Ella Barchie 
Manuel “Manny” Carvajal, a resident of Allendale Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, is proving it is never too late to follow your dreams. The 92-year-old recently recorded an original song at Sound on Sound Studios at 1 Greenwood Avenue, Montclair, titled We Will Rise. The song is now available to listen to on three major music streaming platforms. Read on to learn more about Manny’s musical journey.
Photo Credit: Sandy Crisafulli
All About Manny
Manny has always loved listening to music and performing. He started listening to classical music when he was 5 years old and began singing opera at about 10, which he says helped develop his voice. He later met his wife, who also sang, and they would perform together. “We would sing together at parties and private clubs where we were members,” he said. The couple previously recorded a song for their daughter’s wedding, and decades later Manny and his daughter recorded a song together. This was the last time he had stepped into a recording studio.
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After learning about this, the life enrichment teams at Allendale Rehabilitation, at 85 State Highway 17 South, Allendale, and Marquis Health Consulting Services created an opportunity for Manny to return to his musical roots. The team wrote an original song for Manny to perform and record at Sound on Sound Studios.
Sound on Sound has been a major recording studio that has hosted artists including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Bruce Springsteen, and Tony Bennett. Now, Manny’s name has been added to the list. “Dreams do not have an age limit, and Manny’s experience at the studio is a true testament to that,” said Ricardo Pena, vice president of life enrichment for Marquis. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Manny and an opportunity to celebrate a life filled with music, creativity and joy.”
The project was part of Marquis Health Consulting Services’ Dream ReImagined Program, an initiative grounded in the belief that age should not prevent anyone from pursuing their dream. “It’s a beautiful example of how we are helping residents continue to pursue their passions and create new memories. It was a true honor to help Manny bring his vision to life and give him an unforgettable moment.” Ricardo helped arrange the song and sang backing vocals on the track with Marquis’ Ace Lipuma, the regional director of life enrichment at Marquis Health Consulting Services. The pair are both experienced musicians and recording artists who perform outside of their work with Marquis. Together, they created an original samba-inspired song written specifically for Manny’s voice and music style.
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While music has played a role in Marquis Health Consulting Services and Allendale Rehabilitation & Health Center’s life enrichment programs, this was the first time a resident was given the chance to record a song with them professionally. Ricardo, Ace, and Manny all worked together in the studio, each getting to sing for the song, while Kyle Villareal, the studio engineer, helped record.
When it comes to getting to professionally record We Will Rise, Manny stated, “I was very excited to have had the opportunity to perform in a recording studio. I loved it!”
We Will Rise is now available to listen to on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
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