Triumph Over Tragedy

by Jay Fox

Overview

Triumph over Tragedy by Jay Fox, a popular entertainer known both in his home, Bermuda, as well as in the USA and internationally, is the personal story of his journey from a beginning as a mixed-blood child of a single mother of limited means in a prejudicial and insular society to a highly popular singer, songwriter, performer, and respected hotel manager. How he handled this challenging double life and how it affected his growing need for meaning in his life leads to a stormy personal situation and his relocation to Crossville, a small town in Tennessee.
When all was going well personally, with a family and a horse-training ranch, and professionally, with a busy schedule of performances and an enthusiastic following of loyal fans, tragedy struck when a wasp sting turned into an infectious disease, diagnosed as group-A streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which cost him his leg and threatened his very life. His faith in God and the support of his family, friends, and fans have led him to a future he could never have anticipated.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452575063
Publisher:	Balboa Press
Publication date:	07/03/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	226
File size:	3 MB

Read an Excerpt

Triumph OVER TRAGEDY

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By JAY FOX

Balboa Press

Copyright © 2013 Jay Fox
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-7504-9

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CHAPTER 1

THE JOURNEY

Jay's life journey began in the multicultural vacation paradise of Bermuda. It has a musical tradition as rich and beautiful as the island itself. In his secular music, the soulful rhythms that appeared in his romantic ballads appealed to a wide audience, where men and women of all ages appreciated the unique qualities found in his work. Just as the incoming tide gently flooded the coral reefs in Bermuda's Castle Harbor, Jay's voice also washed over his audience, exposing them to a wide range of emotions. Like other island entertainers, Jamaica's Harry Belafonte and Hawaii's Don Ho, Jay gave each of his listeners a memorable performance, which led to a long, successful career on the island. Jay realized, however, that, just as the incoming tide carried him to the top of his professional career on the island, the outgoing tide revealed something very important was missing from his life ... God.

Jay spent most of his career performing in hotels and nightclubs, and, on several occasions, he used his talent to do benefit concerts for Bermuda's handicapped and the King Edward Memorial Hospital. He appeared on several local TV talk shows and Christmas shows. Jay also produced his own TV show, having special guest appearances and other local entertainers. On a few occasions, he travelled abroad as an agent of the Bermuda Department of Tourism to promote the Island. Then, one day, while attending a luncheon at a local church, his whole life changed: God spoke to him saying, "I'm going to use your gift of singing to further my Kingdom." Jay realized at that moment that God had been right beside him all along, and now He was leading him into a career of gospel singing.

By sharing his experience with his friends and colleagues, he has become a witness for what God can do in your life when you let Him in.

With the help of his experience as a performer, his study for the Ministry, scripture reading, sermons and the 'Still Small Voice' of God, Jay began writing and then recording Christian songs. Jay's personal journey, directed by that 'Still Small Voice,' led him from Bermuda to Tennessee. There, he sang gospel concerts every Sunday afternoon at Legends Dinner Theater in Crossville.

Jay is a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. In addition to his concerts, Jay has a distinguished recording career. He formed his Music Group of Companies - J. D. K. Fox, Music Group Inc., Manchester Music Makers, Treetop Productions, Orpheus Sound Recordings and Orpheus Music Ministry- to handle all of his recording work.

His first album, Signature was both an artistic and commercial success; it contained his own compositions as well as music by other island entertainers. Signature was followed by six other easy-listening albums: Reflections, Christmas Classics, Island Of Paradise, Jay Fox Live At the Princess, More Than Ever, and Something Special. His latest projects have all been gospel music: After the Sunset, It's My Desire, Jay Fox Live in Nashville, and Greater Faith featuring Jay Fox.

His latest single I Came to Find My Jesus was released from his CD After the Sunset. It is regularly heard on Christian radio stations across the country.

Over the years as a songwriter, Jay has been inspired by writers like Bob Allen, writer of the classic Chances Are, sung by Johnny Mathis, and singers like Andy Williams, Perry Como, Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. Today, Jay is inspired by some of the best inspirational writers in gospel music: Lanny Wolfe's Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place, Joel Hemphill's It Is No Secret and Bill and Gloria Gaither's Because He Lives.

After singing in hotels for many years, he rededicated his life and his love of music and singing to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and song. He is now a Song Evangelist, for the Church of the Nazarene, East Tennessee District. Sunday mornings, when not singing at concerts, you can find Jay leading a Bible study or leading as Minister of Music in his local church. In addition to his concerts, he has given his time to present Bible studies weekly at Health and Rehabilitation Centers for seniors in Crossville, Tennessee.

Thousands of fans and friends Jay has made over the years have expressed that they feel blessed by his messages through music and song.

Randy Norris Writer & Contributor Crossville Chronicle, Tennessee.

CHAPTER 2

BERMUDA

Romantic beaches, tall sailing ships and Buccaneers ... allow me to share a little history about the island where I was born. I must point out that this is not a history book about Bermuda. However, some historical facts were retrieved from the Bermuda Archives. The archives are amongst the World's richest and most comprehensive. Dating back to the island's earliest settlers in the 1600s, the government's official records give a virtually uninterrupted accounting of the Islands' past. Many Bermudians use the archives to trace their family history.

Tall Ships around the world still reenact voyages of the past.

As a young boy, I used to play at St. David's Lighthouse near my home. The voyagers who found the islands ended their journey at St. David's head; one of the many smaller islands of Bermuda.

One of Bermuda's former Governors, John Henry Lefroy, became Commander-in-Chief in 1871. He compiled information into two volumes called Memorials of the Discovery and Early Settlement of Bermuda. These Memorials constitute a remarkable dossier of colonial data, and interested writers need to go no further than these volumes for research information of Bermuda's earliest written history.

Bermuda is a sub-tropical island in the Atlantic which lies over 700 miles southeast of North Carolina and northeast of Florida. It is known as the 'Emerald of the Sea,' because of its magnificent beauty. The shorelines of pink, sandy beaches retreat into a mixture of rich, green trees. The narrow, winding roads are lined with Oleander trees. When in bloom, they are full of pink and white flowers. Many trail ways have beautiful Poinciana trees which hang over the path. Flowers grow year-round in the warm climate. My grandfather was a Grower, with a lily field near his house. At harvest time, he sold the flowers to merchants throughout the island.

The homes in Bermuda now are built of cement block and painted in pastel colors. They are surrounded by the beauty of Hibiscus trees; each tree, when in full bloom, has its own unique color. In the earlier days, houses were built of Bermuda Limestone. It was hand-cut directly out of stone-quarries. Today, the limestone is only used for slating roof tops, which are then coated with white limestone wash. As you fly into the island, the roof tops are so white they look as though it had recently snowed. Rain is caught in well-designed water traps. The water then flows into pipes which lead to storage tanks, built under the houses. It is piped through the houses in modern-day plumbing. Some hotels and business are serviced by their own water distillation plants. However, most are serviced by government facilities.

Beneath the sea surrounding Bermuda's shoreline are coral reefs and tropical fish displaying magnificent colors. I've always reflected to myself, if fashion designers ever went snorkeling or diving around the coral reefs of Bermuda, they would be fascinated. You can see pictures of tropical fish in magazines, but you cannot see the incredible color changes as they disguise themselves for protection or ambushing prey. During this maneuver, the fish blend themselves within the coral.

With all the beauty surrounding the island, there was also a mystery. The island was known to many sea captains as the 'Devil's Isle,' because many vessels had shipwrecked on the unseen coral reefs. The following is an account of a shipwreck which was recorded in the manuscripts of Bermuda's history.

Approximately 150 adventurers, men, women and children, sailed on the Sea Venture, June 2, 1609, from England. Their intended destination was Jamestown, Virginia. After many days at sea, they encountered a storm. It lasted for four days.

In the darkness of the night, when no lamp could be kept alight because of the wind and spray, they expected every plunge of the groaning ship would be their last. They could only pray to inspire themselves and others with hope. In the morning, the brave souls stumbled out on deck to see the raging sea, a sight no one would ever forget. The waves covered the deck with white, boiling foam that seemed higher than the masts. The roar of the ocean was truly frightening. The laboring ship mounted a tremendous wave and then went down, as if to be swallowed by the angry sea, but she rose again on another wave and then sank to rise again and again. The storm was very powerful and continued for a few more days. On the fourth morning, there was stillness ... One can recall the Bible story of Jesus calming the sea. Only He, our Almighty, powerful God, can make these waves and keep them within their bounds; only He can prevent their weak vessel from being dashed to pieces, and, if He chooses, He can say at any given moment, "Peace, be still," and, the sea would be calm.

Admiral Sir George Somers, when none of them had dreamed of such happiness, cried, "Land ... land!" An unexpected coast had appeared. The ship had filled with water and was sinking. The Admiral drove the sinking ship onto the rocks and was able to transport the passengers safely to shore. All 150 men, women and children survived.

Some of these settlers remained on the island with their families. Others continued, later that year, with their voyage to Jamestown, Virginia. They had built a new ship from cedar trees found growing on the island.

Many sea captains did not know how to navigate the narrow coral reef channels that surrounded Bermuda, especially in the early days. In the middle of the deep Atlantic Ocean, one would not expect a reef. It seemed like a monster had grabbed the bottom of the boat and trapped it between its massive jaws. They soon realized that they had shipwrecked. Some of these ships have been traced back to their origins and dated back 400 years.

In later years, other ships got the aid of skilled St. David's sea pilots. My grandfather, Harry Granville Fox, was one. He and his small crew tried to be among the first to reach the ships appearing on the horizon. He and his crews made a living by piloting the ships into the harbor. They were paid by the captain. Today, with all the modern technology that ships have, they still have sea pilots who are now employed by the Government of Bermuda to provide this service.

Can you imagine what it is to cross an ocean? For weeks you see nothing but the horizon. Perfect and empty. You live in the grip of fear: fear of storms, fear of sickness, and fear of immensity. But, you must drive that fear down deep into your belly. Study your charts. Watch your compass. Pray for a fair wind and hope, pure naked, fragile hope. At first there's no more than a haze on the horizon, so you watch ... you watch ... then there's a smutch of shadow in the salt water. For a day after a day and another a day, the stain slowly spreads over the horizon taking form ... until on the fourth day you let yourself believe; you dare to whisper the words, "Land ... land ... life ... resurrection." You stand there amazed, the true adventure before your eyes, coming out of the vast unknown, out of the immensity into new life.

In the beginning of this journey, the ocean had given an image of eternity. The explorers must have asked themselves,

"Did we discover this New World, or did the New World discover us?"

I have tried to imagine the early days of sea adventurers, when they did not have skilled sea pilots like my grandfather. Imagine, yourself, how frightening these shipwrecks must have been. In the middle of the Atlantic, caught in a raging storm, with hurricane winds, thunder and lightning, this had to be a horrifying event. The ship tossed from side to side, men scrambling for their lives, then suddenly, a loud crash! The ship was broken into pieces, and the men were tossed into the dark sea.

The next morning, I envision the calm after the storm, the stillness and fresh smell of salty air as the sun was beginning a new day; everyone who had survived was awakened by the rolling tide planting its kiss on the shore then rolling back out to sea, as if to say, "You're safe now! They found themselves thrust upon the most beautiful beach they had ever envisioned.

I imagine also the ocean as I've seen it many times in my life- time, walking on the beaches from a young boy to a grown man; after a raging storm, the ocean becomes as smooth as glass. The sea is so clear that you feel as though you could drink it, so clear that you can see the bottom, so clear that you can see blue, gold, green and red-colored Parrot fish feeding on the coral next to you. I imagine how the shipwrecked travelers must have felt as they looked up from the beach and saw a forest of rich, green cedar trees which became the treasured pieces of furniture in their homes and also were used for the new ships they built. In my mind, I can hear the voices of The Admiral and his crew as they prayed, "Lord, thank You for sparing our lives, and thank You for giving us an island of paradise."

After beginning this story, several years ago, the phrase Island of Paradise became the title of my album, filled with the love of the home where I was born and the romantic life I had lived there.

This island of mine, I'll love it 'till the end of time. Sweet memories of yesterday as love crossed my way.

The treasures of my life are hidden in the words of the songs I have recorded. The CD entitled Something Special includes original songs written by me. I wish I could sing the words of my songs inspired by my life on the Island from the pages of this book, but I can't. So, just imagine yourself, for a moment, on the beautiful island of Bermuda and that you are sharing it with the perfect partner.

CHAPTER 3

RESCUE AT SEA

The youngest son of my grandfather, my Uncle Ivan, also known as 'Conquer' or Captain Ivan Fox, lived in Larchmont, New York. He sailed through many storms on trips from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda as captain on board yachts visiting and returning to the United States.

Since Bermuda was situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it became a requirement for the young men of the island to master the sea. It was for their safety. Those who accomplished this became fishermen and sea pilots. Their training involved going out to sea at night to study the stars and learn how to navigate by first-hand experience. During the day, they would be taken out to sea where they could no longer see land and be trained to navigate back to the island.

This training became useful in many ways; when yacht-owners sailed to Bermuda in the summer months, they added additional crewmen. On many occasions, the original crewmen would fly back to the United States. The yacht- owners then recruited a new crew of islanders to assist them in the long voyage home. It became a way of life for my Uncle Ivan and many other young St. David's sea-farers. For my Uncle Ivan, the sea was like no other place he would want to be.

I remember many years ago in the summer he was on a yacht called the 'Wal-Dor' sailing from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda. The yacht was owned by a retired, elderly man named Bill Schnirring from Larchmont, New York. He was accompanied on board by his wife and daughter, Susie. They were midway across the Atlantic when they got caught in a storm. The voyage brought world attention, as the news covered the rescue at sea. It was described as miraculous. As the storm tossed the yacht in the heavy seas, fortunately, my Uncle Ivan was able to send an SOS signal. A passing vessel responded to the rescue. The large vessel had to bridge ropes from their ship to the yacht. After accomplishing this maneuver, they were able to hoist Mr. and Mrs. Schnirring and their daughter, Susie, from the yacht up to the ship. My Uncle Ivan wanted to remain on the yacht to try to save it, but the seas were too heavy. Ivan was the last to be hoisted to the rescuing ship. The rescue ship's crew then tried to save the yacht, but it was impossible. As the boat was pulled through the heavy seas, it took in too much water. It began to sink, so it was finally cut loose.

Meanwhile, Susie knew her own daughter, Samantha, was safe but waiting through that terrible ordeal, not knowing what was happening at sea. The child was only four or five at the time. She had been flown to Bermuda by air earlier and was already safe in the arms of my grandmother. Susie had wanted Samantha to come on vacation to Bermuda with the family, but as a loving parent, had not wanted to have her travel by sea. The news reporters followed the story of the rescue right to my grandmother's home in St. David's. Samantha's photo in the arms of my grandmother, along with photos of the rescue, was on the front page of the Bermuda Royal Gazette.

My fondest memory of the 'Wal-Dor' was sailing off the east coast of Florida. My Uncle Ivan let me sail the yacht up to Savannah, Georgia. We sailed through the inter-coastal water way, and finally, out to sea through the channel at Fort Pierce. Exiting the mouth of Fort Pierce, the seas were rolling in very high, 10 to 20 foot swells. Later, I could imagine what it must have been like during the terrible storm in which this lovely yacht was lost.
(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Triumph OVER TRAGEDY by JAY FOX. Copyright © 2013 Jay Fox. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

The Journey....................     1     

Bermuda....................     5     

Rescue At Sea....................     11     

St. David's....................     15     

Writing....................     21     

The Big Present....................     23     

The Sacred Cove....................     29     

The Variations....................     35     

The Bermuda Regiment....................     43     

Career and Marriage....................     59     

The Birthday Party....................     75     

The Inspiration To Write This Story....................     87     

It Takes A Village To Get It Right....................     99     

Entertainment Business....................     111     

The Trip Back To England....................     121     

The Revelation....................     125     

Decline In The Bermuda Economy....................     131     

Life On The Farm....................     139     

Reflections....................     147     

A Dressage Champion....................     153     

Triumph Over Tragedy....................     157     

Competent and Compassionate Medical Team....................     169     

The Little Tasks....................     177     

Transfer to Baptist Hospital....................     183     

Death of My Mother....................     189     

Recovering at Home....................     193     

The Trip to Florida....................     199     

The Concert....................     203