Zack Fitzsimmons: singer, songwriter, entertainer
Zack Fitzsimmons loves to sing. He loves to perform and play his guitar. With an encyclopedic recall of popular songs from over the past forty years, many written and recorded before he was even born, Zack can entertain an audience for hours at a time. Without any evidence to the contrary, Zack might even love to dance, but given the chance what he loves to do more than anything is to stand straight and tall in front of any group of listeners, weaving stories and songs, sharing his love, joy, and passion for music.
Peppered throughout his performances, Zack includes his own compositions, some of which have recently been recorded and will be available soon through Bandcamp, the distribution platform for indie and emerging songwriters. His writing explores themes dearest to his heart: love of family, loyalty to friends, overcoming barriers and celebrating his life here in Muskoka, and, in particular, the freedom and acceptance he has found in his beloved hometown of Huntsville, a town renowned for nurturing artists’ accomplishments. What makes Zack’s story even more remarkable is that he has had to overcome, adapt, and address the challenges of autism.
It is estimated that autism affects one in 50 children, manifesting from severe developmental and behavioral handicaps to high-functioning capabilities. According to autismspeaks.org, children with autism may also “experience sensory sensitivities and medical issues such as gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, seizures or sleep disorders, as well as mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and attention issues.” For children and families dealing with the multitude of concerns that an person with autism faces, the experience can often be harrowing and exhausting. Fortunately, Huntsville has Community Living Huntsville, one of the best resources to assist families with providing skills and the necessary coping tools for individuals to lead productive and fulfilling lives, find careers, and navigate a complex world.
Zack Fitzsimmons epitomizes the heights to which a person can aspire. Through his music, both in performing and writing, Zack has continued to develop his talents in a myriad of formats. First and foremost, he has built a successful platform for his live shows. His website ZackFitzLIVE is designed to showcase his live shows with videos and information about his bookings, as well as provide an ongoing point of contact as a local entertainer. Secondly, Zack is a tireless performer, doing open mic shows, radio concerts, and fundraisers. He is an expressive and energetic presence on stage, often encouraging his audience to sing along and clap. It’s his magnetic enthusiasm and clear love of music that gets his fans involved.
Along with his live shows, Zack has also undertaken work as a radio host at the local community radio station, CKAR 88.7FM, with his highly acclaimed “That (other) 70s Show”, airing every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. Managing and hosting a radio show can be a daunting task for anyone, but it’s a task that Zack relishes and highly cherishes.
Among his many creative activities, Zack is a highly proficient and tireless advocate for Community Living Huntsville, both as a fundraiser and also a speaker for their various functions and activities. Meeting Zack at a Community Living event is to appreciate what a dynamic, inspiring individual he is. Of course, Zack is humble and realistic in his devotion to Community Living, which has given him the opportunity, through their continued support, to pursue his life as a musician, as well as become a thriving member of the community at large. Zack will always graciously remind you of how grateful he is for all the help he has received throughout the years.
Zack began playing guitar in his late teens, influenced by his father’s ability as a multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He progressed rapidly as a guitar player and very quickly applied his playing to working out his own expression and thoughts through songs. As he has become a stronger player, he has also advanced steadily as a writer. His song “Labels” was recognized in 2017 as a theme for Community Living’s fundraising efforts that year, and later as part of a concert and recording that raised approximately $1,300 for them in 2018.
Most of his own tunes are reflections of people whom he loves and cares about. Like any other songwriter, he tries to wrestle with the emotions and challenges he faces, while somehow connecting with the common elements that we all struggle with. “Labels”, for example, explicitly depicts his experiences as a person with a disability and the hurdles that he and others so described must overcome, but Zack is wise enough to know that no one person’s potential or actual strengths can ever be defined by a word, no matter how often it is reused. This brave song is about rising up, meeting the challenges head on, and becoming the best person you can be.
He is an advanced writer in many respects, using chord voicing and passing tones to effectively shape the movement of his lyrics, phrasing, and mood of the song. Most recently, Zack has been busy recording some of his new songs, which he hopes will lead more folks to his music. Working with Huntsville producer, Dylan Teakle at Broken Revolver Studio, Zack has released some new songs. “Muskoka Man” is a fun powerhouse tune about coming home to Muskoka and all the aspects of this beautiful place that make it so worthy of missing and coming home to. Many of his songs will be available through online distribution and streaming services, and at some point through his website.
During these historic and difficult times, we should all be grateful for the inspiration that our fellow Huntsville citizens offer through their work and efforts to realize their promise and purpose. No matter what we face, each of us is given a gift or two. What we do with these gifts is up to us.
There is an old saying, ‘the Creator (however we perceive or name it) gives us the leather, but it’s up to us to make the shoes.’ Zack Fitzsimmons is an embodiment of that axiom. His work and striving to become a better performer stems from love. Loving what you do, what you wish for, what you hope for, will always lead you through.
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