Songs released after musician's death

By Ben Jeffrey
BBC News

Sam's music is raising money for the Roadpeace charity

A collection of songs written by a man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash has been produced by his family.

Sam Neal, from Cradley, West Midlands, was 20 when he was knocked down by Luke Griffin in Stourbridge in August 2003.

Although he leaves a huge hole their lives, parents Norman and Linda and brother Ben take great comfort from Sam's musical legacy.

After the student's death they found nearly 50 original guitar compositions he had recorded on a four-track tape.

A selection of these, and a few covers, now make up a CD which is part of the Sam Neal Anthology, produced with the help of West Bromwich community arts organisation The Public.

You could constantly hear all kinds of music coming out from behind the bathroom door Norman Neal

The A4-size collection also features song lyrics, poems, notes, cartoons, drawings, photos and quotes from close friends.

The songs have been re-mastered by Sam's brother Ben, who has set up a website in memory of the Sheffield Hallam University student.

Norman Neal told BBC News that his son was a talented musician who was killed before his true potential could ever be discovered.

All of Sam's family have worked to put the anthology together

"I wouldn't pretend he was a prodigy, but he clearly had a lot of strengths and skills.

"He worked very hard at it. You could constantly hear all kinds of music coming out from behind the bathroom door."

Mr Neal also recently performed some of Sam's songs at a recent charity concert at the JBs club in Dudley, which raised more than £500 for charity Roadpeace.

All the money made from the anthology, which costs £10, will also go the organisation, which supports people bereaved by road accidents.

Mr Neal added that putting Sam's work together had been a form of therapy for the family.

"It's been a positive thing for me to do, to record the achievements of Sam, who I think was killed irresponsibly and callously and whose death was avoidable.

"Producing the anthology has helped the grieving process."

The Sam Neal Anthology can be bought through his website using the link on the right-hand side of this story.