New Album “Love Lives On” Partners Surviving Military Families With Music Royalty To Produce Beautiful Tribute, Debut Single & Title Track Releases Today
Title Track, With Lonestar and Vince Gill, Available March 20 and Full Album Coming Memorial Day Weekend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 20, 2020
PHOTO AVAILABLE
ARLINGTON, Va. – Music can be borne of tragedy but still make our spirits sing – even in these troublesome times. That’s the case with “LOVE LIVES ON,” a new album being issued by the Roots & American Music Society (RAMS) in partnership with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).
The debut single and title track, “Love Lives On,” is available today via all major digital retail and streaming outlets (Amazon/iTunes/Pandora/ Spotify/Tidal).
“This song … the entire project … with these incredible artists, gifted songwriters and beautiful families, is our chance to tell the story of service and sacrifice in our military, and among our military families,” said Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder. “I am so very proud of, and grateful for, all those who offered their hand, talent and heart to bring my personal story, and vision, to life.”
Co-written by Bonnie Carroll, Richie McDonald (Lonestar), and producers Frank Myers (Richie McDonald/Kenny Loggins/Michael Burrows/Eddy Raven/Andy Griggs) and Jimmy Nichols (Reba McIntyre/Faith Hill/Andy Griggs/Mindy McCready), “Love Lives On” opens with dancing piano keys that gently give way to an introspective and true-to-life storyline.
Inspired by Carroll’s husband, Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Carroll, a lifelong Alaskan and commander of the Alaska Army National Guard who lost his life in an Army plane crash, the captivating tune touches on the hardship of unexpected and untimely death, and learning to live again, in faith, love and with hope.
McDonald performs lead vocals complemented by Grammy®-winning artist Vince Gill; the tune is livened by a powerful chorus (provided by an award-winning group of recording artists and songwriters) to shine “light at the end of the tunnel,” symbolizing “hope” for those who carry the burden of grief. A sample of lyrics:
LOVE LIVES ON - EVERY DAY, EVERY NIGHT
IN OUR HEARTS IN OUR MINDS LIKE AN OLD CLASSIC SONG
LOVE LIVES ON - WHERE WE WORK, WHERE WE LIVE
IN THE EYES OF OUR KIDS AND EVERY PICTURE ON THE WALL
I CAN STILL FEEL YOU WITH ME EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE GONE
LOVE LIVES ON, LOVE LIVES ON
“I’m honored to be a part of this song that was inspired by Bonnie’s touching story,” said McDonald. “She poured her heart out, and as writers, we just took her emotions, put them to rhyme and reason to create a song that will hopefully help others to ‘remember’.”
Ten surviving families who lost a loved one who served in the Armed Forces worked with some of the music industry’s most gifted and renowned songwriters to create original songs that captured the love, resilience, memories, and strength of our military families.
The project was fully funded by RAMS, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, with help from RAMS supporters.
The LOVE LIVES ON album honors the dedication and lives of our servicemen and women, and the sacrifice of fallen military heroes, while also celebrating the resiliency and strength of their surviving families. Other songs are performed by Billy Ray Cyrus, John Rich, All-4-One, Pam Tillis, Deborah Allen and many others who lent their time and vocal talents to perform on the project.
A stellar group of A-list studio and touring musicians also appear on the album including Vinnie Colaiuta, Eric Darken, Dann Huff, David Hungate (Toto) and David Pack (Ambrosia) among numerous others.
LOVE LIVES ON (the album) is set for a 2020 Memorial Day weekend release. Net proceeds from both the single and CD release will benefit TAPS.
Songs from the album will be performed at this year’s Colorado Classic, scheduled for June 20 in Centennial. More information on the fundraiser may be found at taps.org/colorado.
See videos and learn more at LoveLivesOnMusic.com
About Bonnie Carroll, TAPS President and Founder: The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) was founded by Bonnie Carroll in 1994. The death of Bonnie Carroll's husband, Brig. Gen. Tom Carroll, in a training accident in Alaska, inspired her to create TAPS so no military survivors would ever be alone. On Tom's headstone, Bonnie inscribed, "Love Lives On” and it became the inspiration for the TAPS album. In 2015, in recognition of her work for military families, Bonnie Carroll received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Today, TAPS is caring for over 90,000 military loved ones and welcomes an average of 19 new survivors every day. For more information about TAPS, go to taps.org.
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ABOUT TAPS
The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) is the leading national organization providing compassionate care and survivor support services for the families of America’s fallen military heroes. Since 1994, TAPS has offered support to more than 90,000 survivors of fallen military in the form of peer-based emotional support, grief and trauma resources, grief seminars and retreats for adults, Good Grief Camps for children, casework assistance, connections to community-based care, online and in-person support groups and a 24/7 resource and information helpline for all who have been profoundly affected by a death of a military loved one. Services are provided free of charge. For more information go to taps.org or call the toll-free TAPS resource and information helpline at 1.800.959.TAPS (8277).
About Roots & American Music Society (RAMS):
Roots & American Music Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and record label. Founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 2015, RAMS exists with the goal to foster and support the creation, performance and appreciation of Roots and American music. RAMS’ nonprofit record label undertakes unique large-scale recording projects that use music to raise awareness of and funding for important work being done in our communities.
Media Interviews: Please contact media@taps.org or 202.588.8277 to arrange interviews with participating families and TAPS staff. Please contact Kat Atwood to arrange artist interviews at KATwood@musiccitynews.com or 615.770.2994.