When posting her song “Trusted Eyes” yesterday, I was shocked to discover that Katie Reider passed away last year. Apparently she was diagnosed with a rare form of tumor in 2006 which robbed her of her beautiful voice as well as the sight in one eye. Yet Katie fought bravely for almost two years until losing the battle on July 14, 2008.  She was only 30 years old.

During her career, Katie released three studio albums and one live album, won several awards and had her songs featured in TV shows such as Dawson’s Creek. Her 1998 debut Wonder was the first I heard of her, although a couple of years after its release. “Trusted Eyes” is from that record which has been a favorite of mine for a long time now. Somehow I missed the live album No Retakes as well as the second studio album I Am Ready. The last I heard of Katie was what also would become her last record, Simplicity, which came out in 2004. Her final live performance took place in 2007.

Since her passing, a website has been created in Katie’s memory with the goal of introducing 500 000 new people to her music and life story over the next year. If you go to the site you can download Katie’s digital compilations for a $ 1 donation to her cause and at the same time introduce her songs to new listeners. Help keep Katie’s voice alive at 500Kin365.org.

~ “Desert Skin” ~