“Stay” by Mike Jacobs Becomes A Hit Song After His Death

Mike Jacobs died from esophageal cancer this past New Year’s Eve at the age of 61. And now, a song he recorded before he died has become a hit on iTunes in the U.K., reaching as high as the number two spot.

Credit: express.co.uk

According to a story from express.co.uk, Jacobs originally composed the song, “Stay,” roughly 30 years ago. It recounts his sadness following an emotional break-up. The song’s lyrics still resonate poignantly, particularly after his death.

Mike wrote numerous tracks throughout his life, according to his son Josh, 37. It was always a dream of his to record a hit single, but he was reluctant to have them professionally recorded. Mike’s family, particularly Josh, finally persuaded him to record a song following the cancer diagnosis.

“He used to write songs but no one ever heard them,” Josh says. “They were really for me and my sister, Lauren. We used to love singing along to them in the car … For 30 years he never did anything with them. He struggled with his confidence, so he didn’t want to put himself out there. I thought, well, this is the time to put yourself out there and show your talents.”

Josh, who works in the television industry, decided to film a documentary about his dad’s bucket-list wish. He wanted to film his dad not only for his family but so that the public could see how truly talented Mike was.

Josh admits that filming his father with terminal cancer was tough. “I was filming everything, but it was so hard for me,” he says. “I was making a film about my dying dad.”

Pushing Through

“Stay” was recorded at a professional studio in North London over the course of the final six months of Mike Jacobs’ life. Recording wrapped early last December, as life with cancer and its complications stalled the completion of the song. They had to cancel numerous studio sessions because of Mike’s deteriorating condition.

“I wanted the last few months of his life to be the happiest they could be,” Josh says. “I wanted him to enjoy himself as well, even though a lot of the recording was delayed because he was so unwell. We both wanted to see it through.”

It’s especially emotional for Mike’s family that he chose to record “Stay” out of all of the songs he’d written. The song is about a woman leaving him, but now can be put in the context of him “leaving” his family.

Mike Jacobs and his single gained significant media attention in the U.K. The song was featured initially on the Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 on December 20, when Josh was a guest. Zoe Ball, also of BBC Radio 2, played the song on her show before Christmas. The story has been covered on a variety of TV programs in the U.K. as well.

Family Life

Mike Jacobs and his son Josh.
Credit: express.co.uk

Mike Jacobs leaves behind a loving family, clearly evidenced by their push for him to fulfill a lifelong dream. Though certainly the driving force behind it, Josh wasn’t the only family member involved with the song’s production. His sister Lauren, 33, contributed back-up vocals to the track.

Mike married his first wife, Annette, in the 1970s. They had Josh and Lauren, and then divorced in the ’80s.

The two children stayed with Annette, but Mike saw them every weekend. “He never felt like an absent father,” says Josh. “We saw him all the time growing up.”

Mike then married his second wife, Diane. They had a son, Matthew, who is now 19 years old. That marriage eventually fizzled out as well. But then 15 years ago, Mike began dating Lucy, whom he finally married this past December. (Mike was diagnosed with cancer in September 2017.) Mike had helped to raise Lucy’s daughter, Hannah, since she was four years old.

“It was a fairly complicated family background for us all to navigate, but it all works out pretty well,” says Josh. “Lucy and my dad were so close, and so when the diagnosis came in September 2017 it was shattering.”

Josh was the best man at his father’s wedding to Lucy in December. Mike was going through chemo at the time, but remained positive and kept a big smile on his face throughout.

The song is emotionally charged, even if you didn’t know the backstory. But watching the music video and hearing the song, particularly when you know the context…it’s hard to not tear up.

Proceeds from sales of the single “Stay” by Mike Jacobs will be donated to the two hospice centers that helped to care for Mike in his final months.

You can watch the official music video for “Stay” below.