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'{{Infobox musical artist | name = Zach Sobiech | image = Zach Sobiech.jpg | alt = Zach Sobiech | caption = Zach Sobiech | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Zachary David Sobiech | birth_date = {{birth date|1995|5|3}} | birth_place = [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age 23|2013|05|20|1995|4|5|mf=yes}} | death_place = [[Lakeland, Minnesota]], U.S. | genre = [[Folk rock]], [[indie folk]], [[indie pop]] | occupation = Singer, songwriter, musician | instrument = Vocals, guitar, piano | years_active = 2009-2013 | associated_acts = [[A Firm Handshake]] }} '''Zachary David Sobiech''' (May 3, 1995 – May 20, 2013) was an [[United States|American]] singer-songwriter and musician from [[Lakeland, Minnesota]], who was a member of the band '''A Firm Handshake'''. The single "[[Clouds (Zach Sobiech song)|Clouds]]" gained extensive media attention on [[YouTube]], prior to Sobiech's death from [[cancer]] in May 2013.<ref name=child>{{cite web|url=http://www.childrenscancer.org/zach|title=Zach Sobiech: Finding peace through music|publisher=childrenscancer.org}}</ref><ref name=bill23>{{cite magazine |title=Zach Sobiech's 'Clouds' Headed For Hot 100 Debut|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1563578/zach-sobiechs-clouds-headed-for-hot-100-debut |date=May 23, 2013 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=May 24, 2013}}</ref> It charted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], eventually becoming a hit also in the UK, Canada and France. On October 18, 2020 the song "Clouds" topped the [[iTunes]] song chart at the number #1 spot. His philosophy was that in his last days of life due to his cancer, he needed to make people happy. ==Life and career== In his early years, Zachary attended St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater, MN (Class of 2009). He later attended [[Stillwater Area High School]] (Class of 2013). At age 14, Sobiech was diagnosed with [[osteosarcoma]], a bone cancer which mostly strikes children.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20701996,00.html|title=Zach Sobiech Dies at 18, Teen with Cancer Who Sang Viral Hit "Clouds"|last=Boehm|first=Kristin|date=20 May 2013|work=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> ''[[CBS]]'' reported that during his treatment he underwent 10 surgeries and 24 rounds of [[chemotherapy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/05/20/teen-whose-song-touched-the-world-dies-of-cancer/|title=MN Teen Whose Song Touched The World Dies Of Cancer|date=20 May 2013|work=[[CBS]]|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> He started writing music after his diagnosis.<ref name=fox/> In May 2012 his doctors informed him that he had up to a year to live.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.today.com/news/teen-behind-viral-hit-clouds-dies-bone-cancer-weeks-after-6C9993961|title=Teen behind viral hit 'Clouds' dies of bone cancer weeks after celeb-filled tribute video|last=Stump|first=Scott|date=20 May 2013|work=[[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today]]|access-date=21 May 2013}}</ref> Sobiech recorded the song "Clouds" about his battle with cancer,<ref name=bill>{{cite magazine |title=Zach Sobiech, Terminally Ill Singer Who Channeled His Story Into 'Clouds', Dies at 18 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1563117/zach-sobiech-terminally-ill-singer-who-channeled-his-story-into-clouds-passes |date= May 21, 2013 |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=May 24, 2013}}</ref> and released it as a YouTube video in December 2012. It went [[viral video|viral]], surpassing 3 million views at the time of his death. It currently has more than 18 million views and counting.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/20/health/sobiech-viral-video-death/?hpt=hp_t2|title=Teen featured in viral video dies|last=Enayati|first=Amanda|date=May 20, 2013|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> ===A Firm Handshake=== {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See WP:WikiProject Musicians --> | name = A Firm Handshake | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = | genre = | years_active = 2012–2013 | label = Rock the Cause | associated_acts = | website = | current_members = Sammy Brown<br />Reed Redmond | past_members = Zach Sobiech }} Prior to his death, Zach Sobiech formed the band A Firm Handshake with friends Samantha "Sammy" Brown and Reed Redmond.<ref name=child/> A Firm Handshake's first EP and only release, ''[[Fix Me Up]]'', was released digitally in early 2013,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lakeland teenager with rare cancer saying goodbye through song |url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_22148785/lakeland-teenager-rare-cancer-saying-goodbye-through-song |date=2013-05-20 |publisher= Twin Cities|access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> charting in USA, the UK and Canada. The debut single by A Firm Handshake is "How to Go to Confession" featuring Sammy Brown. ==Death== Sobiech died on May 20, 2013 of complications from [[osteosarcoma]], at his home in [[Lakeland, Minnesota|Lakeland]], an eastern suburb of [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]], seventeen days after his 18th birthday.<ref name="CNN"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Zach Sobiech dies after his farewell song became a YouTube sensation |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Music/2013/0523/Zach-Sobiech-dies-after-his-farewell-song-became-a-YouTube-sensation-video |date=May 23, 2013 |newspaper=Christian Science Monitor |access-date=May 23, 2013}}</ref> His funeral was held at the Catholic Church of St. Michael and he was later buried in St. Michael's Cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zach Sobiech’s funeral arrangements set |url=https://www.twincities.com/2013/05/19/zach-sobiechs-funeral-arrangements-set/ |work=TwinCities.com |publisher=Pioneer Press |date=May 19, 2013}}</ref> ==Tributes== [[Rainn Wilson]]'s YouTube channel SoulPancake released a documentary about Sobiech, directed by director-actor [[Justin Baldoni]], a part of its online reality series, ''My Last Days''.<ref name=fox>{{cite news |title=Viral Video Sensation Zach Sobiech Dies|url=http://fox2now.com/2013/05/23/viral-video-sensation-zach-sobiech-dies/ |publisher=Fox2Now |date= May 23, 2013 |access-date=May 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20698877,00.html|title=Stars Serenade Zach Sobiech in Appreciation of His Brave Cancer Fight|last=Dyball|first=Renni}}</ref> The 22-minute episode of ''My Last Days: Meet Zach Sobiech'' has been watched more than 15.9 million times on the main SoulPancake YouTube channel.<ref name=SoulPancake>{{YouTube|9NjKgV65fpo|SoulPancake ''My Last Days'' series - Episode on Zach Sobiech}}</ref> A further episode entitled ''My Last Days: Zach Sobiech, One Year Later'' was created to follow up with Zach's family and friends after his death.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iTImZGOtc4</ref> Artists have released many tributes, including many cover versions of "Clouds"—with a prominent version of "Clouds" released on SoulPancake,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/teen-wrote-cancer-hit-dies-article-1.1349332|title=Zach Sobiech, teen who wrote viral YouTube hit 'Clouds' about cancer, dies from it at 18|last=Hastings|first=Deborah|date=May 20, 2013|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|access-date=May 21, 2013}}</ref> featuring director [[Rainn Wilson]] himself, along with [[Bryan Cranston]], [[Ashley Tisdale]], [[Jason Mraz]], [[Sara Bareilles]],<ref name=bill23/> [[Colbie Caillat]], [[Phillip Phillips]], [[Passenger (singer)|Passenger]], [[The Lumineers]] and many others. The music video on SoulPancake presented in collaboration with Wayfarer Entertainment was directed by Justin Baldoni, produced by Baldoni and Ahmed Kolacek, with Fouad Elgohari as associate producer and Nick Pezzillo as editor.<ref>Full credits include, SoulPancake presents, in collaboration with Wayfarer Entertainment / Director/Producer: Justin Baldoni / Producer: Ahmed Kolacek / Associate Producer: [[Fouad Elgohari]] / Editor: Nick Pezzillo / with appearances by Brian Cranston, Sarah Silverman, Ashley Tisdale, Colbie Caillat, Chris Pratt, Anna Faris, Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles, Andy Grammer, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Jenna Elfman, Jack McBrayer, Lumineers, Jason Derulo, Kelly Oxford, The Mowglis, Rachel Bilson, Kina Grannis, Passenger, Creed Bratton, Tyler Hilton, Mark Duplass, Josh Gad, Jason Wade, Paul McDonald, Ed Helms, Phillip Phillips, Justin Young, Alyssa Shouse</ref> The video has been viewed over 5 million times on the SoulPancake YouTube channel.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zxXAtmmLLc</ref> On December 5, 2013 a choir of an estimated 5,000, sang Sobiech's hit song "Clouds" at the [[Mall of America]]. The event was organized by the [[KSTP-FM|KS95]] Kids Radiothon in collaboration with the Children's Cancer Research Fund and [[Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Divine|first=Mary|title=5,000 sing Zach Sobiech's 'Clouds' in his memory at Mall of America|url=http://www.twincities.com/washingtoncounty/ci_24666557/5-000-sing-zach-sobiechs-clouds-his-memory|work=TwinCities.com|publisher=Pioneer Press|access-date=23 January 2014}}</ref> Zach's mother Laura Sobiech wrote a memoir about his life, ''Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom's Small Prayer in a Big Way''.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/books/242847871.html New book will tell the story of Zach Sobiech, who wrote the song "Clouds"]</ref> In early 2016, it was announced that [[Warner Bros.]] is developing a film based on Laura Sobiech's book. [[Justin Baldoni]] is set to direct and it is titled 'Clouds' after Zach's own song.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=Warner Bros. Developing Zach Sobiech ‘Fly a Little Higher’ Movie |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/warner-bros-fly-a-little-higher-movie-1201694182/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=February 1, 2016}}</ref> The movie ''[[Clouds (2020 film)|Clouds]]'' was released on [[Disney+]] on October 16, 2020.<ref>On 09 September 2020 Disney posted a trailer on their official YouTube page, titled "Clouds l Official Trailer | Disney+", with the release date shown at 2:12. (YouTube references are not allowed on Wikipedia.)</ref> Production started on October 19, 2019<ref>{{cite instagram|user=justinbaldoni|last=Baldoni|first=Justin|author-link=Justin Baldoni|postid=B3zUjvvFzl4|title=Day 1. 😭 I have felt Zach guiding this film from the beginning. But I’ve felt him stronger this week then ever before.|date=October 19, 2019}}</ref> in Montreal and was directed by Justin Baldoni. The movie stars [[Fin Argus]] as Zach and [[Sabrina Carpenter]] as Sammy. ==Legacy== Sobiech's family established The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund at [[Children's Cancer Research Fund]]. In September 2015, Zach's fund reached $2 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zach Sobiech's Research Fund Reaches $1 Million In Donations |url=https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/09/15/zach-sobiechs-research-fund-reaches-1-million-in-donations/ |agency=CBS |date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> ==Discography== ===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:7em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="8"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br /><ref name="US-and-CAN-charts">{{cite web | url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p2825605/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} | title=A Firm Handshake > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles | publisher=[[Allmusic]]. [[Rovi Corporation]] | access-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top Digital Albums|US<br />Dig.]]<br /><ref name="US-and-CAN-charts" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top Heatseekers|US<br />Heat.]]<br /><ref name="US-and-CAN-charts" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top Independent Albums|US<br />Indie]]<br /><ref name="US-and-CAN-charts" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top Rock Albums|US<br />Rock]]<br /><ref name="US-and-CAN-charts" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top Canadian Albums|CAN]]<br /><ref name="US-and-CAN-charts" /> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK-charts">{{cite web | url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/130601cluk.txt| title=Chart Log UK – 01/06/2013 | work=zobbel.de | publisher=Tobias Zywietz | access-date=August 1, 2013 | author=Zywietz, Tobias}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[UK Indie Chart|UK<br />Indie]]<br /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20130526/131/ | title=2013-06-01 Top 40 Independent Albums Archive | publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] | access-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Fix Me Up]]''<br/>{{small|(Among A Firm Handshake)}} | * Released: February 15, 2013 * Label: Rock the Cause<ref>http://irockthecause.org/</ref> * Format: [[Music download|Digital download]] | 20 || 9 || 27 || 4 || 6 || 22 || 121 || 24 |- |} ===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Single ! rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="8"| Peak positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="40"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br /><ref name="Clouds-charts">[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1565048/macklemore-ryan-lewis-still-atop-hot-100-zach-sobiech-debuts Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Still Atop Hot 100, Zach Sobiech Debuts]</ref> ! width="40"| [[Rock Songs|US<br />Rock]]<br /><ref name="Clouds-charts"/> ! width="40"| [[Ultratop|BEL<br />(Wa)]]<br /><ref name=bel-wa>[http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Zach+Sobiech Ultratop.be/fr/ Zach Sobiech discography]</ref> ! width="40"| [[Canadian Hot 100|CAN]]<br /><ref name="Clouds-charts"/> ! width="40"| [[SNEP|FR]]<br /><ref name=fr>[http://www.lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Zach+Sobiech Lescharts.com Zach Sobiech discography]</ref> ! width="40"| [[Swiss Hitparade|SWI]]<br /> ! width="40"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK-charts" /> ! width="40"| [[UK Indie Chart|UK<br />Indie]]<br /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20130526/130/ | title=2013-06-01 Top 40 Independent Singles Archive | publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] | access-date=August 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | align="left"| "[[Clouds (Zach Sobiech song)|Clouds]]" | 2013 | 26 || 3 || 29 || 14 || 26 || 73 || 50 || 8 | align="center"|''[[Fix Me Up]]'' |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{YouTube|9NjKgV65fpo|Documentary in ''My Last Days'' series: Zach Sobiech}} *[https://childrenscancer.org/zach/ The Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund] at [[Children's Cancer Research Fund]] {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Sobiech, Zach}} [[Category:1995 births]] [[Category:2013 deaths]] [[Category:American folk rock musicians]] [[Category:American Internet celebrities]] [[Category:American singer-songwriters]] [[Category:Catholics from Minnesota]] [[Category:Deaths from bone cancer]] [[Category:Deaths from cancer in Minnesota]] [[Category:Indie folk musicians]] [[Category:Musicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota]] [[Category:People from Stillwater, Minnesota]] [[Category:People from Washington County, Minnesota]] [[Category:Singers from Minnesota]] [[Category:Songwriters from Minnesota]]'