Songwriting helps veterans through Operation Song
People have long known the power of music to heal, connect people, move them to tears of joy and pain and to simply make life a little better. For most of us, it is the act of listening to music that does all of that.
But several years ago, songwriters in Nashville realized that the act of writing songs can also do much for the human spirit so they created Operation Song, a nonprofit that matches songwriters with military veterans and their families in an effort to help them put into words what they are going through.
A local chapter, Operation Song Chattanooga, was formed about five years ago. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 1-2, it will hold Swingin’ & Singing, two concerts to raise funds for its Veteran Music Theapy program.
Things get underway Monday night at Songbirds South with the Swingin’ & Singing Jam featuring country artists Cody McCarver, Smith & Wesley and Billy Crain.
A golf tournament that had been planned at Windstone Golf Club in East Brainerd as part of the event was cancelled due to heavy rains.
On Tuesday evening, the Swingin’ & Singing Showcase will feature songwriters Don Goodman, Steve Dean, Billy Montana, Bobby Tomberlin, Bob DeYounge, Jessie Black and Rob Crosby.
McCarver is a former member of Confederate Railroad who embarked on a solo career after turning to religion to find a purpose in his life. Partial to outlaw country music, he kept the sound, but changed the lyrics of many of his newer songs and coined the term “Outlaw Gospel” to describe it.
He says being part of this show is special to him because of the work the program does.
“I’ve only been over a time or two, but guys like Don Goodman and Steve Dean come down from Nashville and work with vets. If you get involved in it, you want to keep being involved in it. I couldn’t be more honored or excited to be involved in this concert.”
Smith & Wesley is the brother duo of Todd and Scott Smith. They’ve had two Top 30 singles with “You’re the One” and “Sweet Life.” Crain is noted for his guitar playing and his songwriting.
Goodman is the vice president of the Operation Song board of directors and is a Grammy-nominated songwriter responsible for such hits as “Ol’ Red” and “Angels Among Us.”