From sailor’s letters to timeless songs: how a family’s love story is reaching new audiences
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Some stories are too good to stay tucked away in a drawer.
One former Navy sailor’s love letters, written more than 60 years ago, have recently been rediscovered and turned into music that’s now being enjoyed by listeners around the world.
It’s a tale that blends romance, family, and creativity—proof that meaningful traditions can take on new life in unexpected ways.
What started as a private song for a sweetheart has now been shared across streaming platforms and social media.
And at the heart of it all is the bond between a grandfather and his grandson.
Morton “Mort” Block, now 86, met his wife Susan in 1958 and began writing her letters and songs during his service in the US Navy.
While stationed on the USS Hazelwood, he composed a ballad titled My Love, which he later performed for Susan when he returned home.
It became a piece of their shared story, sung often in their marriage.
Decades later, Mort’s grandson Matt Block, co-founder of La Reserve Records, came across the song in 2022.
Together, they recorded My Love and shared it on social media alongside vintage honeymoon footage of Mort and Susan.
The video quickly drew 1.6 million views, introducing Mort’s music to a whole new generation.
They soon found more lyrics among Mort’s letters, which inspired their newest album, The Lonely Sea, now streamed more than 4.5 million times.
Matt and Mort’s connection runs deep.
Matt picked up his grandfather’s trumpet as a toddler and has been making music with him ever since.
“He’s my best friend,” Mort says, describing music as their lifelong bond.
Their first joint project, Strange Harbors, drew more than 20 million streams, and their second, The Lonely Sea, reaches even further back into Mort’s Navy years for inspiration.
In an age of quick texts, the letters Mort and Susan exchanged stand out as reminders of a slower, more personal kind of connection.
Preserved for decades, these words are now part of songs that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Since the rediscovery of his music, Mort’s social media following has grown from just a few hundred to nearly 60,000.
For him, the response is still astonishing: “It just blew up,” he says.
Mort’s life in retirement is filled with the same dedication he gave to his Navy years.
He swims daily, volunteers as an assistant director for a high school jazz band in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and plays trumpet every day. “
Since I retired, I don’t know what I would do without music,” he shares.
For him and Matt, creating songs is less about fame than about preserving memories and expressing love.
This summer brought another milestone when Matt married Yena Kang, with Mort officiating the ceremony.
It was a proud moment, adding another layer to their family story.
And with talk of a third album underway, Mort and Matt show no signs of slowing down their creative partnership.
Stories like Mort and Matt’s illustrate the lasting power of family, memory, and creativity.
A song written long ago to express love now inspires listeners across the globe.
It’s a reminder that music and storytelling can connect us, no matter our age or stage of life.
Read next:
Have you ever found a letter, photo, or keepsake that carried unexpected meaning years later? Sometimes the smallest discoveries can inspire the biggest stories!
One former Navy sailor’s love letters, written more than 60 years ago, have recently been rediscovered and turned into music that’s now being enjoyed by listeners around the world.
It’s a tale that blends romance, family, and creativity—proof that meaningful traditions can take on new life in unexpected ways.
What started as a private song for a sweetheart has now been shared across streaming platforms and social media.
And at the heart of it all is the bond between a grandfather and his grandson.
A love story set to music
Morton “Mort” Block, now 86, met his wife Susan in 1958 and began writing her letters and songs during his service in the US Navy.
While stationed on the USS Hazelwood, he composed a ballad titled My Love, which he later performed for Susan when he returned home.
It became a piece of their shared story, sung often in their marriage.
From drawer to digital discovery
Decades later, Mort’s grandson Matt Block, co-founder of La Reserve Records, came across the song in 2022.
Together, they recorded My Love and shared it on social media alongside vintage honeymoon footage of Mort and Susan.
The video quickly drew 1.6 million views, introducing Mort’s music to a whole new generation.
They soon found more lyrics among Mort’s letters, which inspired their newest album, The Lonely Sea, now streamed more than 4.5 million times.
Also read: Love after 50: Why the best chapters for dating are ahead
A family partnership in music
Matt and Mort’s connection runs deep.
Matt picked up his grandfather’s trumpet as a toddler and has been making music with him ever since.
“He’s my best friend,” Mort says, describing music as their lifelong bond.
Their first joint project, Strange Harbors, drew more than 20 million streams, and their second, The Lonely Sea, reaches even further back into Mort’s Navy years for inspiration.
Also read: Letters from one dad have now touched thousands, thanks to his daughter’s idea
The power of letters and sharing
In an age of quick texts, the letters Mort and Susan exchanged stand out as reminders of a slower, more personal kind of connection.
Preserved for decades, these words are now part of songs that resonate with audiences worldwide.
Since the rediscovery of his music, Mort’s social media following has grown from just a few hundred to nearly 60,000.
For him, the response is still astonishing: “It just blew up,” he says.
Also read: Airman stuns grandparents by posing as delivery driver in emotional surprise
Music, retirement, and purpose
Mort’s life in retirement is filled with the same dedication he gave to his Navy years.
He swims daily, volunteers as an assistant director for a high school jazz band in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, and plays trumpet every day. “
Since I retired, I don’t know what I would do without music,” he shares.
For him and Matt, creating songs is less about fame than about preserving memories and expressing love.
Also read: What happens behind closed doors? Small-town mayor steps down after unexpected scandal
A new chapter for the family
This summer brought another milestone when Matt married Yena Kang, with Mort officiating the ceremony.
It was a proud moment, adding another layer to their family story.
And with talk of a third album underway, Mort and Matt show no signs of slowing down their creative partnership.
Also read: A love story in the spotlight: How one couple's Oscar-night tradition is winning hearts
Why this story matters
Stories like Mort and Matt’s illustrate the lasting power of family, memory, and creativity.
A song written long ago to express love now inspires listeners across the globe.
It’s a reminder that music and storytelling can connect us, no matter our age or stage of life.
Read next:
- A new generation of men is learning about love through the lens of menopause
- This couple’s love has a magnetic pull—literally!
- 50,000 dates later: Woman shares how she forgot her own child in an unbelievable love journey!
Have you ever found a letter, photo, or keepsake that carried unexpected meaning years later? Sometimes the smallest discoveries can inspire the biggest stories!
