PRESS RELEASE
PROMINENT MUSICIANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD JOIN FORCES AS BAND OF ANGELS TO SPREAD COMFORT AND “LEAN ON ME” MESSAGE #COUNTMEIN
NEWPORT BEACH/LONDON – A group of musicians from England and Orange County, California have joined forces and voices to release a music video today, featuring a cover of Lean on Me, written by Bill Withers who recently passed away. World-class musicians who have come together as “Band of Angels”, they have performed across the United States to raise awareness of the unacceptable numbers of veterans who are committing suicide. Their mission is to STOP SUI-SILENCE: The avoidance of discussion about suicide and to urge people “let’s start talking.” The video is available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eJROBBDksE.
According to the spokesperson for Disaster Distress Helpline, there has been a spike in people seeking help in recent weeks. The national helpline, run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is experiencing a 338 percent increase in call volume compared with February. And compared to last year, for the same time period, it is an 891 percent increase of calls.
“Prior to the Covid crisis, suicide amongst veterans was almost 1 an hour,” said Anne Hyde Dunsmore, Founder and President of Angel Force USA. “But now, with the COVID 19 pandemic, we have already seen that number surpass previous years. Today our first responders are on the frontline of the biggest battle our nation has faced in decades and most assuredly are traumatized by it.”
The Band of Angels have donated their time in the hopes that their performance properly honors and comforts those who bravely serve the public during these difficult and uncertain times. Their hope is that people share the video and the song along all social media platforms, encouraging all to pass on this message of compassion - to “#countmein as part of your support system.”
“You have to start somewhere, and for us, it starts with extending a hand of hope, love and comradery, “said Dunsmore. “As it has been since the beginning of humanity, there is no better medium for this than the artistic mediums – in this case, music – and these guys bring it straight to your heart.”
The video, produced by band member Sam Tanner, includes a personal message from David Bellavia, US Army (ret.), who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2019 for his heroic actions during the Second Battle of Fallujah. “During this crisis, take five minutes to check on your buddies. Join me in saying, ‘Count me in,’” said Bellavia. “Count me in to honor your service, and count me in to end Sui-Silence.”
Jim Cregan, Founder of Cregan & Company and formerly with the Rod Stewart Band as lead guitarist, musical director and co-writer of many hits, including Forever Young, stated,“When it comes to reaching out, count us in.”
“When I was in Sugar Ray, I wrote the chorus to the song Fly and the line goes: ‘I just want to fly, put your arms around me baby.’ That was our first big hit and although the line felt very positive, I was in an extremely dark place at the time,” stated Stan Frazier, founding member of the Side Deal. “The Side Deal is honored to be a part of a project that conveys the message that there are many people who care and you’re not alone.”
"I was reading a book with my daughter while we are in quarantine, are there was a line that seemed so fitting, ‘But the world is exhausted, and the only wealth we have left is love.’ Kind of says it all,” said Charlie Colin, 2 time Grammy winner, founding member of the Side Deal and formerly with the band Train.
###
ANGELFORCEUSA.COM The mission of charitable organization AngelForceUSA.com is “suicide prevention & brain health for veterans.” Twenty veterans plus one active duty a day – commit suicide, almost one per hour. Female veterans commit suicide at 2.5 times the rate as male veterans and six times that of their civilian counterparts.
CREGAN & CO. Jim Cregan (Guitar/Vocals) A Co-Chair of Angel Force, Cregan’s professional career expands almost six decades and his musical collaboration roster reads like the who’s who of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee list. He has performed with Tina Turner, Sir Elton John, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Russel Watson, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, Pete Townsend, Chuck Berry, Cat Stevens, Katie Melua, Janis Ian, Rita Coolidge, Peabo Bryson, W.G. Snuffy Walden, and Joe Cocker. He has over 40 gold and platinum record sales awards. With Cregan as the musical director and producer, he and Stewart co-wrote more than 30 songs, including hits Passion and Tonight I’m Yours (Don’t Hurt Me). In every decade since then, Cregan has helped produce hit after hit including another of Stewart’s number one UK hits, a remake of Van Morrison’s Have I Told You Lately.
Pat Davey (Bass/vocals) Pat Davey is a master of both electric and upright bass and is always in demand as a session musician and live performer. He has toured the world with The Tom Robinson band, Zoot Money, Jason Rebello and Rumer, as well as jazz greats like Ronnie Scott, and vintage rockers like pianist Roy Young. Pat has lectured at the Bournemouth College of Music and is at home with all styles. His contribution to Cregan & Co is enormous, with his effortless groove and superb musicianship.
Sam Tanner (Keyboards/vocals) Sam is often described as Rock's finest piano player and has worked with many of its greatest names, including Pete Townsend & Roger Daltrey (The Who), The Faces, Jeff Beck, Mike Rutherford (Genesis), John Lodge (Moody Blues), Mick Hucknall (Simply Red) and Paul Carrack. Sam is also an accomplished singer/songwriter and is the front man of new UK-based funk-soul band "Brother Strut", who has received 10/10 reviews from Blues & Soul Magazine, with a debut album that has topped the iTunes chart.
THE SIDE DEAL The SIDE DEAL (tSD) is the collaboration of four artists from Newport Beach, California drawn together by a passion for great music. After years of independent, successful careers and admiration for one another, Charlie Colin (Train), Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray), and Joel & Scott Owen (PawnShop kings) decided to form a band and create original music together. Collectively, tSD members have sold over 20 million albums worldwide, garnered over 230 million views on YouTube, streamed 330 million listens on Spotify, and performed 5,000+ shows worldwide to a cumulative audience of more than 6.5 million people.
Charlie Colin (Base/Guitar/Vocals)Charlie Colin is a 2-time Grammy award winning songwriter & lyricist with three Billboard Top 10 Singles & three Platinum Records. As a founding member of and bassist in Train, he is best known for writing Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me), which won two Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, in 2002, as well as Calling All Angels.
Stan Frazier (Percussion/Vocals) Stan Frazier is a 2-time No. 1 hit songwriter with four Billboard Top 10 singles and two Platinum Records; Scott & Joel Owen were named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of “The 10 New Artists You Need to Know” following their 6th independent record release. In 2012, he starred and won the BBC culinary reality show, Chef Race, UK vs US and received a prize of $100,000.
Scott & Joel Owen (Guitar/Vocals) Scott and Joel Owen were named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of “The 10 New Artists You Need to Know” following their 6th independent record release.
Together, Cregan & Company and tSD previously wrote and recorded “The One That Got Away” for Angel Force USA in their effort to end Sui-Silence, viewable at www.youtube.com/watch?v=m07AajL9C8Q.
Contact: Susan Kang susankanggroup.com [email protected] @AngelForceUSA @AngelForceUSA @angelforceusa