Alzheimer's movie showcases songwriter's heart

Premier of ‘10 Mountains 10 Years’ at Connecticut Film Festival West Milford — The very best work from a singer/songwriter comes from the heart. Music with meaning. Loretta Hagen has written her share of meaningful music but none quite like this. This longtime resident of West Milford wrote “Sundown Till Dawn,” a song about her mother, Vera Tutini, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease seven years ago. Last week, many got to hear her song at the world premiere of 10 Mountains 10 Years (The Movie) at the Connecticut Film Festival in Danbury, Conn. Hagen was approached by Enzo Simone, leader of the Regulars, a group of everyday people raising awareness about Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by climbing mountains all over the world, to include her song “Sundown Till Dawn” in the film. Los Angeles-based Backlight Productions chronicled the group as they trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. The film’s credits boast Enzo Simone’s team the Regulars, Leeza Gibbons, and actress Anne Hathaway. New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen, among others, has joined the soundtrack leaving Hagen in good company. Hagen’s hopes are that her song will help to raise awareness and funding for research, so that others will one day be spared the suffering these diseases inflict. She has become a tireless advocate for Alzheimer’s disease, performing “Sundown Till Dawn” all over the nation including at the Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Forum on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC during the National Candlelight Vigil, and the inaugural Liberty State Park Regional Memory Walk in Jersey City. Hagen doesn’t stop there. “Sundown Till Dawn” is performed at every event, recounting thoughts about her mom to remind us that Alzheimer’s disease is not going to go away, and that each of us knows someone with this disease. Locally, Loretta Hagen can be found performing at many venues including West Milford’s concert series Music at the Mission, Sustainable West Milford’s Highlands GreenFest and Farmers’ Market. Nationally, she is opening for the Kennedys at Listen Live Music in Pennsylvania in June, headlining at Groovin’ In New Fairfield, in Connecticut in July, playing Main St. Stage at Bethlehem, Pa., Musikfest in August, and also the Lycian Center for the Performing Arts Summer Concert Series in Sugarloaf, N.Y. She can be found performing solo, duo, or trio with her husband/guitarist Gary Hagen, harmony vocalist Sara Gallmann, or with her full band with Debbie Maggiulli on drums and Teri Avella on bass. To view the trailer of 10 Mountains 10 Years (The Movie), visit www.backlightproductions.com. For more information about The Regulars go to www.theregulars.com. To learn more about Hagen and her musical journey visit www.LorettaHagen.com.