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Foghat Releasing Single With Lyrics Written By U.S. Soldier

03/21/2014
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(Chipster) Foghat have announced that they will be releasing 'Boogie Train', featuring lyrics that were written by a deployed U.S. Soldier, next Tuesday March 25th and also announced the launch of 'Fishing for Freedom'. Chipster sent over these details:

Foghat held a contest last year asking fans to add lyrics to their one and only all-instrumental tune, "495 Boogie," from their latest 2010 CD, 'Last Train Home.' The contest entries were narrowed down to the final three and then put up for voting by the fans. The first place winner, Phil Dessinger wrote a song dubbed "The Word Of Rock N' Roll," which was released on July 9, 2013.

However, the contest was very close so the band decided to release 'Boogie Train' the 2nd place winner on March 25, 2014. The lyrics were written by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Tom Mix who penned the lyrics while he was deployed in Afghanistan as a MARSS B300 pilot in B Co Task Force ODIN. (ODIN stands for Observe, Detect, Identify, and Neutralize). He had previously been deployed to Iraq twice - MEDEVAC pilot in 2006-07 and Brigade Safety in 2010-11. Check out the song here.

Mix had this to say, "I was redeployed to Iraq for a second tour in 2010 and hooked up with a fellow soldier who is an awesome guitar player, Shawn Keeter, and while in Iraq we just started knocking out songs. We got back home and I found [Nashville producer] Kim Copeland to help us get our songs presentable as demos, and I haven't stopped writing since. But there is no excitement that can compare to co-writing a song with a super group like Foghat, and having that song released as a single."

Mix is currently in a 'Warrior Transition Unit'. According to him, "When the wars kicked off, they created these (Units) for wounded or injured soldiers to recuperate and return to duty or to be able to transition to civilian life once found to be unfit for duty by a 'Medical Evaluation Board.' It is a concept to hopefully keep the Iraqi and Afghanistan Vets off the streets when all this is over. These units are attached to and under the command of a hospital unit. The job of the soldier while in a WTU is to get well, and they are a priority at the attached hospital. They work hand in hand with the Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration to see that Vets coming off active duty never miss a pay check if found unfit for duty. They also work with volunteer organizations to get the Vets retrained and employable."

Roger Earl of Foghat had this to say, "We decided to donate the proceeds of this digital single to a Wounded Warrior cause as a thank you to the great men and women who have sacrificed so much for us. But since these releases don't generate a lot of $$ we wanted something more personal to be able to give even just a couple of folks a day of escape. So we asked Tom what he thought, and since he is an avid fisherman and so am I, he came up with 'Fishing for Freedom'."

Fishing For Freedom is an organization that brings together warriors with volunteer boaters for a day of tournament bass fishing in a relaxed fun-filled
celebration in the great outdoors. It gives our returning warriors some time on the water to escape the hardships of their wounds and numerous combat deployments and to begin the process of readjusting back to everyday life.*

"I LIKE THAT IDEA! says Earl. I have always found solace with a pole in my hand. Everyday worries kinda go away or are put on the back burner when you are fishing. And I would love to go fishing with some of these folks! "

More details about the organization here.

Chipster submitted this story.
It may be edited - Excerpted here with permission.

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