Canadian Forces band March On releases fundraising album, ‘Sound of Freedom’

This past Tuesday, the musicians of the Canadian Forces united with a group of civilian Canadian singers to release the album "Sound of Freedom."

The record delivers more than the traditional marching tunes one would expect to hear on a disc of its nature, and its proceeds will go to benefit The Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services (CFPFSS).

Sam Reid (the Canadian songwriter/music producer who also plays piano for Glass Tiger, one of Canada's most successful rock bands) produced the album and spoke with Yahoo! Canada Music this week about the vision of "Sound of Freedom."

"I didn't want it to be a tribute record," Reid said. "Just because it's been done, and done in a great way, but I thought that we should do something completely different."

That is to say, Reid chose to feature new contemporary pop songs on the album that didn't necessarily have obvious military connotations. He also wanted to focus on representing the military musicians who performed on the album to the fullest.

"One of the goals that I have with this album is to help the military personnel feel proud of the musicians within their own community," the producer said. "I remember what it felt like to get my first gold record and hear my song on the radio for the first time. I'd love for this album to reach gold status to honour the engineer and musicians who worked on it. It would be such a proud moment for them."

Reid, who will be made an Honorary Colonel of 8 Air Maintenance Squadron at a ceremony on June 18, plans to travel to Afghanistan at the end of June and play for the troops for a third time.

"We're going there to perform again and that can mean anything," Reid said. "The last time we did this, I brought a battery operated piano and speaker so that we could set up and play anywhere, with or without power."

The five-time Juno Award winner also adds that a tour of the military bases would be a cool way to showcase the record. "It's a possibility and it would be a great opportunity for the troops and their families and friends to enjoy the album."

One of Reid's favourite tracks on the disc is Glass Tiger's vocalist Alan Frew performing "Never Lie To You." It's a track Reid says possesses lyrics that the listener can be interpreted as a song about "a businessman away or a soldier on a tour of duty," depending on who's listening to it.

Collectively known as March On, "Sound of Freedom" features military band members and civilian vocalists such as opera star Alexandria Beck, Luke McMaster (formerly of the pop duo McMaster & James), Mark Masri, Quebec's Annie Villeneuve, and Frew.

Purchasing the album will assist The CFPFSS in their fundraising efforts and, by extension, helps provide support to programs like Operation Santa Claus and Soldier On, which "provides resources and opportunities for serving and retired Canadian Forces personnel with a permanent or chronic illness or injury to actively participate in physical, recreational or sporting activities."

Check out a clip of "Never Lie To You" featured below, and view some of the many ways that Soldier On supports our Canadian Forces.

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