Late Nashville Songwriter Chad Sellers Honored With Posthumous Release “If I Were The Wind”

The family and creative community of late Nashville songwriter and producer Chad Sellers are honoring his life and artistic legacy with the release of “If I Were The Wind,” out now. The single serves as the latest chapter in a forthcoming tribute project celebrating Sellers’ work and features the final vocal performance he began before his passing—completed through an intimate and emotional collaboration with his eldest son, Gavin Sellers.

Co-written with rising Texas Country artist William Beckmann, “If I Were The Wind” is among the most introspective songs Sellers wrote in the final months of his life. Rooted in folk-Americana warmth and quiet honesty, the track reflects a longing to be a steady, protective presence for loved ones, carried by imagery as gentle as it is profound. Early recordings revealed a tenderness Sellers rarely shared so openly, leaving behind scratch vocals and lyrical fragments that initially felt too personal for anyone else to complete.

That changed when his son Gavin stepped into the studio.

A lifelong runner like his father and now a student-athlete at Lewis & Clark College, Gavin had never recorded vocals before. Under the guidance of producer Adam Sickler, he completed the song not as a replacement, but as a continuation of his father’s vision. The resulting performance is deeply emotional, carrying an uncanny resemblance to Sellers’ voice while remaining entirely its own.

Executive producer Bryan Ruby, who co-wrote more than 110 songs with Sellers, recalls the moment as unforgettable. “Watching Gavin step into the booth for the first time in his life and deliver a vocal that sounded uncannily like his dad… that hit me in a way I’ll never forget,” Ruby shared. “Shepherding his record toward release after he passed has been one of the heaviest, most meaningful things I’ve ever done.”

The release follows “Bird On A Wire,” which offered listeners their first glimpse into the creative space Sellers was entering during his final year. Co-written with Neil Cooper, the song explores hope, fear, and the tension between holding on and learning to let go. Cooper remembers Sellers as a collaborator defined by humility and care, noting that their partnership extended beyond songwriting into genuine friendship.

Throughout Nashville and beyond, Sellers was known as much for his generosity as his talent. Close collaborator Don Louis described him as a mentor and believer who led with empathy, faith, and unwavering encouragement.

Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Sellers lived a multifaceted life shaped by curiosity and discipline. A former sponsored marathoner, entrepreneur, English major, and published poet, he moved to Nashville with his family in 2018 and quickly became a trusted and respected voice within the songwriting community. His credits span Contemporary Country, Texas Country, Americana, Pop, and Christian music, with cuts by Don Louis, Bryan Ruby, Derek Johnson, Xavier Joseph, Neil Cooper, Anderson Daniels, and many others.

Before his passing in August 2023 at age 44, Sellers had begun shaping his debut EP—a folk-Americana project exploring love, loss, struggle, and the quiet questions that defined his inner world. In the aftermath of his death, his family and collaborators came together to complete the project he was unable to finish.

“If I Were The Wind” now stands as both a farewell and a promise—carried forward by the voice of a son and by a creative community committed to ensuring Chad Sellers’ music, spirit, and impact continue to be felt.