”
Francisco’s performance at City Winery will be a bit of a homecoming for a community that has embraced him as its own. Now a Los Angeles resident and signed with Extreme Music, he has performed on stage with Martina McBride, Steven Curtis Chapman and opened the sold out shows for THE VOICE winner, Chris Blue. He has shared his story at the Grammy’s annual MusiCares foundation gala and in person with Katy Perry and Kacey Musgraves.
The David Francisco Benefit Concert and the Screening of “Back to Blackbird” takes place Monday, September 25 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $17-$20 and are available here.
“Back to Blackbird:”
The David Francisco Benefit Concert and the Screening of “Back to Blackbird” takes place Monday, September 25 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets range from $17-$20 and are available here.
