Between 2007 and 2013, 200 individuals - all rural Olympic Peninsula Washingtonians - ranging in age from 12 to 103 - composed more than 20 songs in collaboration with eight acclaimed Olympic Peninsula professional songwriters; most of whom tour or have toured nationally. (Several of these songwriters now make up the touring "SongTeam.")

70% of Life’s a Song community participants were age 60+ (average age 80). Of these, 70% were persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/ dementia or other cognitive disorders. All were residents of rural Jefferson or Clallam county. More than 50% were low income.

​The National Endowment for the Arts supported the establishment of SW’s ongoing rural programs as well as facilitator training for professional songwriter-performers in 2009 (Creativity and Aging in America grant) and, in 2013, supported the Life’s a Song recording.

Renowned Americana multi-instrumentalist Orville Johnson produced the recording, radio documentary style, weaving in elders' voices to share moments of inception for select songs.

21 Puget Sound regional musicians and media artists then brought participants’ words and music into recorded form. SW’s core group of songwriters (a.k.a. “SongTeam”) perform on the album in ensemble.

12 songs were recorded in 2013. A successful Kickstarter campaign ($10K+ raised) followed, and with support of a 2015 Jubilation Foundation fellowship, the song “Hometown” and its music video were added to the album.

Life’s a Song was mastered on June 30, 2016.