Musician Matt Mauser lost his wife, Christina, in the same helicopter crash that killed Kobe and Gianna Bryant on Jan. 26, 2020. (Courtesy of Matt Mauser)
By Matt Mauser | Good Morning America | Matt Mauser is a musician and songwriter based in Southern California. In January 2020, he lost his wife, Christina, in the same helicopter crash that took the lives of NBA icon Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. Mauser continues to perform while raising his three children, Penny, 13, Tom, 11, and Ivy, 5, and he has launched The Christina Mauser Foundation, which supports single mothers, women and girls in sports through scholarships and other financial aid. Here, he reflects on his relationship with Christina and how he has coped with the devastating loss.
It only took one date to realize Christina was special and someone I wanted in my life forever.
It was after a Sunday early evening bar performance at a Huntington Beach watering hole when Christina walked up to me as I was breaking down speaker cables and sipping down the last swallows of a Coors Light.
“Are you going to sing an original song?” she asked.
Stunned that a woman as beautiful as she would ask to hear a song that I had penned, I asked her how she even knew we had original songs. With a cracked smile that exposed her brilliantly white teeth, which contrasted with her beautiful olive skin, she replied, “We’ve talked a few times, and you sold me a CD last time. I love your song ‘Still,’ and you should play it.”
Well, there it was. She supported my music, the most important thing to me at that point in my life. Little did I know that at that particular moment, the wheels were set in motion for a friendship and a love affair filled with encouragement and support in pursuing each other’s dreams.
I told her I was done and invited her to grab a bite. She explained that she was with friends and said if her plans changed she would call.
Well, she called.
We drove through a Del Taco and parked in front of her house, where I played an old CD of original songs I had written (a technique I had found quite effective when courting). We later stumbled upon one of my favorite songs by the dynamic ’80s duo Hall & Oates. A song called “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do).” I explained to her that Michael Jackson had stolen the bass line from that song for his smash hit “Billie Jean.” I then started to beat box the song and dance in my seat.
Christina must’ve thought I was ridiculous, and she started laughing uncontrollably. It was the first time I’d heard her laugh. It was the sweetest, most sincere, honest display of joy I had ever experienced. It was a symphony. I fell in love with her at that moment.
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Grab the tissues before you finish reading Matt’s story…
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