7/28/2010 By Lance Cpl. Jacob D. Osborne , Headquarters Marine Corps

MITCHELLVILLE, Md. — A Marine musician left concert goers in awe after performing a five-song country-rock set at the American Heroes Festival July 24.

Lt. Col. Mike Corrado took the stage at Six Flags as the show’s opening act; a performance dedicated to families who have lost loved ones in wars fought for America’s freedom.

Corrado, an operations officer with U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, said he enjoys playing music to help other people get through their pain and heal the soul.

“To be a part of this event is amazing,” Corrado said.

Before taking up the guitar, Corrado loved to play the drums. Although while attending the Citadel, a military college in South Carolina, his passion for drumming became an issue with his neighbors. This is around the time when Corrado picked up a guitar and taught himself how to play.

Today, Corrado has produced eight albums and opened for big names like The Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi and John Myer. Before returning to active duty in 2001, he performed between 200 and 250 shows a year.

“After 9/11, I got a call saying they could really use me,” Corrado said.

Tommy Brothers, a guitar player in the Mike Corrado Band, said having a Marine in the group made things a little more difficult because of the distance. However, he understands that being a Marine is very important to Corrado.

“He has been an inspiration for me and I am very honored he does what he does for me,” said Brothers, a Wilmington, N.C., native.

Steve Thorne, a Virginia Beach, Va., native and saxophone player in Mike Corrado Band, said it’s an honor to play with a Marine, and to play in front of the families of the fallen.

“To play some music to help heal the soul is humbling and an amazing opportunity,” Corrado said.

A new program helps members of the military pursue their musical dreams and showcase their talents.

The Voices of Service: Servin’ Up the Blues

June 25th, 2010 at The Carlyle Club. Click the PDF below for more info.
Voices of Service Flyer

I had lunch recently at the Monkey Bar with two of my favorite guys – David Simoné (pronounce the “e” at the end) and Winston Simone (drop the “e” at the end). These mad music men partners are not related.

My lunchmates were the guys who masterminded the hit “Who Let the Dogs Out” and David Simoné was once the creative partner of none other than Hollywood super producer David Geffen.

So now the Simone-Simoné gang have gone all squishy and patriotic on us. And it’s about time. They created the 4TROOPS CD, which Sony Masterworks will drop on us come May 11, and the idea is both masterful and inspiring.

The 4TROOPS are U.S. combat veterans, three male sergeants and one woman CPT platoon leader who served on ambulance evacuations of hundreds of wounded Americans and Iraqis. All four served in the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. They used to sing at military events and memorial services and, when they got home, decided to carry on commercially. Sony will release this debut CD during Armed Forces Week to honor all the military services and some of the profits go to benefit veterans.

Maybe you already saw ABC’s hero correspondent, Bob Woodruff, interview the 4TROOPS on “Good Morning America.” Incidentally, the album not only features the 4TROOPS doing pop and country, but includes some classics like Glen Campbell’s “ten greatest” hit – “Galveston.” Other tracks include “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan, Lonestar’s “I’m Already There” and a new song by Victor Hurtado titled “Here We’ve Been.” The album has been produced by Frank Fillipetti.

The 4TROOPS recently taped “Live From the Intrepid” and they are now touring army bases and are sponsored by Motel 6 and Cracker Barrel. Visit 4TROOPSmusic.com for more info.

And see if perhaps you can get David Simoné and Winston Simone to take you to lunch because they are two of the most amusing men on the planet. I asked David why he and Winston spell and pronounce their last names differently. He laughed: “Winston is so hopelessly Gentile!”

http://www.wowowow.com/culture/liz-smith-no-regrets-al-pacino-katie-couric-60-minutes-declines-answer-468589

4TROOPS’ concert debut draws standing ovation aboard USS Intrepid
By Tim Hipps

FMWRC Public Affairs

4TROOPS vocalists Meredith Melcher, Daniel Jens, David Clemo and Ron Henry perform aboard the USS Intrepid on Monday night in New York City during the taping of a PBS television special to be aired in June. The former Soldiers honed their craft in Army Entertainment Division programs run by the Army Family, Morale and Recreation Command. 4TROOPS self-entitled debut album is expected to be released April 28. Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

NEW YORK – Four former Soldiers from the Army Entertainment Division drew a standing ovation aboard the USS Intrepid during their inaugural concert taped Feb. 15 for a television show that will air in June on PBS.

In only three months, 4TROOPS recorded its self-entitled debut album scheduled for release April 28. The hit single, “For Freedom,” will be released any day now. Their first television special has been filmed and military installation and national concert tours are being booked.

U.S. Army Soldier Show Production Director Victor Hurtado brought his protégés together to assemble 4TROOPS and served as associate producer for the album.

“It has a historic feel to have these four combat veterans producing a product here on the USS Intrepid,” Hurtado said. “Everyone on the production team who has heard the album says that it’s easily the most believable, organic piece of work that they’ve done – because it comes from them. There’s nothing strategic or put on about this record – it’s them.

“They are incredible people, incredible former Soldiers, incredible veterans. That’s who they are, and it relates to their lives, the lives of those that they served with, and the lives of those who continue to serve.”

The singing group’s mission is to share the sacrificial experiences of Soldiering and Army Family life with the world. Their emotionally patriotic songs share down-to-earth military life tales that tug at the heartstrings and offer a glimpse into the lives of service members and their Families.

“My hope through all of this is that we continue to touch the lives of Americans, of Armed Forces, of people across the world,” said Staff Sgt. Ron Henry, who served 20 years on active duty and was one of five finalists in the inaugural Military Idol competition of 2005. “If the world could hear this CD, I want them to hear it because I want them to feel the love and the camaraderie throughout this whole project – that it brings a sense of peace, a sense of closure, a sense of happiness to every Family member across this world.”

The Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation singing contest, based on the premises of American Idol, since has been renamed Operation Rising Star. Henry, who served as a transport manager in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, finds it hard to fathom how being a singing Soldier has brought him full circle to realize a lifelong dream.

Soldiers and veterans are scattered throughout the audience at the March 15 taping of a 4TROOPS concert aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City. The show will air on PBS television in June. Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

“Being deployed was a great experience for me,” Henry said. “It was fearful not knowing if you were going to see the next day, not knowing when you were going to see your friends. There were some friends over there that I did lose. But I knew somewhere down deep in my heart that I had a purpose. Not only to go over there, but using my talents and the gifts that I feel God has given me to sing, to bring a joy, a sense of encouragement when these Soldiers were down and out and missing their Families and loved ones. I knew I was a part of that plan to help bring them over.”

Henry’s heart swells when he talks about the 4TROOPS album.

“I listen to the album and it brings tears to my eyes because I know we put our heart in it, we put our sweat in it, we put every fiber of our being into this album to show the love and support,” he said. “I feel like I’m on the other side now. I’m not active duty anymore, but I want to thank all those service members that are over in Iraq now, that are getting ready to go, that are training to go – I want to be the one now to say ‘thank you’ so that I can go in my house and sleep at night knowing that they are doing what they’ve been trained to do and they’re doing it with pride, dignity and integrity. I’m on the thankful side now, and I want to say ‘thank you’ through this project.”

Sgt. Daniel Jens, 36, finished 11th in “America’s Got Talent” during the summer of 2008. That autumn, he performed for AED inside the Installation Management Command’s booth at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual convention in Washington. He also performed at the 234th U.S. Army Birthday Ball in the nation’s capital.

“I’ve been playing guitar for about 15 years and singing for as long as I can remember,” said Jens, a Milwaukee native who was inspired to join the Army at age 32 by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 1, 2001. “After 911, I wanted to do something greater with my life, something that had meaning. Trying to chase that rock-and-roll dream and living that party lifestyle just wasn’t doing me any good.”

The dramatic lifestyle change landed Jens in Iraq from October 2006 until January ’08.

“I’d probably say the first month was a little scary,” Jens said. “You’ve got mortars dropping. You’re driving convoy missions and you’ve got bullets bouncing off your vehicle; IEDs exploding. You tend to get a little used to it after awhile. The one thing I didn’t get used to, though, was being away from my wife and kids. You never get used to that.”

4TROOPS vocalists David Clemo, Daniel Jens, Ron Henry and Meredith Melcher perform aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City during the Monday night taping of a PBS television special to be aired in June. The former Soldiers honed their craft in Army Entertainment Division programs run by the Army Family, Morale and Recreation Command. 4TROOPS self-entitled debut album is scheduled to be released April 28. Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

In Iraq, Jens became an Operation Happy Note star by entertaining troops with his guitar after they returned from missions in the field. He still cherishes his decision to serve.

“I’m really glad that I did it,” he said. “It’s done me a world of good.”

Capt. Meredith Melcher and Sgt. David Clemo performed in the 2004 U.S. Army Soldier Show, an “entertainment for the Soldier, by the Soldier” song-and-dance extravaganza that annually tours the world. Clemo also served as assistant director for two seasons.

“If I wouldn’t have joined the military and been involved with Army Entertainment, I wouldn’t have learned both sides of performing,” Clemo said. “It gives me a better appreciation for what I’m doing now. The skills I learned there have made this so much easier for me. If I would never have been in the show in 2004, I would have never worked with Army Entertainment, and I would definitely not be here.”

Clemo joked that it was much better being reunited with Melcher in New York as opposed to Fort Belvoir, Va., because “I don’t have to salute her.”

On a more serious note, Clemo recalled the 2005 experience of deployment in Iraq, where he performed at numerous talent shows, chaplain services and sang countless national anthems.

“If you have any type of singing ability or musical ability, you become kind of a hot commodity because they are looking for anything to boost morale because days get tough sometimes,” he said.

Clemo, 30, a native of Mount Vernon, Wash., prefers the 4TROOPS experience over life as a Soldier, but he realizes that it is designed to give back.

“The best part of this whole project really is the positive feel behind it,” he said. “It’s not politically tricky. It’s not trying to pull on heartstrings, although there definitely is emotion to it. It’s basically us saying we understand what you’re going through and bringing it across to civilians who might not understand. It hopefully comes to a point where everyone feels comfortable enough to say thank you.

4TROOPS vocalists Daniel Jens, David Clemo, Meredith Melcher and Ron Henry perform aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City during the Monday night taping of a PBS television special to be aired in June. The former Soldiers honed their craft in Army Entertainment Division programs run by the Army Family, Morale and Recreation Command. 4TROOPS self-entitled debut album is scheduled to be released April 28. Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

“When people told me ‘thank you,’ I didn’t feel like I deserved it. On the other side, people didn’t know how to actually say ‘thank you.’ Hopefully, this will bridge that.”

Melcher said she had to “grow up fast” as a young lieutenant responsible for leading troops and handling medical supplies on the front lines in Iraq. She also did a six-month tour of entertaining troops.

“All of those skills I now take with me as a recording artist because it’s about building relationships and being responsible for your actions,” said Melcher, 29. “When people tell you to be on time when going to the studio, being on time and being respectful of other people’s time and experience and energy – really not taking anything for granted and just being mindful of the whole process and appreciative.

“Army Entertainment really took my performance to a whole new level. I did some work in choirs and I directed an a capella group in college, but Army Entertainment gave me the skills that I needed to be a good performer and really put on a show and get the audience motivated and entertained. It certainly helped with my vocal ability, knowing my strengths and weaknesses and knowing how to enhance those.

“They really gave me the professionalism to be able to do what I’m doing now. You always hope to live your dream, but the reality is most people don’t. I can honestly say that I’m living my dream and I think that’s what makes this so surreal. To actually say, ‘I’m a professional singer,’ it’s certainly a privilege and an honor.”

Melcher’s younger sister, Katie, 24, will perform in the 2010 U.S. Army Soldier Show.

“The fact that she’s doing this and actually putting it on public display, I never thought I’d see the day, but I couldn’t be prouder,” Meredith said. “My parents are psyched, too. I will make time to go see her perform.”

U.S. Army Soldier Show Production Director Victor Hurtado (far right) discusses the 4TROOPS’ PBS television production with Daniel Jens (left) and David Clemo (center) in the green room aboard the USS Intrepid on March 15. In the background, 4TROOPS vocalist Ron Henry is huddled with Meredith Melcher and her parents. Lt. Gen. David Melcher retired from the Pentagon in 2008. Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

The Soldier Show sister duo are daughters of Lt. Gen David Melcher, who retired in 2008 from the Pentagon. He and his wife were aboard the Intrepid for the show on Monday night.

“I couldn’t be more proud of her being a part of this group and what this group represents to all those that are serving today and veterans and members of Families who are all part of this world we live in,” he said. “This is a great group and it means a lot to a lot of people.”

While serving in Iraq, Henry realized how much his “gift” meant to others when he sang at chaplain services and talent events.

“Every Sunday, I was music director for the chaplain,” Henry said. “We eventually moved from a tent when they contracted Iraqis to build us an actual building. We had instruments, drums, a piano, and we had a choir. And every Sunday we had church. The Army attended to every Soldier’s religious needs and whatever they needed to survive. That was an outlet. And it was packed every Sunday morning because they needed that type of encouragement.

“I felt that I would have done myself an injustice and my country and the people that I serve with an injustice not to use what was given me to be a part of the solution to help Soldiers get through that next week, get through that next month, and then bring it back home.”

“I’m so honored to have been able to do that. And now I feel like if you give of yourself, eventually it will come back to you. I feel like this opportunity has come back to me for a dream come true. I can’t even fathom now what I’ve seen – all this being put together for the 4TROOPS. This dream is being fulfilled and abundantly more. It’s more than I ever could have imagined what’s taking place and happening to us.”

Master Sgt. Jennifer Yancey of Fort Monmouth, N.Y., hugs 4TROOPS vocalist Daniel Jens after the group completes its first concert March 15 aboard the USS Intrepid in New York City. Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

Henry credits a lot of Army training for helping him find the way to the bright lights of New York City.

“Discipline,” he explained. “Being respectful of others; not burning bridges; just trying to create peace and harmony no matter what situation you’re in. I’d rather show the world that we are a team – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard – we all serve a purpose and we couldn’t do without one or the other. We all need each other.”

He also exhibits the kind of selflessness Soldiers are trained to attain.

“I’m not even worried about myself,” Henry said. “I’m doing what I love to do. I feel like if I couldn’t sing, I’d just say, ‘You can shoot me now.’ I really would, because it’s an outlet for me. It’s my comfort zone. I express myself through song and I know I can capture a crowd and make them understand and make them see what I’ve been through and what these American Armed Forces service members have been through.”

Hurtado hopes to see the trend continue.

“This feels like a pavement project for future troops,” he concluded. “It feels like it’s paving the way because it’s solid and it’s real and it’s good. Hopefully, we’ll have other veterans and troop artists following in their footsteps.”

Help heal wounded warriors with music

By Dennis Ryan

The healing powers of music have been recognized for centuries. The often misquoted William Congreve (1670-1729) wrote, “music hath charms to soothe a savage breast (not beast), to soften rock or bend a knotted oak.”

Rick Autery of Nashville, Tennessee discovered this quite accidentally a few years ago. His son lost a part of his arm in Fallujah, Iraq, while serving with the Marines in 2004.

The father, a former Vietnam era Marine, spent three months visiting with his boy while he recuperated at Walter Reed. He saw how the wounded troops relaxed when they got together in a casual setting, often with music involved.

When he returned home, Autery received an e-mail from a young Marine who wanted to attend the annual Country Music Association Festival held each year in Nashville. He started raising money and arranged for a handful of wounded warriors and their families to attend the festival.

Last year ten wounded service members and their families attended the festival free of charge. The group even got to go on stage with John Rich last year.

The Center for American Military Music Opportunities (CAMMO) has joined with Autery and his friends to help raise money for wounded warriors to attend this year’s festival June 10-13, 2010.

CAMMO is a new non-profit organization founded to use music as a creative and therapeutic tool to help service men and women deal with the stress of war.

The Veterans Health Administration uses music therapy as part of a 91-day program to combat substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions.

Autery needs $3,200 for tickets and $7,000 for travel, hotel and expenses for troops for this year’s festival. CAMMO is asking you to please help wounded warriors with the gift of music. Big name stars such as: Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood will perform this year.

Donations can made on line at www.cammomusic.org, mailed to Center For American Military Music Opportunities Outreach Program 2121 Eisenhower Ave. Suite 200 Alexandria, VA 22314 or if in the Nashville area you may call Rick at 615-545-9925.

Nick started playing the drums at the age of seven and played in various bands in high school and at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. In 2001 the bass beckoned and he started  the guitar.

Nick felt the National Guard seemed like a good way to help pay for school and  became a soldier in 2003. He went active duty with the famed 10^th Mountain Division, after his unit had spent about a year in country his unit was patrolling a street in Samarra, Iraq. He was in an armored security vehicle, when a 155 pound artillery shell and a shaped charge went off directly beneath him.

The explosion landed him in Walter Reed Army Medical Center for next three years. The first 18 months was mostly spent in bed. He underwent more than 20 surgeries. Now with a prosthesis, he is able to move pretty well.

He is currently playing with the band “Writing Home” in his native North Carolina. Nick writes music, sings, plays the bass and composes his own songs. All of this now lead him to the VH1 “Rock ‘n’ Roll Camp”.

VH1 Classic and Mark Burnett Productions have teamed up to give fans the ultimate music experience to fulfill their rock and roll fantasies. In a new, hour-long, weekly docu-series, viewers will get to watch as 15 musicians from a variety of backgrounds and cities will go through the transformative process of becoming “rock stars.”

“Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp has allowed musicians around the world to make their dreams a reality,” said Mark Burnett. “We are delighted to produce a series about this real-life process and work with the great team at VH1 Classic.”

Campers will learn the hard way that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger when rock n’ roll star counselors dole out some intense tough love in order to turn these amateur musicians into rock gods. Previous rock and roll counselors have included Roger Daltrey, Steven Tyler, Slash, and Bill Wyman, to name just a few. Over the course of four weeks, the show will follow campers as they form bands, rehearse, get schooled by rock and roll legends, and ultimately, in the finale, perform before a live audience in an iconic rock venue.

“We are very excited to team up with Mark Burnett Productions to bring our viewers an inside look at all of the excitement and intensity of Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp,” said Lee Rolontz, EVP of Original Music Production and Development, VH1 and VH1 Classic. “Where else can you experience music fans living their dreams on stage next to legendary classic music artists?”

Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp founder David Fishof says “Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp has changed people’s lives and this new alliance with Mark Burnett and VH1 Classic will enable viewers to see this in a very exciting way.”

Each week, a surprise rock icon will drop in to train each band on a new aspect of becoming rock stars. We’ll see campers evolve from quiet nice guys and gals to loud, sexy front men and women…timid drummers to drum-pounding rock heroes…wannabe Slashes to ax-slinging forces to be reckoned with. With a few hiccups along the way, the journey will be anything but dull…fights will erupt and stage fright will ensue, ensuring that only those with rock n’ roll in their blood will make it to the top!

In preparation for the final battle of the bands, each group must claim their true rock identity by choosing a name, a bad-ass wardrobe, and some killer hair and makeup. With the music know-how, looks, and rock star swagger falling into place, viewers will watch them take the stage in front of a live audience. Will they pass the test and be flocked by groupies…or booed off the stage? The stakes are high, as the band voted best by the fans will win the opportunity every rock fan dreams about – a once-in-a-lifetime performance with a major rock star.

Mark Burnett Productions is producing the series. Executive producers for Mark Burnett Productions are Mark Burnett and Lee Metzger. David Fishof is an executive producer.  Executive producers for VH1 Classic are Lee Rolontz, Keshia Williams, and Rick Krim.

Since 1997, Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy Camp has been giving individuals–regardless of their musical ability–a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live like a rock star and jam with their idols. The sessions begin with an opening night party and include intensive rehearsals with rock star counselors and jams, master classes and Q&A’s with rock legends, recording an original song at historic studios and conclude with a sold-out, closing night performance at a legendary club. It’s a dream come true for any music fan.  Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp takes place annually in London at Abbey Road Studios and Los Angeles.  Other camp locations have included New York and Las Vegas.

The 4TROOPS will be on NPR’s Weekend Edition this Sunday. The show airs at 8am-10am. As of right now, the troops are scheduled to be on around 8:20am. For those of you in the NYC area, you can listen at WNYC- 820AM WNYC- 93.9FM You can also listen online at NPR.com.