Samples :: Music
Footprints On My Heart - Blair Ashby
I produced this song in 2002 for the singer you hear singing in the sample. I found the lyrics fantastic and wanted to use them in my own version of the song. I sought and received permission to re-write all the music for the song. However, I loved Keenan’s singing so I kept the original vocal track from his CD release, re-wrote the chord progression and music, and then orchestrated it in a contemporary symphonic feel.
The singer and lyric/melody writer is Keenan Roberts. He wrote this song after his son was born and having two children of my own I resonated with the message.
The melody and lyrics to Angel’s Lullaby was written by a very good friend of mine, Steve Sanders. He had felt inspired to write it after hearing his wife talk about the connection a mother felt with her baby. I wrote the music as a soft lullaby. Steve and I are hoping that a few parents will play it as they put their children to bed at night. The beautiful voice singing is Gretchen Jensen. She will be singing on a Celtic flavored Christmas CD I am orchestrating this summer.
When I was commissioned to orchestrate this song, I was given freedom to make it any way I wanted. After much thought and research, I found this traditional Irish tune was adopted by many different British and American army units; but it’s place in history was solidified when it was made the theme song for the 7th Calvary. From this I decided to write the song as an anthem to the average man who signed up out of national pride or just unemployment. However, he almost certainly, never intended to die. Marching to this tune, though, many of them did die. Thus, it has a sad feel but also a sense of pride.
Contact Blair to talk about your original music project.
