The year is 1958. The first part of the story takes place at Alcatraz, also known as “The Rock,” located in San Francisco Bay, not too far from Fisherman’s Wharf. The story to be told centers on Andrew Kane, the songs he wrote and his family.

Andrew Kane had been in prison for 18 years, leaving behind a wife and a young daughter. He was wrongly accused of participating in a bank robbery where a security guard was killed. While he had nothing to do with the robbery, the judge gave him an 18-year sentence.

Before we go on with the story, it should be noted that Andrew was a talented man. He was a writer of songs and wrote throughout his stay in prison. The years moved along. Later, in his 40s and in prison for all those years, the prison committee re-evaluated Andrew's case based on past prosecutorial errors. In doing so, they found him not guilty. And so Andrew was finally released. Typically, he was given a stipend to buy food and find lodging.

And so it was that Andrew Kane started to look for work. After several hours, he wandered along the San Francisco waterfront, where he found a job unloading cargo. The waterfront supervisor, Angelo, hired him. They talked for a while. Andrew told Angelo that he had no place to live. Then Angelo told him about a cabin located a few miles north where he could temporarily live.

As it turned out, in this cabin, Andrew spotted a grand old piano. He was thrilled and immediately started playing, attracting many people, both near and far. Coincidentally, a young woman living nearby heard him play. She loved to sing. She asked him if she could stop by again.

“Of course you can,” said Andrew.

“Judy is my name. What is your name?” she asked.

My name is Andrew. You have a beautiful voice, and I would certainly keep it up.” he said.

“I will,” she responded, “and may I bring my mother?”

"Sure you can,” Andrew said, “and I look forward to meeting her.”

The next day, Judy and her mother arrived. Judy introduced her to Andrew. Both Andrew and her mother did a double take. For a few seconds, nobody spoke. Then her mother said, “When did you get out of Alcatraz?”

“A few days ago,” he said.

Throughout Judy’s young life, her mother had often referred to her father. Judy could not believe what was going on. Bewildered, she wondered if  this could be true, that Andrew was her father?

It was true, and Judy sensed that her mother was still in love with him.

Her mother then said to Andrew, “Why don’t you come and stay at our house, which is not far from here. It’s your house also.”

“Well, the piano is here.” He continued, “I must do some more musical compositions, and I about two weeks I will join you and Judy. Please visit. And Judy must continue to sing. She and I can work on some musical compositions.”

At that moment in time, Kane thought he would ask Angelo if he could buy the piano.

Angelo said, “For you I’ll make a deal. How about $100?”

“I'll buy it,” Andrew said, “and please ship it to the address I will give you.” Andrew reassured himself that he was working and could afford to buy the piano.

So, the piano was shipped to the house. And his wife placed the old but beautiful piano by the window under the skylight in the living room. When Andrew and Judy arrived at the house and saw the piano, both father and daughter were so very happy. While in prison for a long time, Andrew wrote many pieces of fine music. Now that they had a piano, father and daughter could start working together. And so they did.

Several months later, a friend of Judy’s arranged for an audition at The Heather Musical Theater in Los Angeles. Excited by the coming audition, Judy and Andrew rehearsed every day.

Finally, they were on their way to the theater. When they arrived there, they entered a large room where they were greeted at the door by a man who introduced himself as Bob, one of the talent agents.

He explained that there were two more agents. “You can see, we have a large stage. Let us begin.”

Father and daughter got up on the stage. Andrew went to the piano and Judy to the microphone. Judy began to sing a medley of her father’s pieces that he had written over the last 18 years. They performed for about an hour.

Andrew and his daughter were overwhelmed by the applause. The talent agents  said, “You got it! You two must be the best we’ve seen in many years.” As one of the judges said, “We believe you will be a hit. We want to represent you. The songs you sing are beautiful.” They also said, “You must get your songs copyrighted.”

And of course, Bob signed them up to perform in some of the most notable places in Los Angeles.

He said, “You could possibly perform in other cities, like Chicago and New York, and maybe even tour in Europe. What do you think?”

Andrew immediately responded, “we are very excited.” “I am going to discuss this with my wife and see how she feels about going to Europe.” And so it came to be, they were on their way.