On this week's Eye on Veterans podcast, we hear how veterans are being healed by the power of music and collaborations with the organization “Songwriting with Soldiers."
Air Force veteran Bruce Anderson, his wife Lesley and "Songwriting with Soldiers" Music Director Jay Clementi share how these weekend retreats pair award-winning songwriters with veterans to create songs that tell their story.(Clementi’s credits include hit songs with Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, and more.)
We start with a look at Anderson’s deployments during the Global War on Terror. Anderson and his wife, Lesley, brilliantly recall the troubles he experienced after returning from war, and how they took a chance on attending a SWS weekend retreat.
The Andersons describe the origin of their song, “The Man You Used to Know,” and how the collaboration with hit songwriter Trent Willmon was more powerful than any medicine.
Jay Clementi describes the “Songwriting with Soldiers” writing process and a new music initiative where select songs from these powerful retreats are fully produced by award-winning Nashville producers and are now available on all major music streaming platforms.
Check more from “Songwriting with Soldiers," donate or register for upcoming retreats here.
Contact Phil Briggs, the host of CBS Eye on Veterans at phil@connectingvets.com.