The rock music genre had a Smash Mouth lead singer Steve Harwell on its stage. In turn, at the singer’s center stage was his son Presley Scott Harwell who lived only 6 months before he died in July 2001 due to complications from acute lymphocytic leukemia. In spite of this, Steve Harwell’s son has lived through legacies that include saving lives and contributing towards the betterment of children’s health through the Presley Scott Harwell Medical Research Foundation.
22 years after Presley’s death, tragedy struck the family again in a hard way. This was a result of Steve’s death on September 4, 2023. He was 56 and he died after liver failure. Before then, he suffered numerous health challenges and struggled with alcoholism.
Now that we have a background, let’s look and what Presley’s life was like and how his legacy is standing the test of time. We will definitely also look at his mother and every other important detail.
In the Year Presley was Born, His Father Steve Harwell Created Songs That Couldn’t Be Kept Out of Some World’s Favourite Animations
2001 was quite a year for Steve Harwell as he was both a victor and vanquished. As part of his victories of the year, Presley Scott Harwell was born in January 2001, in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA. He was born to Steve and his ex-wife Michelle Laroque.
Presley was born in the same month that his father turned 40. He remained the only child born to Steve as far as the media is aware of.
Although he sadly passed the same year of his birth, Presley’s year of birth and death came with other remarkable turnouts in Steven’s career as a musician. One of the many was his band covering the Monkees’ hit song I’m a Believer. The song was part of the soundtrack to the movie Shrek.
Also, the band, Smash Mouth released its self-titled album that was eventually certified gold. They also appeared in the American comedy film Rat Race which was released in August 2001 and made an impressive $85.5 million against a $48 million budget at the box office.
Presley Scott Harwell was One of the 38,136 Pediatrics to Be Diagnosed With ALL Before His Demise
Steve Harwell’s son was diagnosed with a certain type of cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Unfortunately, he became one of the 38,136 new pediatric ALL cases to be diagnosed between 2001 to 2014 in America.
This ailment, according to the American Cancer Society accounts for less than half of 1% of all cancers in America.
As to what may have caused the ailment in Presley Scott Harwell, studies as reported by NHS Inform show that it is caused by:
a DNA mutation in the stem cells causing too many white blood cells to be produced
Sadly, the cancer is highest in children younger than 5 years old and the risk reduces over time. It then rises when one is approaching 50.
Although studies suggest that children have lower death rates when diagnosed with ALL as compared to adults, Presley fell on the wrong side of this study as he died shortly after he was diagnosed.
See Also: Nicholas Collins – 10 Shocking Details About Phil Collins’ son
Steve Harwell’s Son’s Death and How It Left The Singer Scarred
Presley Harwell died on 28 July 2001 due to complications from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He died at 6 months of age in the same town he was born, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, USA; and a memorial was held on 31 July 2001.
Prior to his demise, he was critically ill at Sunrise Children’s Hospital in Las Vegas.
Nonetheless, his father was on tour but some performance was canceled due to the tragedy that struck the family.
His death left his family scarred and according to some reports, it was a reason that contributed to why his parents’ marriage failed.
Also, his father’s alcoholism may have increased around the time he grieved his only child.
At death, the younger Harwell was survived by his parents, Steven Harwell (died on 4 September 2023) and Michelle Laroque, and many other relations.
Presley’s Death May Have Been an End to a New Beginning
After the infant celebrity son of Steve died, his famous musician father started a legacy in his name. He founded The Presley Scott Research Foundation for Leukemia in Winchester Blvd. San Jose, California.
It was created in August 2001, about a month following the death of Presley. However, according to The Open Database Of The Corporate World, the foundation was Dissoluted in 2008. While this is unconfirmed, what is certain is that in one way or the other, the foundation has helped people living (or that lived) with leukemia.
