Operation Encore: Soldiers, Stories, and Songs

In this episode of the Operation Encore podcast series Soldiers, Stories and Songs, Guy Jaquier and Adam Rossi get to visit with Abe Partridge.  Abe is an amazing songwriter, story teller, visual artist, documentarian of serpent handling Appalachian gospel music, podcast host and just fun dude to talk to.  His music sounds like John Prine and Meatloaf had a child who was raised by Paul Thorn. Abe is also USAF veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, currently serving as a reservist C-130 Avionics Tech with the 403rd Maintenance Group, stationed at AFB Keesler in Biloxi, Mississippi. With over 17-1/2 years of service in Air Force, Abe balances his reservist duties with an active tour schedule of live performances across the US and Europe.  During this episode, we will hear Abe’s songs:

“Love In The Dark”

“Young Love (Alabama Skies)”

“Alabama Astronauts”

You can check Abe out at : https://abepartridge.com/music

If you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at: https://operationencore.org  

Support OE and this podcast at  http://www.operationencore.org/donate 

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In this episode of Soldiers, Stories & Songs, Guy Jaquier and Adam Rossi spend time with Brian LaRose, a former Army Special Forces Engineer, who served 6 years as a sniper and demolitions expert with the 5th Special Forces Group, with 2 tours to Lebanon and Turkey.

Returning to his home outside of Boston, MA, Brian formed the band “High Pines”, playing locally and recording 2 albums with a blend of Americana and Irish folk tones that make you want to hang out with them in a pub and have a few beers. High Pines was named one of the “Rising Stars of Massachusetts” by the New England Music Awards.  Brian is also working on a solo project and is an alumnus of Zac Brown’s Warrior Song program at Camp Southern Ground.

During this episode, we will hear 3 songs that Brian is currently recording, including:

“Poison Apple”

“Something In the Way”

“Cold Feet”

You can check Brian out at : https://www.brianlarosemusic.com

If you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at:
https://operationencore.org 


Support the show http://www.operationencore.org/donate

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In this episode of Soldiers, Songs & Stories Guy Jaquier and Adam Rossi talk with Chuck Briseno about his journey from growing up in a small south Texas town, reared on a mix of Tejano, country and Red Dirt music, enlisting in the Army and later graduating from West Point. Chuck served from 2005-2018 in the 173rd Airborne with deployments to Afghanistan, fighting in the Konar and Korengal Valleys, made famous by the National Geographic documentary “Restreppo”.  He separated from the Army as an O3 and now fronts his non-stop touring band that plays some 200 gigs a year. Chuck is the epitome of the term “hard working musician”.

In this episode, you will hear Chuck’s songs:

“Live Oak Country”

“Folded Flag”

“She’s My Home”

If you would like to follow Chuck and his tour schedule, you can check him out at Chuck Briseno.com

And if you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at:
https://operationencore.org 

https://operationencore.org/donate

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In this episode of Soldiers, Stories and Songs, Adam Rossi and Rachel Hill flip the script on one of our usual podcast co-hosts and sit down with Operation Encore (OE) Executive Director and Board Member Guy Jaquier.  They discuss OE’s founding by a group of USAF Colonels, how OE works with its artists to help further their professional music careers and some of its initiatives in the works.

During this episode, they also explore three of Guy’s songs, including:

“Elko”

“Ghost Town”, and

“Bad Day For Dogs And Men”

If you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at:

https://operationencore.org (https://operationencore.org/) (https://operationencore.org/) (https://operationencore.org/donate)

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In this episode of Soldiers, Stories & Songs, Guy Jaquier and Adam Rossi spend time with Air National Guard Firefighter and Recruiter Jovon Newman.  Jovon was born in Philadelphia, PA and has served for 9 years (and counting) in the Delaware Air National Guard, currently as an E6 Tech Sargent stationed with the 166 Airlift Wing.

Jovon’s musical style is a wonderful blend of country, pop, R&B, with a touch of North East Coast that has been bringing him recognition, awards and radio play. In 2022, Jovon’s debut single, "Certified," was awarded Best Country Americana Song of the Year at the Delaware Public Media Awards. His latest single, "Lovin You Back," has resonated with audiences from Pennsylvania to Delaware and beyond and was nominated for Best Country Song of the Year for 2023.

In this episode, we will hear Jovon’s songs:

“Certified”

“Lovin’ You Back”, and

“Never Felt This Way Before”

If you enjoy listening to Jovon, you can follow him at: https://www.facebook.com/Jovon.Newman.Music/

And if you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at:

https://operationencore.org (https://operationencore.org/) (https://operationencore.org/donate)

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In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with OE artist Sean Russell.  Sean was born in Los Angeles and served four years in the US Army as an infantryman.  He deployed to Kuwait in late 1994 as part of Operation Vigilant Warrior after the Iraqi Republican Guard started making moves on the country.  This massive 72 hour airlift and prepositioning of US forces is credited with deterring Saddam Hussein from trying to repeat the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

During the podcast, Sean talks about growing up in “Reagan’s America”, writing his first recorded song while stationed along the DMZ in Korea, almost crashing his car when he heard his first song on the radio and starting his alt-rock Fort Worth band called the “Cut Throat Finches”.

In this episode you will hear three of Sean’s original songs;

“Moon Beast”

“Come Undone”

“New Age”

If you enjoy listening to Sean, you can follow him at: https://www.facebook.com/cutthroatfinches/ 

And if you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at:

https://operationencore.org (https://operationencore.org/donate)

Support the show (http://www.operationencore.org/)

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In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with OE artist and Army veteran Marc Ridge. Marc enlisted at age 18 and served four years in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, including a 12 month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

During the podcast, Marc shares his incredible journey. After being born in Lafayette, Indiana to a mother who was then 15 years old, Marc started playing guitar at age 12 and was writing songs and playing open mic events at age 14. By age 16, Marc was playing solo shows in bars and living on his own. Over the next few years, he met his wife and then an Army recruiter, and his life changed forever.

In this episode you will three of Marc’s original songs;

“Teenage Momma”

“Airborne Man”

“Ain’t a Rich Man”

If you enjoy listening to an authentic troubadour, with a voice like Chris Stapleton and a passion for representing the common working man, you are going to love Marc’s music. You can learn more about him at:

https://www.marcridge.com (https://www.marcridge.com)

And if you would like to support Operation Encore and this show, you can learn more and donate at:

https://operationencore.org (https://operationencore.org/donate)

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In this episode of “Soldiers, Songs and Stories” Guy and Adam chat with Jeff Daugherty, an Operation Encore artist (class of 2023), military spouse, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is fluent in mandolin, guitar and banjo.  Jeff was born in Richlands, NC and is currently living outside of Nashville with Syndey, his wife of 16  years.  Sydney is an active duty Air Force Missile Operations Officer currently working on her PhD at Vanderbilt.  Together, Jeff and Sydney have “enjoyed” 6 PCS relocations.  Jeff is an “active professional musician”, recently coming off a spot at the highly prestigious Newport Folk Festival and several weeks touring Germany, Ireland and England.  When Jeff is not performing solo, he plays with the Colorado-based Red Mountain Boys bluegrass band and has shared stages with such luminaries as Sam Bush, Billy Strings and the Infamous Stringdusters.  Welcome Jeff!

Dear John

Right Track

Booth Shot Abraham

You can follow Jeff on any of your favorite streaming platforms or at https://jeffdmusic.com 

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In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with Army combat engineer Mike “Doc Straw” Swart. Mike served from 2004-2013 and deployed twice to the Middle East, first near Fallujah in Iraq and later to Asadabad in the Kunar Province in Afghanistan, conducting road clearance for IEDs and other explosives.  Following Mike’s separation from the Army, he went back to school and became a doctor of physical therapy focusing on how the body and brain changes when we are subjected to stressful experiences/environments.  Mike currently lives in Virginia and fronts an alternative rock band called “Doc Straw and the Scarecrows”.  During this podcast, Mike presents three of his original songs, including:

“Get On By”

“For The Broken”

“Situational Awareness”

You can follow “Doc Straw and the Scarecrows” on any of your favorite streaming platforms or at:

https://www.facebook.com/docstrawandthescarecrows/ 

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In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with retired Army helicopter pilot Kate Anderson and military spouse Secily Anderson.  Together, they blend compelling lyrics, smooth harmonies and tasty guitar leads as a duet called “Winter Grain”.  Learn about how Kate grew up around the Reno Rodeo, almost became a nun, then pivoted to 22 years of service in the Army, and how Secily grew up with music since she was 8 years old and has played in bands covering about every genre on the planet.  During this podcast, they highlight three of their original songs, including:

“Passenger Seat”

“Fists”

“A Better You”

You can learn more about Winter Grain and follow Kate and Secily on your favorite streaming platforms or at:

https://Wintergrain.com

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