“I WAS NOT ONLY CREATIVELY INSPIRED, BUT ALSO OBLIGATED TO LEAVE A TRAIL OF GLORY OF THE PEOPLE OF NEW YORK. ” – Gladiee

Here is the true story of how I was not only creatively inspired but also felt an obligation to devote my time, soul, music, and creativity to those who died during the September 11 attacks. I was compelled to honor the legacy of the brave souls who stood shoulder to shoulder, helping to rebuild the magnificent city of New York, the city of kings. This music album is but one piece of my larger project, “9/11 Love Story.” I hope to find the time and resources to support the other parts of this memorial, including my forthcoming book, also titled “9/11 Love Story.” Below is an excerpt from Gladiee’s unfinished book, capturing the profound emotions he experienced during the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

*Excerpt from Gladiee’s unfinished Book “9/11 Love Story”:

“The sky was a clear, unblemished blue. September 11, 2001, started as a gorgeous September morning. The air was crisp, the sky clear, and the weather channel’s forecast was reassuring with a simple announcement: “There are no weather issues for the entire day.” As I stood on Staten Island, I admired the serene, azure sky, blissfully unaware of the unimaginable horror that was about to unfold.

At 8:46 AM, the tranquility was shattered as American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. A plume of smoke began to rise, a harbinger of the unimaginable chaos that was about to ensue. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03 AM, the world seemed to pause as United Airlines Flight 175 struck the South Tower. The shockwaves from the impact reverberated through the city and deep into my soul.

Watching from a distance, I felt a mix of disbelief, terror, and helplessness as the South Tower began to collapse. It was as if a nightmare had come to life a surreal and horrific vision that my mind struggled to comprehend. The towers, once symbols of strength and ambition, crumbled to the ground in a cascade of dust and debris. The sight was apocalyptic, forever altering the skyline and our collective consciousness.

As I breathed in the acrid scent of smoke flying across Hudson river to Staten Island my heart pounded with the realization of the countless lives being extinguished in those moments. I was supposed to be in Manhattan that morning for a business meeting at 11:30 AM, but fate had kept me on Staten Island. The gravity of the tragedy weighed heavily on me, knowing how narrowly I had escaped being amidst the devastation.

Every second felt like an eternity, filled with sorrow and fear. The events of 9/11 left an indelible mark on my soul, a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the depths of human suffering. This profound sense of loss and despair compelled me to create “9/11 Love Story,” a tribute to the resilience and courage of those who faced the unthinkable. The world had changed in those moments, and so had I.”