San Francisco Voice Coach Sings For Student With ALS: Video

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- When San Francisco singer Bernie Dalton was told he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable disease that weakens the muscles, he asked his coach to become his voice. Two years later, Dalton's lyrics, sung by Essence Goldman, will be released in an album on Feb. 9.

Goldman said Dalton was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, shortly after starting voice lessons in 2016.

"Bernie showed up to each lesson filled with inspiration, songs to share, and was eager to learn healthy vocal techniques to expand his range and build his confidence as a singer," Goldman wrote on a GoFundMe page created for Dalton. "Two months after starting voice lessons, Bernie’s voice mysteriously disappeared. We could not figure out why."

After many tests, a then-47-year-old Dalton was told he had the bulbar onset of ALS, a disease that typically affects the voice first before weakening the rest of the body. A father to a teenager, Dalton was told he had one to three years left to live.

But Dalton had one wish before leaving the world, Goldman wrote.

"Bernie had a vision, but since ALS had already robbed of him of his ability to speak or sing, he asked me to be his voice," said Goldman, who turned Dalton's lyrics into an album. "He was able to sit with us in the studio and give feedback using hand signals and write notes on a dry erase board to indicate his approval or disapproval of what we were playing. I will tell you this: two thumbs up from someone who can't speak means a lot."

Dalton and Goldman plan to release his album on Friday, Feb. 9 at SLIM's in San Francisco.

As the family celebrates Dalton completing his album, they hope they will receive enough donations to provide him with in-home care. As of Monday, the GoFundMe received $59,000 in donations.

"Throughout his life, Bernie has touched many people with his kindness, humor and generous spirit," the page read. "Now, he deserves to be given proper medical care and he deserves to spend his remaining days in the peace of his own home, surrounded by loving friends and family."

--Photo of Bernie Dalton with his daughter courtesy of GoFundMe