Ellendale musician releases second CD

MUSIC MAN — Matt Arthur of Ellendale was born blind, but that hasn’t stopped him from succeeding in the world. He recently released his second gospel music CD, “Heavy on my Mind.” (Star Eagle photo by Kathy Paulsen)

By KATHY PAULSEN

Staff Writer

Matt Arthur is often seen making his way around Ellendale. He carries a white stick and, for those who don't know, yes, he is blind.

He is blind. But no one said he couldn't see.

Matt probably “sees” more than many of us, as he assumes his life by seeing without eyesight. He has vision, probably because he had parents who had the "sight" to see and trust their child just like the rest of the kids. 

There was no, "Poor Matt,” but more, "Matt you can do this," and he did and still does. He listens to and hears what is going on. He takes part in many community events and affairs that many don't even think about.

To say Matt Arthur knows Ellendale would be an understatement. He has traveled those streets many times since he moved back to town in 1996. Matt knows every rock and hole as he travels by foot, trusted white cane in hand. It is unbelievable how he knows just the right time to turn and proceeds onward in a different direction.

He does it all: cooks, cleans, shops for groceries. Good-minded Ross Sletten, at Lerberg’s, chuckles when he tells how Matt asked him to deliver softener salt to his home. 

Ross carried the softener salt to Matt’s basement with Matt in the lead, showing him the way. Ross said he had to ask Matt to turn on the light, as he could not see where he was going.

God gave Matt a voice and he uses it. Matt loves music. He sings and plays his guitar for his enjoyment and others from time to time.

In Matt’s introduction to his CD, "The Way I See It" that he recorded in 2003, he said, "Growing up, I listened to a lot of gospel music — singers like Tennessee Ernie Ford and Johnny Cash. They had voices that would make you believe anything they said. So it's been a long-time dream of mine to record a gospel album. A few years ago, I met a preacher who asked me if I'd ever written a gospel song. I told him I'd never written a song at all, though I'd sung a lot of them. That night I woke up with a song in my head. I got up, went downstairs, put it on a tape, and went back to bed. Ever since then, I've been writing these gospel songs (well actually I've never written down any of them). Some of them never even existed outside my head until I went into the studio, and I finally decided to make a record."

The songs Matt has written in his head often come to him while he is laying in bed, so he gets out of bed and sings the song into a tape player so he won't forget the song by morning, as he is not able to write them down like other musicians would.

Matt has been working on a new CD for about a year now, and Matt and his band, "The Bratlanders," will soon be releasing the CD, "Heavy On My Mind," that will knock your socks off. The CD will be available by contacting ricecountyrecords.bandcamp.com or by looking up Matt in Ellendale.

Ellendale has always been proud of this man who's always there, and many are excited about this event in Matt’s life. If you've seen him on stage, heard him sing, or listened to his CD, you know he enjoys the gift of music he has been given. As Rich Larson in the February entertainment guide writes, "Anyone who has seen Matt's live shows knows that the best single word to describe this band is ‘mighty.’”

Matt wrote eight of the 10 songs on the new CD. He thanks God for the words and inspiration and the ability to learn and remember.

Matt Arthur may have lived in the dark his entire lifetime, but he knows where he has been and, more importantly, where he is going.