Just A Boy
On May 16, 2025, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay delivered a profoundly moving performance of “Just a Boy” by acclaimed composer and lyricist John Bucchino, as part of their concert “Tyler’s Suite / I Love the 90’s” at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. The piece was performed as part of Tyler’s Suite, a groundbreaking and deeply emotional choral work created in memory of Tyler Clementi, a gifted young violinist and gay college student whose tragic death in 2010 sparked a nationwide conversation about bullying, vulnerability, and the urgent need for greater LGBTQ+ support and visibility.
“Just a Boy” is one of the suite’s most intimate and soul-searching movements. With music and lyrics by John Bucchino, known for his emotionally raw and elegantly simple songwriting, the piece offers a deeply human portrait of Tyler—not as a symbol or statistic, but as a person. It gently peels away the noise of judgment and misunderstanding to reveal the universal truth at the heart of Tyler’s story: he was just a boy, trying to navigate the world, to love, to be seen, and to belong.
Cody Smith-Rollins stepped into the solo role with remarkable emotional clarity and sensitivity. His vocal performance captured the innocence and yearning embedded in Bucchino’s lyrics, painting a tender and tragic picture of a young man whose inner world was rich, hopeful, and vulnerable. Smith-Rollins’ interpretation resonated deeply with the audience, his voice both strong and fragile, creating a space of empathy and shared humanity.
KaleyAnna Raabe accompanied on violin, her instrument singing with a haunting beauty that mirrored Tyler’s own voice as a musician. Her playing, nuanced and lyrical, became a poignant echo of Tyler’s presence—a reminder of what was lost, and what still lingers in memory. Kevin Wu provided masterful support on piano, his playing unobtrusively anchoring the performance with warmth, depth, and emotional precision.
Presented in the inclusive and affirming sanctuary of Allendale United Methodist Church, a congregation known for its advocacy for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights, this performance of “Just a Boy” stood out as one of the emotional high points of the evening. It called the audience not only to remember Tyler, but to reflect on the many young lives still struggling to be understood and accepted in a world that too often fails them.
Within the broader context of the concert—juxtaposing the heartrending elegance of Tyler’s Suite with the vibrant nostalgia of 1990s pop culture—this piece offered a moment of stillness and clarity. It was a reminder that behind every public tragedy lies a deeply personal story, and that through music, we can keep those stories alive, honor them, and inspire change.