Fifteen minutes into performing his set at Roanoke’s Elmwood Park amphitheater in August of 2019, singer/songwriter, Drake White, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

He knew from an earlier diagnosis that an arteriovenous malformation existed in his brain, but White never dreamed that the tangle of arteries and veins grown to the size of a lime might kill him until it almost did. Though he had undergone treatment earlier in the year, the treatment may have been connected to the hemorrhage. He remembers getting dizzy and trying to sing, but he couldn’t get the words out. He felt a sharp pain in his left side, and his left foot went numb. An unbearable headache followed. He recalls thinking that he might be having a stroke, and then everything on his left side went black. Band members caught him as he fainted.  Had Drake not been near a trauma center, he’s not sure he would be alive today.

Before the nightmare, White was “Living The Dream.” Indeed, the official music version of the song by that title included his wife, Alex, and his beloved Golden Retriever, “Songwriter” (or “Writer”),  the two most important figures in his life:

During Drake’s recovery, Writer was never very far. We haven’t sought permission to share those photos here, but if you click on the hyperlinks, you can see Writer visiting his person in the hospital, and outside in a wheelchair.

When Drake nearly died, Writer was there. Sadly, this past year, Writer, himself, passed away at the age of fourteen. Drake shared the sad news on his Instagram account. He wrote, “When I moved to Nashville I got a Golden Retriever and named him “Songwriter” to remind me why I moved to Music City. He was a joy to all that had the pleasure to know him and we will miss him. There’s nothing better than a good dog and you were the definition! @alexm_white and I love you. See ya across that rainbow bridge ole buddy  This is a song @benchapmanmusic and I wrote. I’ll stand by its message.”

To see and hear the video, click on “A post shared by Drake White…” inside the frame:

 

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A post shared by Drake White (@drakewhitestomp)

Country music comes from the heart and is born of the experiences of love, loss, and life. Country music songs about dogs, however, are rarely without a special emotion.

A friend of National Purebred Dog Day, “Bekki,” shared White’s story with us after attending one of his recent concerts. He talked about his old dog, “Writer,” an “AKC Registered Golden Retriever who was a goat (greatest of all time).” He also mentioned “Maple,”  his wife’s Boykin Spaniel who is also seen in the tribute video above.

Rest in peace, Writer. You were well and truly loved.

Image: This isn’t Drake White or “Writer,” of course, but it hints at the relationship we all feel with our dogs. Photo by © Rafa Cortes Pascual/Dreamstime Stock Photo