Daniel Jens

DOWNLOAD: "Angel"
In their self-titled debut album, four Iraq war veterans team up on patriotic and inspirational songs – including a "soulful, country" cover of Sarah McLachlan's "Angel." A portion of CD sales supports veteran causes.
- People Magazine

DOWNLOAD: "Angel"
In their self-titled debut album, four Iraq war veterans team up on patriotic and inspirational songs – including a "soulful, country" cover of Sarah McLachlan's "Angel." A portion of CD sales supports veteran causes.
- People Magazine

The members of 4 Troops first made a name for themselves while in the military, singing pop and country songs for soldiers overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that they're all out of the service, they're also singing for veterans, as well as recording an album. The proceeds will go to veterans' charity groups such as the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

They're about to begin a tour of military bases around the U.S., but first, they stopped by NPR's studios to talk to Weekend Edition Sunday guest host Jacki Lyden about their project.

Capt. Meredith Melcher, Sgt. Daniel Jens, Staff Sgt. Ron Henry and Sgt. David Clemo met through army programs such as Operation Rising Star, a military version of American Idol. As musically gifted soldiers in combat, their stories are unique, though they share what Henry describes as "the common bond of music."

The album is set to be released in May, and is rooted in a pop sound. But, as Melcher says, there's a diversity to the soldiers' tastes.

"That's the cool thing about the Army: Everybody comes to the table with different loves of different genres of music," Melcher says. "When you're out there and you're deployed and singing songs together, people who start out just liking R&B and hip-hop end up singing some country stuff along the way, too."

"Usually, after missions, I'd grab my guitar and start singing," Jens says. "After a while, my buddies started requesting stuff and singing along. It was really cool."

Their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan are heavy influences on the music of 4 Troops. Though the songs are overwhelmingly patriotic, the group's members say they seek to highlight the personal struggles endured by soldiers and their families.

"That's really what gets you through," Clemo says. "Having the strength of the family support, knowing that you're going to get back home."
- NPR

The members of 4 Troops first made a name for themselves while in the military, singing pop and country songs for soldiers overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now that they're all out of the service, they're also singing for veterans, as well as recording an album. The proceeds will go to veterans' charity groups such as the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

They're about to begin a tour of military bases around the U.S., but first, they stopped by NPR's studios to talk to Weekend Edition Sunday guest host Jacki Lyden about their project.

Capt. Meredith Melcher, Sgt. Daniel Jens, Staff Sgt. Ron Henry and Sgt. David Clemo met through army programs such as Operation Rising Star, a military version of American Idol. As musically gifted soldiers in combat, their stories are unique, though they share what Henry describes as "the common bond of music."

The album is set to be released in May, and is rooted in a pop sound. But, as Melcher says, there's a diversity to the soldiers' tastes.

"That's the cool thing about the Army: Everybody comes to the table with different loves of different genres of music," Melcher says. "When you're out there and you're deployed and singing songs together, people who start out just liking R&B and hip-hop end up singing some country stuff along the way, too."

"Usually, after missions, I'd grab my guitar and start singing," Jens says. "After a while, my buddies started requesting stuff and singing along. It was really cool."

Their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan are heavy influences on the music of 4 Troops. Though the songs are overwhelmingly patriotic, the group's members say they seek to highlight the personal struggles endured by soldiers and their families.

"That's really what gets you through," Clemo says. "Having the strength of the family support, knowing that you're going to get back home."
- NPR

"It's really not about the war with us. It's about the warrior."

These are the heartfelt words of someone who knows what he's talking about: Former Sgt. Daniel Jens, who was inspired to join the Army and serve his country after the events of 9/11 and is now one-fourth of the new singing group 4TROOPS.

"We're singing on behalf of all veterans, active service members and their families, and supporting our rights and our freedoms," adds Jens. "We want to be able to stand in the gap to create awareness so that [people] know what our military and family members go through. We want to be ambassadors for that."

The four United States combat veterans came together just last December to begin a new career in music, and their self-titled debut releases May 11 during Armed Forces Week, which honors Americans serving in all five military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard).

"I really believe this is a divine calling for all four of us," adds Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Ron Henry, who had a twenty-year career in the Army. "People can't believe we've only been together since [last winter]. They think we've been together for years."

While it is quite remarkable that 4TROOPS has achieved such a harmonious blend in such a short amount of time, credit is also due in part to the one who brought them together: Victor Hurtado, himself a veteran who has been part of Army Entertainment for the last 25 years and is currently the Production Director for the Army Solider Show (established during WWI by Irving Berlin).

In addition to Jens and Henry, 4TROOPS includes Former Cpt. Meredith Melcher, who served four years in the Army in the Medical Service Corps, as well as Former Sgt. David Clemo, who initially deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11 and then to Iraq in 2004 where he was a team chief for communications and fiber optic cable installations.

As veterans who know what it's like to put their lives on the line, be away from family and make sacrifices for their country, 4TROOPS is uniquely qualified to identify with those for whom they sing.

"I have to say that the most important thing that helped me through [my service] is my relationship with God," shares Henry.

"And I really want to echo that," adds Jens. "If it wasn't for my strong faith in God, I don't know how I would have made it. You know, when you're out there in the combat zone constantly surrounded by danger—a mortar could drop or a rocket could come at any time—if you let that fear consume you, it could cost you or your buddies their lives. So I had to completely surrender to God in order for him to work in my life and take away that fear."

Though 4TROOPS might be new on the civilian music scene, each of the group's members brings a rich history of singing experience and performance credentials to the fore.

While in the Army, Jens sang at Prayer Breakfasts and Talent Nights at the U.S. Embassy. Upon his return, he placed 11th on season three of NBC's America's Got Talent. Henry competed on the first season of Military Idol (now called Operation Rising Star) and also lead the successful Army singing group "Transportation Express." Melcher was in the 2004 cast of the U.S. Army Soldier Show and performed for audiences of military personnel and civilians worldwide, while Clemo spent a number of years as Assistant Director of the U.S. Army Solider Show touring and entertaining fellow soldiers and their families.

"We fit together as a family," explains Jens of 4TROOPS' bond. "And that's how the military is. A lot of times you go from one unit to another and you have to make it work because you always put the mission first. And with us, this very important mission about raising awareness [for the troops] comes before us."

4TROOPS' first single, "For Freedom," released earlier this spring and is a perfect fit for the group as it was written to honor a World War II veteran. Originally recorded and released to Christian radio by the contemporary Christian music group Avalon, the song was penned by Matt Moran for his grandfather. 4TROOPS performed the song earlier this year on the popular FOX News program Fox & Friends, and it will also be featured in the upcoming concert special from the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York City which begins airing on PBS on June 1—"4TROOPS: Live from the Intrepid."

"It was a phenomenal night," remembers Henry. "A night we'll never forget."

Other songs featured in the concert special, as well as on the group's debut, include covers of inspirational hits from a wide variety of musical genres: Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue"; "Galveston," made popular by Glen Campbell; "Angel" by Sarah McLach - Crosswalk.com

"It's really not about the war with us. It's about the warrior."

These are the heartfelt words of someone who knows what he's talking about: Former Sgt. Daniel Jens, who was inspired to join the Army and serve his country after the events of 9/11 and is now one-fourth of the new singing group 4TROOPS.

"We're singing on behalf of all veterans, active service members and their families, and supporting our rights and our freedoms," adds Jens. "We want to be able to stand in the gap to create awareness so that [people] know what our military and family members go through. We want to be ambassadors for that."

The four United States combat veterans came together just last December to begin a new career in music, and their self-titled debut releases May 11 during Armed Forces Week, which honors Americans serving in all five military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard).

"I really believe this is a divine calling for all four of us," adds Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Ron Henry, who had a twenty-year career in the Army. "People can't believe we've only been together since [last winter]. They think we've been together for years."

While it is quite remarkable that 4TROOPS has achieved such a harmonious blend in such a short amount of time, credit is also due in part to the one who brought them together: Victor Hurtado, himself a veteran who has been part of Army Entertainment for the last 25 years and is currently the Production Director for the Army Solider Show (established during WWI by Irving Berlin).

In addition to Jens and Henry, 4TROOPS includes Former Cpt. Meredith Melcher, who served four years in the Army in the Medical Service Corps, as well as Former Sgt. David Clemo, who initially deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11 and then to Iraq in 2004 where he was a team chief for communications and fiber optic cable installations.

As veterans who know what it's like to put their lives on the line, be away from family and make sacrifices for their country, 4TROOPS is uniquely qualified to identify with those for whom they sing.

"I have to say that the most important thing that helped me through [my service] is my relationship with God," shares Henry.

"And I really want to echo that," adds Jens. "If it wasn't for my strong faith in God, I don't know how I would have made it. You know, when you're out there in the combat zone constantly surrounded by danger—a mortar could drop or a rocket could come at any time—if you let that fear consume you, it could cost you or your buddies their lives. So I had to completely surrender to God in order for him to work in my life and take away that fear."

Though 4TROOPS might be new on the civilian music scene, each of the group's members brings a rich history of singing experience and performance credentials to the fore.

While in the Army, Jens sang at Prayer Breakfasts and Talent Nights at the U.S. Embassy. Upon his return, he placed 11th on season three of NBC's America's Got Talent. Henry competed on the first season of Military Idol (now called Operation Rising Star) and also lead the successful Army singing group "Transportation Express." Melcher was in the 2004 cast of the U.S. Army Soldier Show and performed for audiences of military personnel and civilians worldwide, while Clemo spent a number of years as Assistant Director of the U.S. Army Solider Show touring and entertaining fellow soldiers and their families.

"We fit together as a family," explains Jens of 4TROOPS' bond. "And that's how the military is. A lot of times you go from one unit to another and you have to make it work because you always put the mission first. And with us, this very important mission about raising awareness [for the troops] comes before us."

4TROOPS' first single, "For Freedom," released earlier this spring and is a perfect fit for the group as it was written to honor a World War II veteran. Originally recorded and released to Christian radio by the contemporary Christian music group Avalon, the song was penned by Matt Moran for his grandfather. 4TROOPS performed the song earlier this year on the popular FOX News program Fox & Friends, and it will also be featured in the upcoming concert special from the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York City which begins airing on PBS on June 1—"4TROOPS: Live from the Intrepid."

"It was a phenomenal night," remembers Henry. "A night we'll never forget."

Other songs featured in the concert special, as well as on the group's debut, include covers of inspirational hits from a wide variety of musical genres: Toby Keith's "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue"; "Galveston," made popular by Glen Campbell; "Angel" by Sarah McLach - Crosswalk.com

By Andrew McGinn

Staff Writer


SPRINGFIELD — The fact that Sgt. Daniel Jens, Capt. Meredith Melcher, Staff Sgt. Ron Henry and Sgt. David Clemo were able to form a singing group without even knowing each other and audition for a major record label a day and a half later is impressive.

Had they been Special Forces, they might not have needed that extra half a day — but still, these guys are good.

“When you deploy, you work with people you’ve never met before,” Jens said. “Your military training teaches you to always put the mission first.”

So if anyone doubts the readiness of our United States Army to respond to threats from North Korea and Iran while already fighting two wars, never fear — at the very least, they’ll be able to give a nice concert in Pyongyang.

Playing the Summer Arts Festival on Wednesday, June 30, the unique vocal group 4Troops auditioned for Sony Music in December, signed a record deal in January, recorded their first album in February and shot a PBS special in March.

In just six months together, these four combat veterans have had all the momentum of an Abrams tank rolling into Baghdad circa 2003.

“That training,” Jens said, “really helped us put this together that fast.”

And so far, they’re winning the hearts and minds of a nation — our own.

“It’s been pretty incredible,” Jens said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be as big as it has been.”

If Jens’ name looks familiar, it’s because he made the top 20 of “America’s Got Talent” in 2008.

Because of that exposure, he was the first of the 4Troops to be pitched this concept of a new singing group made up of four former soldiers who each served on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I’m living my dream right now,” Jens said.

But this isn’t like winning “America’s Got Talent.”

For Jens, it’s better.

“It’s not about getting rich,” he said. “It’s a much bigger mission than that.”

While the 4Troops are no longer in the Army, they’ve kept the fatigues on and have taken to singing songs that deal with separation, camaraderie and patriotism.

“This project isn’t actually about the war,” said Jens, an Iraq War veteran. “This is about the service people and their families. That’s something everyone can support.”

The group’s PBS special, “4Troops: Live From the Intrepid” (as in the aircraft carrier), has been airing nationally all month.

For their first album, the group opted to cover pop and country songs that no doubt were selected for their meaning — ranging from “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel” to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”

“Sony said they should put all their artists through boot camp,” Jens said. “We’re on time everywhere we go.”

The fact that they wear fatigues might at first seem gimmicky, but odds are, you won’t even see them — and not just because they’re camouflaged.

“What we sing about, we’ve all lived,” Jens said. “This is who we are. It’s reality music.”
- Springfield News-Sun

By Andrew McGinn

Staff Writer


SPRINGFIELD — The fact that Sgt. Daniel Jens, Capt. Meredith Melcher, Staff Sgt. Ron Henry and Sgt. David Clemo were able to form a singing group without even knowing each other and audition for a major record label a day and a half later is impressive.

Had they been Special Forces, they might not have needed that extra half a day — but still, these guys are good.

“When you deploy, you work with people you’ve never met before,” Jens said. “Your military training teaches you to always put the mission first.”

So if anyone doubts the readiness of our United States Army to respond to threats from North Korea and Iran while already fighting two wars, never fear — at the very least, they’ll be able to give a nice concert in Pyongyang.

Playing the Summer Arts Festival on Wednesday, June 30, the unique vocal group 4Troops auditioned for Sony Music in December, signed a record deal in January, recorded their first album in February and shot a PBS special in March.

In just six months together, these four combat veterans have had all the momentum of an Abrams tank rolling into Baghdad circa 2003.

“That training,” Jens said, “really helped us put this together that fast.”

And so far, they’re winning the hearts and minds of a nation — our own.

“It’s been pretty incredible,” Jens said. “I wasn’t expecting it to be as big as it has been.”

If Jens’ name looks familiar, it’s because he made the top 20 of “America’s Got Talent” in 2008.

Because of that exposure, he was the first of the 4Troops to be pitched this concept of a new singing group made up of four former soldiers who each served on the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I’m living my dream right now,” Jens said.

But this isn’t like winning “America’s Got Talent.”

For Jens, it’s better.

“It’s not about getting rich,” he said. “It’s a much bigger mission than that.”

While the 4Troops are no longer in the Army, they’ve kept the fatigues on and have taken to singing songs that deal with separation, camaraderie and patriotism.

“This project isn’t actually about the war,” said Jens, an Iraq War veteran. “This is about the service people and their families. That’s something everyone can support.”

The group’s PBS special, “4Troops: Live From the Intrepid” (as in the aircraft carrier), has been airing nationally all month.

For their first album, the group opted to cover pop and country songs that no doubt were selected for their meaning — ranging from “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from the musical “Carousel” to Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”

“Sony said they should put all their artists through boot camp,” Jens said. “We’re on time everywhere we go.”

The fact that they wear fatigues might at first seem gimmicky, but odds are, you won’t even see them — and not just because they’re camouflaged.

“What we sing about, we’ve all lived,” Jens said. “This is who we are. It’s reality music.”
- Springfield News-Sun

Sony Music Entertainment - 05/10/2010

Sony MASTERWORKS releases 4TROOPS - debut self-titled CD will be available on May 11th with a portion of the proceeds from the sales to benefit veteran-related organizations. Sony chose to release the album during Armed Forces Week (May 8-May 15) which honors Americans serving in all five services - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.

During release week 4TROOPS will make appearances on: Huckabee (5/8), Good Morning America (5/11), Larry King Live (5/12), Fox & Friends (5/14), CBS Saturday Early Show (5/15) and Imus In The Morning (5/18). Starting June 1st, the 4TROOPS PBS Concert Special 4TROOPS: Live From The Intrepid begins airing (check local listings). In the Fall, 4TROOPS will embark on a National 50-city tour.

Since being signed 4TROOPS have performed for fellow soldiers at Military bases around the country. They have also had the honor to perform the National Anthem at events including the New York METS and Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day games, the PGA Tour Players Cup and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

4TROOPS are United States combat veterans - three young men and one woman who served on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. While overseas, music played a crucial and very personal role in all of their lives. They would sing at everything from large military events to more intimate settings like memorial services. 4TROOPS now come together for a singular purpose: to sing on behalf of all troops, to honor their sacrifices and to create awareness for their needs.

The members of 4TROOPS are: Former CPT Meredith Melcher, Former SGT Daniel Jens, SSG (Ret.) Ron Henry and Former SGT David Clemo. Melcher, 29, is the daughter of a retired three-star General. She served as a platoon leader on the front lines in Iraq where she led her troops in the successful ambulance evacuations of hundreds of wounded Americans and Iraqis. Jens, 36, served in Iraq and was most recently stationed at Fort Hood. He joined the army after the events of 9/11. Jens was one of the finalists on "America's Got Talent." He was released from the Army at the end of January. Henry, 41, served in the Army for 20 years. He was a transport manager in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, and also the leader of an Army singing group "Transportation Express." Clemo, 30, served on the front lines in Afghanistan providing communications and logistics support for the 18th Airborne Corps. He and Melcher toured together in 2004 with the Army Soldier Show.

An important element to the 4TROOPS project is giving back to organizations that support our U.S. soldiers and veterans. Sony Music will donate 50 cents from each sale of the 4TROOPS album in the United States to organizations that support veterans and their families. This donation will be split equally among The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) and the USO. If you would like to learn more about how you can support the organizations affiliated with this project, please visit their websites at legion.org, iava.org, fallenheroesfund.org, uso.org.

The album consists of well-known patriotic pop and country songs and some new songs. All of the songs take on a special meaning in the context that they are performed by these four combat heroes. The first song is "For Freedom," an inspirational patriotic tune written by Matt Moran for his grandfather, a WWII vet. Country star Toby Keith gives his blessing for a new version of his popular and controversial post 9/11 hit "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" to be included on the album with lyrics revised to reflect a 2010 outlook. Another country hit on the album is "Galveston," popularized by Glen Campbell. This song made the CMT list of the ten greatest country-western songs of all time. Other tracks include "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan, Lonestar's "I'm Already There," and a new song written by Victor Hurtado titled "Here We've Been." The album is produced by Frank Fillipetti (Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, George Michael, Pavarotti) who produced James Taylor's Hourglass album which won Fillipetti a Grammy® for Best Pop Album and Best Engineered Album in 1998.

The group was brought together by veteran Victor Hurtado. He has been part of Army Entertainment for the last 25 years, first as a Soldier and Music Director, and later as the Artistic Director. He is currently the Production Director for the Army Soldier Show. This show was established during WWI in 1918 by Sgt. Israel Berlin, better known as Irving Berlin.

Bob Woodruff, the ABC news anchor who was severely injured in Iraq, conducted the first TV interview with 4TROOPS which aired on Good Morning America (ABC) in January. Woodruff is personally invested in creating a better environment for injured troops who return from - Sony

Sony Music Entertainment - 05/10/2010

Sony MASTERWORKS releases 4TROOPS - debut self-titled CD will be available on May 11th with a portion of the proceeds from the sales to benefit veteran-related organizations. Sony chose to release the album during Armed Forces Week (May 8-May 15) which honors Americans serving in all five services - Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.

During release week 4TROOPS will make appearances on: Huckabee (5/8), Good Morning America (5/11), Larry King Live (5/12), Fox & Friends (5/14), CBS Saturday Early Show (5/15) and Imus In The Morning (5/18). Starting June 1st, the 4TROOPS PBS Concert Special 4TROOPS: Live From The Intrepid begins airing (check local listings). In the Fall, 4TROOPS will embark on a National 50-city tour.

Since being signed 4TROOPS have performed for fellow soldiers at Military bases around the country. They have also had the honor to perform the National Anthem at events including the New York METS and Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day games, the PGA Tour Players Cup and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

4TROOPS are United States combat veterans - three young men and one woman who served on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. While overseas, music played a crucial and very personal role in all of their lives. They would sing at everything from large military events to more intimate settings like memorial services. 4TROOPS now come together for a singular purpose: to sing on behalf of all troops, to honor their sacrifices and to create awareness for their needs.

The members of 4TROOPS are: Former CPT Meredith Melcher, Former SGT Daniel Jens, SSG (Ret.) Ron Henry and Former SGT David Clemo. Melcher, 29, is the daughter of a retired three-star General. She served as a platoon leader on the front lines in Iraq where she led her troops in the successful ambulance evacuations of hundreds of wounded Americans and Iraqis. Jens, 36, served in Iraq and was most recently stationed at Fort Hood. He joined the army after the events of 9/11. Jens was one of the finalists on "America's Got Talent." He was released from the Army at the end of January. Henry, 41, served in the Army for 20 years. He was a transport manager in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division, and also the leader of an Army singing group "Transportation Express." Clemo, 30, served on the front lines in Afghanistan providing communications and logistics support for the 18th Airborne Corps. He and Melcher toured together in 2004 with the Army Soldier Show.

An important element to the 4TROOPS project is giving back to organizations that support our U.S. soldiers and veterans. Sony Music will donate 50 cents from each sale of the 4TROOPS album in the United States to organizations that support veterans and their families. This donation will be split equally among The American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) and the USO. If you would like to learn more about how you can support the organizations affiliated with this project, please visit their websites at legion.org, iava.org, fallenheroesfund.org, uso.org.

The album consists of well-known patriotic pop and country songs and some new songs. All of the songs take on a special meaning in the context that they are performed by these four combat heroes. The first song is "For Freedom," an inspirational patriotic tune written by Matt Moran for his grandfather, a WWII vet. Country star Toby Keith gives his blessing for a new version of his popular and controversial post 9/11 hit "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" to be included on the album with lyrics revised to reflect a 2010 outlook. Another country hit on the album is "Galveston," popularized by Glen Campbell. This song made the CMT list of the ten greatest country-western songs of all time. Other tracks include "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan, Lonestar's "I'm Already There," and a new song written by Victor Hurtado titled "Here We've Been." The album is produced by Frank Fillipetti (Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, George Michael, Pavarotti) who produced James Taylor's Hourglass album which won Fillipetti a Grammy® for Best Pop Album and Best Engineered Album in 1998.

The group was brought together by veteran Victor Hurtado. He has been part of Army Entertainment for the last 25 years, first as a Soldier and Music Director, and later as the Artistic Director. He is currently the Production Director for the Army Soldier Show. This show was established during WWI in 1918 by Sgt. Israel Berlin, better known as Irving Berlin.

Bob Woodruff, the ABC news anchor who was severely injured in Iraq, conducted the first TV interview with 4TROOPS which aired on Good Morning America (ABC) in January. Woodruff is personally invested in creating a better environment for injured troops who return from - Sony

Backlit, they stride through smoke and haze, past the aging machinery of a ship of war and onto a stage set up in front of the vintage airplanes inside the hangars of the Intrepid. Cut to a drummer in parade dress making his way through the audience as he beats out a solemn cadence. The audience, a tapestry of civilians, veterans, active-duty troops, and their families, sits on metal benches, leaning forward in anticipation. It’s March 15, 2010 and 4TROOPS are about to kick off the first big public concert of material from their forthcoming CD. Not only that: the show is being filmed for broadcast on PBS stations across the country—and for release on DVD.

Behind the performers, a large projection screen flashes images of events from Intrepid’s storied past. As they walk to their mics, we hear the piano intro to “For Freedom” and a soldier selected from the audience just moments before announces in foot-drill tones, “Presenting . . . 4TROOPS!” David Clemo raises his mic and begins, “Somewhere a trumpet sounds in the night / A soldier is standing there. . . .” Daniel Jens picks up the line, then Ron Henry, then Meredith Melcher, and the voices meet in harmony. As the song unfolds, they move around the stage naturally, changing positions, making contact with each other and the audience, trading off lines in solo, duet, and quartet. Photos from their lives and Army careers come and go on the screen, along with other military imagery, ending on a rippling flag as they sing “. . . and for freedom she’ll ever wave!”

When they finish, the crowd erupts in cheers, and the joy and relief on the group members’ faces is plain to see. Those are predictable emotions for performers putting on their first big show and getting a great reception to the opening number. The relief has another source as well. The production truck had arrived hours late, delayed by a storm that had flipped cars and closed highways up and down the East Coast. Then a tiny technical glitch held up and finally derailed the dress rehearsal.

“By the time we traced three wires randomly patched, the audience was coming in,” says Shelley Ross, who produced and directed the show and the sixty-minute film. Producing a live concert from a truck on land cabled to a ship floating in the water had some built-in challenges. “You have to be careful—because the tide is always going to be at a different level than when you cabled up.” Once the “mystery glitch” was solved, Ross had to direct a live show with a crew of ninety, most of whom had never heard or seen the group before. “I was the only one who knew what was going to happen.”

Ross is a veteran producer who won three Emmy awards and the distinguished Peabody Award for her work at ABC News, where she was executive producer of Good Morning America and Primetime Live, clocking more than 2,500 hours of live TV. She was already brimming with ideas for the concert film. “It was perfect for PBS: the appeal would be national and multigenerational. And since it’s not a broadcast network, it could be presented in the PBS concert format,” keeping the focus on 4TROOPS and their audience.

“My first task was to come up with the right venue to provide a visual backdrop for the concert.” Ross scouted West Point and contacted various military bases before settling on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, a vessel steeped in military history. As soon as she toured it, she knew this was the only place to introduce 4TROOPS.

“Once I heard 4TROOPS’ personal stories, I didn’t just want to produce a concert with pretty songs and pretty lighting. My challenge was how to bring the deeper meaning of the songs to the small screen. So I created a story arc for the show that, in my head and heart, is like a veterans’ pop opera. First we invoke the spirits of the Intrepid. Then we start introducing themes—for example, the first set of songs speaks to family, freedom, and mercy or compassion.”

Ross aimed to capture the spirit of the ship by making it part of the set. “What strikes you on the Intrepid, and looking at the photos of it in service, is the history that’s embodied in every old stairway, all the coats of paint, every exposed pipe, every gnarly metal artifact. I wanted to light every bit, draw attention to it. In the very first song, ‘For Freedom,’ you’ll see archival films and photos of the Intrepid being hit by kamikazes and burning at sea, the ghostly images of navy pilots who served and all those sailors who were buried at sea.” 4TROOPS would be able to bridge that history and the generation now serving. - Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

Backlit, they stride through smoke and haze, past the aging machinery of a ship of war and onto a stage set up in front of the vintage airplanes inside the hangars of the Intrepid. Cut to a drummer in parade dress making his way through the audience as he beats out a solemn cadence. The audience, a tapestry of civilians, veterans, active-duty troops, and their families, sits on metal benches, leaning forward in anticipation. It’s March 15, 2010 and 4TROOPS are about to kick off the first big public concert of material from their forthcoming CD. Not only that: the show is being filmed for broadcast on PBS stations across the country—and for release on DVD.

Behind the performers, a large projection screen flashes images of events from Intrepid’s storied past. As they walk to their mics, we hear the piano intro to “For Freedom” and a soldier selected from the audience just moments before announces in foot-drill tones, “Presenting . . . 4TROOPS!” David Clemo raises his mic and begins, “Somewhere a trumpet sounds in the night / A soldier is standing there. . . .” Daniel Jens picks up the line, then Ron Henry, then Meredith Melcher, and the voices meet in harmony. As the song unfolds, they move around the stage naturally, changing positions, making contact with each other and the audience, trading off lines in solo, duet, and quartet. Photos from their lives and Army careers come and go on the screen, along with other military imagery, ending on a rippling flag as they sing “. . . and for freedom she’ll ever wave!”

When they finish, the crowd erupts in cheers, and the joy and relief on the group members’ faces is plain to see. Those are predictable emotions for performers putting on their first big show and getting a great reception to the opening number. The relief has another source as well. The production truck had arrived hours late, delayed by a storm that had flipped cars and closed highways up and down the East Coast. Then a tiny technical glitch held up and finally derailed the dress rehearsal.

“By the time we traced three wires randomly patched, the audience was coming in,” says Shelley Ross, who produced and directed the show and the sixty-minute film. Producing a live concert from a truck on land cabled to a ship floating in the water had some built-in challenges. “You have to be careful—because the tide is always going to be at a different level than when you cabled up.” Once the “mystery glitch” was solved, Ross had to direct a live show with a crew of ninety, most of whom had never heard or seen the group before. “I was the only one who knew what was going to happen.”

Ross is a veteran producer who won three Emmy awards and the distinguished Peabody Award for her work at ABC News, where she was executive producer of Good Morning America and Primetime Live, clocking more than 2,500 hours of live TV. She was already brimming with ideas for the concert film. “It was perfect for PBS: the appeal would be national and multigenerational. And since it’s not a broadcast network, it could be presented in the PBS concert format,” keeping the focus on 4TROOPS and their audience.

“My first task was to come up with the right venue to provide a visual backdrop for the concert.” Ross scouted West Point and contacted various military bases before settling on the aircraft carrier Intrepid, a vessel steeped in military history. As soon as she toured it, she knew this was the only place to introduce 4TROOPS.

“Once I heard 4TROOPS’ personal stories, I didn’t just want to produce a concert with pretty songs and pretty lighting. My challenge was how to bring the deeper meaning of the songs to the small screen. So I created a story arc for the show that, in my head and heart, is like a veterans’ pop opera. First we invoke the spirits of the Intrepid. Then we start introducing themes—for example, the first set of songs speaks to family, freedom, and mercy or compassion.”

Ross aimed to capture the spirit of the ship by making it part of the set. “What strikes you on the Intrepid, and looking at the photos of it in service, is the history that’s embodied in every old stairway, all the coats of paint, every exposed pipe, every gnarly metal artifact. I wanted to light every bit, draw attention to it. In the very first song, ‘For Freedom,’ you’ll see archival films and photos of the Intrepid being hit by kamikazes and burning at sea, the ghostly images of navy pilots who served and all those sailors who were buried at sea.” 4TROOPS would be able to bridge that history and the generation now serving. - Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund

By Marco R. della Cava, USA TODAY

Somewhere, Irving Berlin is turning red, white and blue.

The spirit of the man who wrote God Bless America infuses a pair of patriotic albums due in 2010. 4Troops, a crooning quartet of former Army soldiers that includes a top-20 finisher on America's Got Talent, makes its debut today on Good Morning America. The single For Freedom lands in March, and a Sony Masterworks album arrives May 25.

Also this year, expect Coming Home, an album from a trio of active-duty military calling themselves The Soldiers. Atlantic Records put the group together after a similar project featuring British soldiers found success in the U.K. last fall.

"Bringing more awareness about our troops and their sacrifices is what we're all about," says 4Troops singer Meredith Melcher, 29, an Army captain who in 2003 served as a platoon leader in Iraq, where she helped evacuate wounded soldiers.

Melcher says she never had big singing ambitions and failed at an American Idoltryout a few years ago. "Nerves, I guess," she says.


Don't be fooled, says Victor Hurtado, the group's artistic director. "When Meredith opens her mouth, glory comes out," he says. "And sometimes a little bit of Aretha (Franklin)."

As the man who for decades has overseen the Army's entertainment division and traveling musical shows, Hurtado hand-picked the members of 4Troops, which also includes Daniels Jens, Ron Henry and David Clemo.

The idea came from Sony executives, who asked Hurtado to create an ensemble that could sing, tour and raise money for veterans groups. A percentage of proceeds benefit a range of charities, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Peter Ganbarg, vice president of artists and repertoire at Atlantic, says "the time just feels right for this sort of project. There's a sense of patriotism that's palpable right now." He says The Soldiers have been selected and will be revealed soon.

Meanwhile, 4Troops is busy recording its album in New York, working with producer Frank Fillipetti, whose credits range from Kiss to James Taylor. The fare is largely of the flag-waving variety, including Hurtado's updating of Toby Keith's post-9/11 Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.

The timing could be right, says Gail Mitchell, senior editor at Billboard. "The first lady has pledged to help raise awareness of the troops and their families, so this sort of thing could fit right in," she says. "The only question is with this narrow focus, where do you go from here?"

But this may be far enough for these former soldiers, who sound off in grateful tones.

"I grew up singing to the Jackson 5 and dreaming of this day," says Henry, 41, recently retired from the Army, where he was a transport manager in Iraq.

For Clemo, 30, it's an opportunity to work through difficult emotions. "The songs about saying goodbye and staying motivated so you get back alive really ring true," says Clemo, who laid fiber-optic cables in Iraq.

And as thrilled as Jens is to be in this group, the America's Got Talent Season 3 veteran recalls an even greater gig he played not long ago in a bare barrack in Iraq.

"My best memories were grabbing my guitar and singing," says Jens, 36, who was deployed to Iraq as a field artillery cannon crewmember. "My friends would join in. To see the war melt off their faces was surreal."
- USA Today

By Marco R. della Cava, USA TODAY

Somewhere, Irving Berlin is turning red, white and blue.

The spirit of the man who wrote God Bless America infuses a pair of patriotic albums due in 2010. 4Troops, a crooning quartet of former Army soldiers that includes a top-20 finisher on America's Got Talent, makes its debut today on Good Morning America. The single For Freedom lands in March, and a Sony Masterworks album arrives May 25.

Also this year, expect Coming Home, an album from a trio of active-duty military calling themselves The Soldiers. Atlantic Records put the group together after a similar project featuring British soldiers found success in the U.K. last fall.

"Bringing more awareness about our troops and their sacrifices is what we're all about," says 4Troops singer Meredith Melcher, 29, an Army captain who in 2003 served as a platoon leader in Iraq, where she helped evacuate wounded soldiers.

Melcher says she never had big singing ambitions and failed at an American Idoltryout a few years ago. "Nerves, I guess," she says.


Don't be fooled, says Victor Hurtado, the group's artistic director. "When Meredith opens her mouth, glory comes out," he says. "And sometimes a little bit of Aretha (Franklin)."

As the man who for decades has overseen the Army's entertainment division and traveling musical shows, Hurtado hand-picked the members of 4Troops, which also includes Daniels Jens, Ron Henry and David Clemo.

The idea came from Sony executives, who asked Hurtado to create an ensemble that could sing, tour and raise money for veterans groups. A percentage of proceeds benefit a range of charities, including Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Peter Ganbarg, vice president of artists and repertoire at Atlantic, says "the time just feels right for this sort of project. There's a sense of patriotism that's palpable right now." He says The Soldiers have been selected and will be revealed soon.

Meanwhile, 4Troops is busy recording its album in New York, working with producer Frank Fillipetti, whose credits range from Kiss to James Taylor. The fare is largely of the flag-waving variety, including Hurtado's updating of Toby Keith's post-9/11 Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.

The timing could be right, says Gail Mitchell, senior editor at Billboard. "The first lady has pledged to help raise awareness of the troops and their families, so this sort of thing could fit right in," she says. "The only question is with this narrow focus, where do you go from here?"

But this may be far enough for these former soldiers, who sound off in grateful tones.

"I grew up singing to the Jackson 5 and dreaming of this day," says Henry, 41, recently retired from the Army, where he was a transport manager in Iraq.

For Clemo, 30, it's an opportunity to work through difficult emotions. "The songs about saying goodbye and staying motivated so you get back alive really ring true," says Clemo, who laid fiber-optic cables in Iraq.

And as thrilled as Jens is to be in this group, the America's Got Talent Season 3 veteran recalls an even greater gig he played not long ago in a bare barrack in Iraq.

"My best memories were grabbing my guitar and singing," says Jens, 36, who was deployed to Iraq as a field artillery cannon crewmember. "My friends would join in. To see the war melt off their faces was surreal."
- USA Today

BY FIELDING BUCK |

STAFF WRITER |

November 07, 2012; 01:05 PM |




Comments (0)





A group of four singing veterans is returning to the Inland area for Veterans Day.

4Troops performed in Beaumont on Sept. 11 last year for that city’s “Day of Remembrance.”

Its members were in the U.S. Army and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are former Sgt. Daniel Jens, former Capt. Meredith Melcher, former Sgt. David Clemo and retired Staff Sgt. Ron Henry.

“We tell a story to let people see the life of an armed services veteran,” Henry said in a phone interview. “We want you to see our hearts, what we’ve been through. The overall goal is to bridge the gap between Americans and armed forces men and women. We want that openness…

“If you see any of these people in uniform, please go up to them and shake their hand and tell them, ‘Thank you for serving your country. Thank you for what you’ve done.’ … We want to feel proud, and we want to know that you’re proud of us.”

Their music is a mixture of pop and country with soaring solos and tight harmony. Songs include Rascal Flatt’s “Bless the Broken Road.”

The 75-minute concert will include songs from the group’s self-titled CD, released by Sony Masterworks in 2010, and what Henry calls “some new acoustic stuff.”

The group’s message is inspirational but not intended just for a military audience, manager Victor Hurtado said in a separate interview.

“This project isn’t meant to play on bases. In fact, I think that would be a little bit counterproductive. … Really, most of their performances are for the American public.”

The program will include a screening of the 1951 John Wayne film “The Flying Leathernecks,” set in World War II.

4TROOPS

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11

WHERE: Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside

TICKETS: $10 plus fees. 951-779-9800, www.foxriversidelive.com
- The Press-Enterprise

BY FIELDING BUCK |

STAFF WRITER |

November 07, 2012; 01:05 PM |




Comments (0)





A group of four singing veterans is returning to the Inland area for Veterans Day.

4Troops performed in Beaumont on Sept. 11 last year for that city’s “Day of Remembrance.”

Its members were in the U.S. Army and fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are former Sgt. Daniel Jens, former Capt. Meredith Melcher, former Sgt. David Clemo and retired Staff Sgt. Ron Henry.

“We tell a story to let people see the life of an armed services veteran,” Henry said in a phone interview. “We want you to see our hearts, what we’ve been through. The overall goal is to bridge the gap between Americans and armed forces men and women. We want that openness…

“If you see any of these people in uniform, please go up to them and shake their hand and tell them, ‘Thank you for serving your country. Thank you for what you’ve done.’ … We want to feel proud, and we want to know that you’re proud of us.”

Their music is a mixture of pop and country with soaring solos and tight harmony. Songs include Rascal Flatt’s “Bless the Broken Road.”

The 75-minute concert will include songs from the group’s self-titled CD, released by Sony Masterworks in 2010, and what Henry calls “some new acoustic stuff.”

The group’s message is inspirational but not intended just for a military audience, manager Victor Hurtado said in a separate interview.

“This project isn’t meant to play on bases. In fact, I think that would be a little bit counterproductive. … Really, most of their performances are for the American public.”

The program will include a screening of the 1951 John Wayne film “The Flying Leathernecks,” set in World War II.

4TROOPS

WHEN: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11

WHERE: Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside

TICKETS: $10 plus fees. 951-779-9800, www.foxriversidelive.com
- The Press-Enterprise