Six-String Soldiers
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Six-String Soldiers
| native_name =
| image = File:Six_String_Soldiers.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| alt = Six-String Soldiers pictured in 2016
| caption = Six-String Soldiers pictured in 2016
| dates = 2014–present
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| country = United States
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| branch = {{army|United States|size=23px}}
| type = Military band
| role = Morale, Welfare and Recreation
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| command_structure = United States Army Field Band
| garrison = Fort George G. Meade
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| equipment = Guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic bass guitar
| equipment_label = Instrumentation
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| website = [http://www.armyfieldband.com/about/ensembles/six-string-soldiers official page]
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| commander1 = CWO Daniel Wood{{cite web |title=Six-String Soldiers – personnel |url=http://www.armyfieldband.com/about/personnel/six-string-soldiers |website=United States Army Field Band |publisher=United States Army |access-date=June 29, 2018}}
| commander1_label = Officer in Charge
| commander2 = MSG Peter Krasulski
| commander2_label = Element Leader
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The Six-String Soldiers is a component unit of the United States Army Field Band responsible for performing contemporary American folk music genres, principally including bluegrass and country, as well as acoustic covers of popular songs. Posted to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, it consists of five performing personnel plus support staff.
History
Activated in May 2014, the ensemble first achieved widespread attention during Boston's February 2015 snowstorm when weather forced it to cancel a planned appearance in that city.{{cite news |last1=Casey |first1=Ashley |title=Lamirande's last hurrah: B'ville musician's Army career comes to a close |url=https://www.eaglenewsonline.com/news/publications/2017/01/11/lamirandes-last-hurrah-bville-musicians-army-career-comes-to-a-close/ |access-date=June 29, 2018 |work=Eagle News |date=January 11, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Annear |first1=Steve |title=Army band brings snow relief in the form of music |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/17/army-band-brings-snow-relief-form-music/ei9lBeyJIvFzGVVSA7nUPJ/story.html |access-date=June 29, 2018 |work=Boston Globe |date=February 17, 2015}}{{cite web |last1=Kirby |first1=Lynn |title=4 soldiers, 6 strings, 1 purpose |url=https://www.army.mil/article/163128/4_soldiers_6_strings_1_purpose |website=army.mil |publisher=U.S. Army |access-date=June 29, 2018}} The quartet, instead, filmed a video outside their hotel performing George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun" which quickly accumulated nearly nine million views on Facebook.
Six-String Soldiers has performed with Darryl Worley, Harry Connick Jr., The Irish Rovers, the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, and has opened for Creedence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty.{{cite web |title=UMass Drumline performs with Six String Soldiers |url=http://alumni.umassband.com/umass-drumline-six-string-soldiers/ |website=umassband.com |date=February 12, 2015 |publisher=University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band |access-date=June 29, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Katsilometes |first1=John |title=Wayne Newton blitzes protesting NFL players |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/wayne-newton-blitzes-protesting-nfl-players/ |access-date=June 29, 2018 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=September 12, 2016}} On November 10, 2017, it performed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange prior to the closing bell and its broadcast appearances have included HLN's Morning Express with Robin Meade, KTLA-TV and WPIX-TV, among others.{{cite news |title='God Bless America,' performed by the Six-String Soldiers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/11/10/god-bless-america-performed-by-the-six-string-soldiers.html |access-date=June 29, 2018 |publisher=CNBC |date=November 10, 2017}} In 2016, Sports Illustrated's Andy Gray called Six-String Soldiers his "new favorite band" for its acoustic cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever".{{cite magazine |last1=Gray |first1=Andy |title=Monday's P.M. Hot Clicks: Elena Kosmina; College Superfans of the Week |url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2016/09/12/college-superfans-photo-gallery-hot-clicks |access-date=June 29, 2018 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 12, 2016}}
In 2016 Six-String Soldiers released its first album, which was composed of seven original songs and four covers. The album, I've Been There, was produced by Bill Kirchen and engineered by Todd Whitelock.{{cite web |title=Six-String Soldiers: Making the Album – "I've Been There" |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2_Befzkdto |website=The United States Army Field Band |publisher=United States Army |access-date=June 29, 2018}} It plans a second album release in 2019.
File:Star-Spangled_Banner_acoustic_string_and_vocals.ogg" in 2015]]
Organization
Posted to Fort George G. Meade in Maryland, the group tours within the United States and internationally to support recruitment efforts by the United States Army and to entertain both deployed Army personnel and patients at United States Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals.{{cite news |title=Six-String Soldiers serenade Robin Meade in studio |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJHdNKsye2Q |access-date=June 29, 2018 |publisher=CNN |date=May 20, 2016}}{{cite news |title=The Six String Soldiers play Atlanta VA Medical Center |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s9XQSw7gGg |access-date=June 29, 2018 |publisher=WSB-TV |date=June 30, 2016}} It has alternated between four and five members.{{cite news |last1=Cruz |first1=Nancy |title=Six String Soldiers United States Army Field Band |url=http://ktla.com/2015/11/12/six-string-soldiers-united-states-army-field-band/ |access-date=June 29, 2018 |publisher=KTLA-TV |date=November 12, 2015}} As of 2018, instrumentation includes guitar, mandolin, banjo, acoustic bass guitar, and fiddle.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqNzpKIImZQ Six-String Soldiers cover of "Ramblin' Man"]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU_vzmNSIkw Six-String Soldiers cover of "Strawberry Fields Forever"]
{{United States military bands|state=collapsed}}
Category:2014 establishments in the United States