Doctor records NHS single – with a little help from pop star friends
A DOCTOR from Yorkshire who is behind a new Band-Aid style charity single to mark the 70th birthday of the NHS has told how its star-studded line-up came forward – like the song’s title, With A Little Help From My Friends.
Leeds-born Dr Katie Rogerson, who helped to mastermind the project with NHS communications manager Joe Blunden, said the big names came out in force because the NHS has touched all their hearts. Sir Paul McCartney gave his blessing to record The Beatles classic.
The rest followed – reading like a list of pop and rock’s who’s who – to form the NHS Voices including Engelbert Humperdinck, Nile Rodgers, Sting, Ozzy Osbourne, Louis Tomlinson, Tony Hadley, Beverley Knight, Rick Astley, Gabrielle, UB40, Squeeze, Seal and Alexandra Burke.
Dr Rogerson, aged 34, who lives in Roundhay, Leeds, and is also an accomplished jazz singer, said the song provides a welcome morale boost for NHS staff as it recognises and celebrates the health service on its landmark birthday.
She said: “We had music stars from across all seven decades of the NHS. They weren’t craving attention; they didn’t need the cash, and they weren’t seeking the limelight.
“As soon as they were asked to help, they came forward willingly – all of their contributions really touching the heart. And they did so, because the NHS had, along the way, also touched theirs.”
The song was recorded at London’s famous Abbey Road Studios and 101-year-old Dame Vera Lynn helped with spoken words of support and Roald Dahl books illustrator Sir Quentin Blake even produced the cover artwork.
The big names are backed by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, porters and administrators, first featured on Gareth Malone’s TV show Sing While You
Work, who had a 2015 Christmas number one with A Bridge Over You.
All proceeds are going to NHS Charities Together, a group of more than 130 charities.