Six-String Soldiers

Six-String Soldiers
Six-String Soldiers pictured in 2016
Six-String Soldiers pictured in 2016
Active 2014–present
Country United States
Branch  United States Army
Type Military band
Role Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Part of United States Army Field Band
Garrison/HQ Fort George G. Meade
Instrumentation Guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic bass guitar
Website official page
Commanders
Officer in Charge CWO Daniel Wood[1]
Element Leader MSG Peter Krasulski[1]

The Six-String Soldiers is a component unit of the United States Army Field Band responsible for performing contemporary American folk music genres, principally including bluegrass and country, as well as acoustic covers of popular songs. Posted to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, it consists of five performing personnel plus support staff.

Six-String Soldiers personnel at a 2018 recording session at FAME Studios in Alabama

History

Activated in May 2014, the ensemble first achieved widespread attention during Boston's February 2015 snowstorm when weather forced it to cancel a planned appearance in that city.[2][3][4] The quartet, instead, filmed a video outside their hotel performing George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" which quickly accumulated nearly nine million views on Facebook.[2][4]

Six-String Soldiers has performed with Darryl Worley, Harry Connick Jr., The Irish Rovers, the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, and has opened for Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty.[2][5][6] On November 10, 2017 it performed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange prior to the closing bell and its broadcast appearances have included HLN's Morning Express with Robin Meade, KTLA-TV and WPIX-TV, among others.[4][7][8][9] In 2016, Sports Illustrated's Andy Gray called Six-String Soldiers his "new favorite band" for its acoustic cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever".[10]

In 2016 Six-String Soldiers released its first album, which was composed of seven original songs and four covers.[11] The album, I've Been There, was produced by Bill Kirchen and engineered by Todd Whitelock.[11] It plans a second album release in 2019.[1]

The Six-String Soldiers perform the "Star-Spangled Banner" in 2015

Organization

Posted to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, the group tours within the United States and internationally to support recruitment efforts by the United States Army and to entertain both deployed Army personnel and patients at United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.[12][7] It has alternated between four to five members.[1][8] As of 2018, instrumentation includes guitar, mandolin, banjo, acoustic bass guitar, and fiddle.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Six-String Soldiers – personnel". United States Army Field Band. United States Army. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Casey, Ashley (January 11, 2017). "Lamirande's last hurrah: B'ville musician's Army career comes to a close". Eagle News. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  3. ↑ Annear, Steve (February 17, 2015). "Army band brings snow relief in the form of music". Boston Globe. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Kirby, Lynn. "4 soldiers, 6 strings, 1 purpose". army.mil. U.S. Army. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  5. ↑ "UMass Drumline performs with Six String Soldiers". umassband.com. University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ Katsilometes, John (September 12, 2016). "Wayne Newton blitzes protesting NFL players". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  7. 1 2 "Six-String Soldiers serenade Robin Meade in studio". CNN. May 20, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Cruz, Nancy (November 12, 2015). "Six String Soldiers United States Army Field Band". KTLA-TV. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  9. ↑ "'God Bless America,' performed by the Six-String Soldiers". CNBC. November 10, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  10. ↑ Gray, Andy (September 12, 2016). "Monday's P.M. Hot Clicks: Elena Kosmina; College Superfans of the Week". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Six-String Soldiers: Making the Album – "I've Been There"". The United States Army Field Band. United States Army. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  12. ↑ "The Six String Soldiers play Atlanta VA Medical Center". WSB-TV. June 30, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
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