EAST BRUNSWICK – Residents at the Chelsea Senior Living facility were shaking their egg shakers, clapping their hands, and moving to the sounds of oldies, but goodies from Billy Joel, the Beatles and Johnny Cash as the sounds emanated from the facility.
Even the mailman came in grooving to the sounds, which were performed by Ryan Brolliar, a professional musician from San Diego.
Brolliar, 41, made a pitstop in New Jersey during his “Music for Medicine Tour” he began in August with the goal of visiting at least one hospital in all 50 states as he traveled across the United States, playing music for people in need. His visit to New Jersey marks his first time in the Garden State and 27th state he has visited so far.
During his time in New Jersey, Brolliar also visited Atlantic City.
Brolliar outfitted an ambulance into the “Jambulance,” which serves as his “home away from home” during the tour, which is estimated to last five months. The words “Music Is Medicine Tour” is painted on the sides. Inside the Jambulance, Brolliar has pinned the places he has visited on a map.
Chris Slavicek, vice president of sales and marketing for Chelsea Senior Living, said he saw an article about Brolliar’s mission on social media. He said he reached out to a mutual contact through Alive Inside Foundation, a New York-based non profit organization dedicated to healing loneliness and disconnection, especially for young and elders living with dementia.
Brolliar visited three Chelsea Senior Living facilities – East Brunswick in Middlesex County, and Marlboro and Manalapan in Monmouth County – on Jan. 14, bringing his talent on the piano, guitar and voice. Brolliar said he grew up on the piano and now plays 20 different instruments.
The tour is an outcome of finding an overwhelming peace after receiving the news of a tumor in his spine in August 2015. The tumor was found to be benign.
At the time, he was a professional musician with aspirations of auditioning on NBC’s “The Voice.” Prior to becoming a musician, Brolliar had been a school teacher for 10 years.
“My life has become less and less about me, and instead about how I can be of service to others,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been given the gift of music, and it’s time to give it back.”
After recovering from his sickness, which he said literally brought him to his knees, he traveled and found his calling of bringing joy to people in need.
Brolliar has visited and played music for more than 40 different hospitals, senior care facilities, and hospice in California and Nevada for the past two years. Then the idea of expanding his outreach was born.
He set up a GoFundMe site with a goal of raising $100,000. He budgeted his tour at $40,000 to $45,000 and he said any funds raised above his budgeted tour would be donated directly back to the hospitals.
For more information about Brolliar’s “Music for Medicine Tour,” visit www.gofundme.com/music-is-medicine-tour.