Trio raise voices for Arena appeal
AGROUP of musicians are creating a song in memory of all those who lost their lives in the Arena bombing.
Songwriter Rod Barry, retired priest and musician Graham Marshall and musician Ian Jenkins have come together to make a record called One Love Manchester.
Proceeds from the record, which is set to be recorded and released later this year, will go to the fundraising appeal for those affected by the atrocity.
Wardle Academy’s Brass Band and the Rochdale Cantare Choir will both be performing on the record, which features inspirational lyrics about overcoming adversity.
Rod, from Castleton, ●●Ian Jenkins, Graham Marshall and Rod Barry are creating a song called One Love Manchester, to support the families of those who lost their lives in the arena bombing Rochdale has written the lyrics while Graham, who is also from Rochdale, has composed the arrangement.
Ian, meanwhile, who is from Middleton and now lives in Rochdale, will arrange the brass parts of the record and is expected to perform a spoken word segment of the song.
It will be recorded at Studio-Studio Recording in Whitworth later this year and produced by Pete Troughton.
Rod used to work at the Arena, in promotions for NYNEX shortly after it opened in the 1990s and felt compelled to do something to help.
He said: “I spent many, many happy hours at the Arena and it was a wonderful job.
“The people, both the relatives of the deceased and the people living with terrible injuries, will need a lot of support for a long time. The whole idea is to give the song to Manchester.
“The reason I went for a brass band is because it captures the feel of Manchester.
“Most people think brass came from Yorkshire, but the first brass band was formed in Stalybridge in 1803, so the sound of brass is something that’s authentic to the Manchester area.
“We have got people involved from both ends of the age spectrum.”
One Love Manchester will be available to buy online later this year.