Mixing Music and Military

Yesterday on the FOX NFL pregame show, Jon Bon Jovi talked about a song he has written called, “Unbroken,” for a documentary on Netflix.  The interview began with him talking about how both of his parents were Marines (that that’s how they met).

So as much as this might look like the latest instance of sports and entertainment fusing together, instead, it’s important to focus on how music and the military can – and do – combine with one another.

Heck, without even stopping to look at the list of guests over the now 300 episodes of “Now Hear This Entertainment,” I immediately think of Mark Goujon, Ryan Weaver, and Kerry Marshall who during their NHTE guest appearances talked with me about their military service.  In fact, over the last few days I was talking with a handful of songwriters in Alabama at the 35th Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival and hearing about the projects they’re involved with that integrate music and the military.

When you are as devoted to both as someone like Ryan Weaver, people like me consider your name synonymous with the topic and – as was the case in one or two conversations I had at the festival – ask others, “Is Ryan Weaver involved?  Do you know him?”

Now Hear This singer, songwriter, guitarist client Allyson LaCour is a military wife and is currently writing a song from that experience and is able to “talk the talk” with others as a result, as she found during conversations at the Frank Brown Festival.

Typically, we see military recognition on FOX NFL broadcasts (and those of the other networks) mostly in the form of the national anthem and servicemen and women who might be a part of that ceremony, plus sometimes even a military flyover.  Country singer Whitney Doucet – the guest on NHTE 272 and NHTE 59 – is very committed to these salutes, doing national anthem performances at Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins, and (pictured above) New England Patriots games, as well as NASCAR events.

And then there are all the guests I’ve talked to who have given back to the military community by doing shows through the USO.  I’m thinking of as recently as NHTE 292 and Hannah Anders who was a USO Artist of the Month.

Make no mistake, this is not to suggest for a minute that songwriters, that performers, can or should exploit the military angle.  Not at all.  But rather, it’s an awareness that while on days like today, Veterans Day, the tone is sometimes a little more somber, being in a posture of remembrance for those who have gone before us (having served our country), there can also be room for music to place its collective Thank You card.  And, to reinforce the point, it’s a reminder that there are efforts that artists can make to give back.  So, if you’re a performer and make a mental snapshot of your business and there’s too much ‘me’ in the picture, think of them and consider some outreach to the guys and gals who have protected our nation and our freedoms.

What connection does your music have and/or what efforts as a performer do you make to tie in with the military?  Talk about this blog in our Facebook group!