A forthcoming CD project pays tribute to some fallen veterans while providing therapy to the love ones they left behind. Love Lives On, which is now available for preorder, is a collaborative effort between Roots and American Music Society and Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (T.A.P.S.) which paired families of fallen veterans with professional songwriters to write a song to honor their loved one.
The title track will be the first single to be released from the project. The idea for the song came while Richie McDonald (of Lonestar) and others were watching Bonnie Carroll, founder and president of T.A.P.S., give a speech. She closed the speech with the phrase Love Lives On and the songwriters thought that it was a great song title. Carroll worked with songwriters to finish the song. The song was recorded by Lonestar, Vince Gill and others.
A listening party for the album was held last week at The Listening Room in Nashville. It was attended by members of the veterans’ families and some of those who worked on the CD project. Some of the songs were performed live and a lyric video was played for others. A backstory about the fallen veteran and the writing of the song was given.
Each of the songs on the project have been extremely well-crafted. The songwriters incorporated stories told by family members to make the songs more personal. The list of the songwriters, artists and musicians involved reads like a who’s who of the music business.
One of those involved was Jimmy Nichols, who co-produced the CD with Frank Myers. He said he has had a 50-year career in the music business, but he doesn’t think he has been more proud of a project than he was to be asked to co-produce the Love Lives On CD.
The single will be released on March 20 and the full album will be released on May 22.