John Vento Releases Single Sweet Cheslie

by Gabe Finch November 10, 2022

November 10, 2022

John Vento Releases Single Sweet Cheslie

Veteran musician John Vento has released a new song, “Sweet Cheslie,” in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. He is well-known not just for his award-winning brand of rootsy rock and roll but also for his participation in a number of organizations.

Living in a city of eight million

But you still somehow felt alone

Searchin’ for that rest and peaceful feelin’

May your light continue to shine

Oh sweet Cheslie,

Why didn’t you just come home

Oh sweet Cheslie

The song “Sweet Cheslie” is in honor of the late Cheslie Kryst, an American television correspondent, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who was elected Miss USA 2019. This talented individual committed suicide by jumping to her death from 60 stories of the high-rise building, The Orion, in January of 2022. After her death, her mother revealed that her daughter had struggled with high-functioning depression. According to Vento, Cheslie’s shocking death brought attention to the mental health epidemic that has plagued America for far too long. Several well-known musicians and singers from the Pittsburgh region collaborated on this album: Shane McLaughlin (guitar, vocals), Bob Zigerelli (vocals), Cherylann Hawk (vocals), and David Granati (vocals, guitar, bass). Matt Wohlfarth is responsible for the song’s lyrics, while Vento, McLaughlin, and Granati worked together to compose the music and write the song.

In addition to being one of the co-founders of the Pittsburgh-based charitable organization Band Together, which provides assistance to people on the autism spectrum who are in need of assistance, John Vento is also very active in the Remember Me Rose Garden, which is dedicated to the memory of the Heroes of Flight 93.