This week we salute our veterans and the music they made before, during and after their military service.
The first one that comes to mind is this Vietnam War-era classic from Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, a real-life wounded Vietnam Vet. Even as protest was building against the war, it was the biggest single of 1966, spending 5 weeks at Number 1 on the charts.
Sadler donated a large portion of his royalties to families of Vietnam casualties, and later became a successful mystery writer. This may be the most boring music video ever made:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0w6Bqma4qM
Elvis Presley was drafted in 1958 – in the middle of his successful career – and could have become a military musician but chose instead to be a “regular” soldier. He managed to keep his career afloat — while he was in the Army, he released 10 Top 40 hits. He donated his pay to charity and bought televisions for the Army base.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuFmbJjtwyY&feature=related
Can something from 1990 already be vintage? MC Hammer was a batboy for the Oakland A’s before joining the Navy for 3 years. What is it with the baggy pants?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otCpCn0l4Wo&ob=av3e
Tony Bennett fought as an infantryman in the late days of WWII. The experience made him a patriot but also a pacifist. He wrote, "Anybody who thinks that war is romantic obviously hasn't gone through one.” He gave Lady Gaga a chance to be classy in this 2011 duet:
