The Soldiers
Following the storming success of their double-platinum selling UK debut album ‘Coming Home’ and a sell-out UK tour it was announced today that ‘The Soldiers’ - Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, Staff Sergeant Richie Maddocks and Sergeant Major Gary Chilton - will release their second album ‘Letters Home’ on Rhino UK on 25 October 2010.
This very special second album will not only continue donations to three service charities (the debut album along with the tour raised over £250,000) but for the very first time will feature Our Boys In Afghanistan, as they join The Soldiers to sing on the album.
Giving the new album an even more significant emotional resonance for families and friends of soldiers currently serving in the Middle East, BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) Radio have done a “call out” to soldiers in Camp Bastion inviting them to offer their voice for inclusion on the new composition ‘I Will Carry You’, a poignant and highly emotive song dedicated to the soldiers who risk their own lives for their comrades, as well as the cover of Rod Stewart’s ‘You’re In My Heart’.
‘Letters Home’ will feature covers of classic love songs such as ‘When A Man Loves A Woman, ‘Yesterday’, ‘ Wonderful Tonight’, ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Everlasting Love’.
The Soldiers debut album and UK tour raised over £250,000 for three service charities; ABF The Soldiers Charity, Help for Heroes and the Royal British Legion. ‘Coming Home’ was released on 26 October 2009 and was produced by Nick Patrick (Katherine Jenkins, Russell Watson). The Daily Telegraph said The Soldiers and their album ‘struck an emotional chord with the nation’, a comment truly reflected by the many thousands who have added ‘Coming Home’ to their record collection.
The Soldiers invited Lieutenant Colonel T A Coles MBE, Russell Thompson OBE and Mark Elliot, from ABF The Soldier’s Charity, Royal British Legion and Help For Heroes charities to Kneller Hall in Twickenham today (Friday) to present the charities with a cheque for £271,000.
ABF The Soldier’s Charity is the Army’s national charity that exists to help soldiers, former soldiers and their families in times of need, Help For Heroes raises money to support the care of the UK’s wounded service men and women and the Royal British Legion aims to safeguard the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or have served in the armed forces.