NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ RRM Entertainment) - Distributed digitally by The Orchard beginning today, country singer Derek Sholl presents his self-titled album which debuts "When They Come Back," a powerful and evocative tribute to America's returning combat veterans. Co-written with hit songwriter Tim Johnson after returning last spring from an overseas Armed Forces Entertainment tour, "When They Come Back" addresses a generation's struggle to readjust to life here at home after facing death and trauma overseas.
Sholl's album release coincides with Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Workman's September 15 book release, Shadow of the Sword: A Marine's Journey of War, Heroism, and Redemption, published by Random House. Workman, a seven-year combat veteran of the United States Marine Corps, is featured in the music video for "When They Come Back." After meeting on a golf course and hitting it off, Workman says, "I'd heard the song before we were introduced, and I remember thinking that he nailed it perfectly. Here was music that captured what it is like to come home from war with both physical and mental wounds. He asked me to star in his video, and how could I say no to that? Hopefully, it will be another way to raise awareness and show America that the war does not end at the Kuwati border. It just changes form when we come back."
On "When They Come Back," Derek notes, "My time spent overseas with all the amazing men and women serving our country was incredibly eye-opening. All that they endure for the good of our country is nothing short of heroic. All the stories I heard and the people I met inspired me to write 'When They Come Back' and, as a songwriter, I'm proud of how it turned out and touched by the way its been affecting people who hear it."
Sholl first made a splash in the Texas music scene in 2007. After injuries finished Sholl's baseball career playing for the Kansas City Royals, he realized he was given a fresh start to pursue his ultimate dream of singing country music. After a three year stint in Las Vegas opening for Jay Leno at the Mirage, Sholl moved to Texas and in 2006, he recorded his debut album Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time. Releasing his first song, "Pray For Me" in 2007 won over critics and fans alike.
Countrychart.com wrote, "Sholl's album shows that he is a gifted songwriter with a huge drive, a skill for marketing and, most importantly, an amazing new country voice that is definitely just warming up. So move over Randy and Alan, the name of the next batter is Derek Sholl."
He charted two singles "Red Blooded Country Girl" and "Pray for Me" off his debut album on the Texas country charts and then set his sights on Nashville. In 2008, Robert K. Oermann gave his DISCovery Award in Music Row magazine to Sholl for "Here," an honor given to country music's most noteworthy up-and-coming artists. "Here" broke onto Music Row's chart's top 100 after just two weeks at radio and went No 1 on the Country Music Airplay Charts in Germany.
Between tour dates over the last couple of years, Sholl visited Rosewood Studios in Tyler, Texas to record his album, which features a wealth of new material along with five signature Sholl originals like "One More Round" and "She's Bad." He's also cut songs from such heavy hitting songwriters as Tim Johnson, Lee Brice, and Tim Owens.
It's taken several years and about a million gigs, but Sholl's country music career has been both a steady climb and a trial by fire. While he's managed to keep the injuries to a minimum, the athlete in Sholl is bound and determined to give 110 percent night after night, delivering a riveting and energetic live show whether he's playing a huge festival or gigging in a Texas honky tonk.
"I take a lot of pride in our live stage show," he says. "What I'm doing up there is not an act. On a big stage or in a small bar, it's high energy and it's exactly who I am."
For additional information on Derek Sholl and his album, please visit www.dereksholl.com.
