Coeur d'Alene musician releases tribute for firefighters

“Canfield Mountain Requiem,” an instrumental song, was released Monday.  

The musician, Mike McKee, had moved to Coeur d’Alene from Michigan with his wife, Cathy, a few weeks earlier when the June 29 attack on firefighters took place.

McKee has been writing music for the guitar and piano for a few years. 

For him, processing through music is an important way to make sense of the world when nothing else works. 

“This song just kinda popped into my head when I was thinking of the incident here. I tried to keep it simple and convey sadness,” he said.   

There’s a resolution in the melody to continue on in spite of grief. The notes on the piano persist, carrying the melody deeper into moments of quiet reflection. 

“Music keeps me out of trouble most of the time. People play my music all over the world and it’s much easier for me to express myself through music,” McKee said.  

After he completed the song, McKee decided to make it free to download and reached out to the Red and Blue Foundation to urge listeners to donate to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives or were injured on Canfield Mountain. 

“When this hit, it felt like we were residents. It’s a caring community of people and it really hit home,” McKee said. “It was a way for me to contribute.” 

The song is available for downloading on major music streaming services such as iTunes and Spotify as well as downloading directly from a special website created for the song.  

“Hopefully something can come of it and help people,” McKee said. 

McKee's song is available here: mikemckee.bandzoogle.com/home

    Mike McKee wrote "Canfield Mountain Requiem" to honor the firefighters who were fired upon on June 29.