Albert Guerzon pens tribute song for his father who died from COVID-19

In April 2020, Broadway singer-songwriter Albert Guerzon (“The Visitor,” “Mamma Mia!”) lost his father, Robert Guerzon, to COVID-19.

Along with thousands of New Yorkers, the Guerzon family was at the mercy of limited ventilators and hospital beds. In the end, Albert bid his father farewell through a telephone screen and a prayer.

In the summer of 2021, Guerzon delivered a more fitting goodbye to his father and the millions of other elders, friends, and families impacted by the pandemic. He wrote and performed “Breathe Now,” a finalist in the Times Square Alliance concert series, Songs for Our City.

Guerzon said, “The song became a vehicle for emotional release beyond me. There is an invisible thread that ties performers to their audience. And I wanted whoever still needs to hear my music to have it. We heal together.  Society continues to face the ongoing chaos of the pandemic and beyond, and ‘Breathe Now’ reminds us of the precious gift of living in the moment.”

Although Guerzon did not claim the title prize of the contest, his message of hope and resilience resonated with the public. Inspired to share it more widely, Guerzon collaborated with Christian Almiron to remaster a new version, including vocals by Broadway actors Ester Barroso-Guerzon and Kevin Schuering.

Guerzon made his Broadway debut playing Eddie in “Mamma Mia!” (also on national tour).  “It was truly a dream come true,” he said.

According to his website, “Albert grew up listening to a mix of Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He is compared to artists like Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke. He says, ‘I’m constantly looking for new ways to create some sort of visual or performance art to release and share the best energy out of me.’”

His credits also include “The Visitor” (Public Theater), “Ghost the musical” on Broadway, “The Times They Are a Changin’” by Twyla Tharp, “The Wiz” (La Jolla), David Byrne’s “Here Lies Love” (Public Theater) and “Flower Drum Song.”  He has performed his original music around NYC in venues like the Cutting Room, Rockwood Music Hall and Crash Mansion. As a dancer and choreographer he has worked on projects featuring Snoop Dogg and Ludacris as well as New York Fashion Week.

“Breathe Now” is available on streaming musical platforms such as Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, and Pandora.