Stand Up, America! -- a song of unity

"Stand Up, America!"

We live in the greatest country in the world — America. It is a land of liberty, prosperity, and opportunity; a land that celebrates and honors individual rights and freedoms and those who sacrificed to give us these.

No other country in the world has done more to define and defend these God-given rights than America. And there is no greater symbol of these cherished values than the the great Red, White, and Blue. Our flag unites all those who defend these rights and those who have been so blessed by them.

Yet, for all the good this country stands for, there are forces trying to tear it apart. It’s nothing new. Democracy and freedom have always been at odds with those who want to control and oppress. But the liberty we enjoy as Americans cannot be suppressed. It is God-given and God-impelled. When people unite behind this cause, there is no greater power on Earth.

If history has taught us anything, it is what the eighteenth-century philosopher and statesman, Edmond Burke, so famously said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

“Stand Up, America!” is a call for Americans to do something that has historically united us — to publicly proclaim their gratitude for the people who made, and are making, this country great. It is a call for Americans of all races and backgrounds to stand up for the country that has given so much to them…to let the world know that democracy and freedom are ideas that can never be defeated, and ultimately will prevail over all their detractors.

WHY WAS THIS SHARED WITH YOU?

If someone shared this with you, it’s because you’re not one to shy away from showing your love and gratitude for this great country. We are looking for as many people like you as we can find to help us spread the message of national unity as widely as possible.

Our objective is to use the universal language of music:

We have identified a number of influential internet platforms that we believe might share “Stand Up, America!” with their followers. But we can’t know them all. This is where we need your help. If you know anyone, or if anyone you know knows anyone, who can help us reach people with large followings, please share this link with them.

RELEASE DATES

This is the “soft” release of "Stand Up, America!” We hope to generate interest in the song through this GoFundMe campaign. We plan to have it available on the major music platforms in time for the Fourth of July, 2024.

PLEASE HELP US SHARE “STAND UP, AMERICA!”

If you like "Stand Up, America!" please help us share its message with the people you know:

Sharing this campaign helps spread the message of unity for America!

The story behind the song

"Stand Up, America!" is a labor of love. The contributors — composer, singers, musicians, and producer, all of whom came together for the first time on this project — volunteered their time and services because they believed so strongly in the need for national unity. They also felt there was no better time to share this message than now, when our country is facing another defining moment in its history.

"Stand Up, America!" is not the creation of a single person. It is the expression of an idea that couldn’t be suppressed. Its genesis came in 2022 in a conversation between two friends in St. Louis. Josh Henn, an up-and-coming professional singer, commented to a friend, Brian Webster, that he wanted a patriotic song in his repertoire out of respect for members of his family who serve, and have served, in the military. Webster, a hobbyist songwriter, took that as a challenge. Within a few weeks he had some lyrics and music, but the two of them did nothing with it.

Soon after that, Webster was asked by a veteran’s group if they could use another song he wrote as the theme song for the opening of a national monument honoring black soldiers who fought in American wars. That project put him in contact with David Alan Jaymes, a music producer in Jersey City, NJ.

In February 2024, Webster contacted Jaymes about the possibility of recording "Stand Up, America!" It would have to be a pro bono project because there was no budget to support it. Upon hearing the piece, Jaymes was all in, and so was Henn. That’s when the idea of a duet bubbled up. We needed to find a female vocalist who would complement Henn’s extraordinary baritone voice.

That’s when Grace Field joined joined the project. She has soloed in Carnegie Hall and performed on Broadway. Jaymes had done some recording work with her in the past. When Field heard about the project, she jumped onboard enthusiastically — before even hearing the song.

One more person then joined the team. Edward Cozzi, one of Jaymes’ music technology students heard about the project from overseas and wanted to be part of it. So he jumped onboard and recorded a live drum track.

That’s how "Stand Up, America!" came together. A group of ordinary people, each with special talents, was drawn to this project through their love of America. Together they hope to use the universal language of music to unite with others who share their love.

Why a GoFundMe campaign?

All the contributors to this project did it out of their love for their country. They didn’t do it for profit, or even with the expectation of being paid up front for their efforts. If the song catches on — and we hope it does with your help! — there may be some future compensation. Until then, there are some out-of-pocket expenses that ultimately need to be recovered.

This version of "Stand Up, America!" was mostly done remotely. The artists have never even met in person. It is our hope to raise enough donations to bring Josh and Grace into the same studio and do a live, professional-grade recording that will become an anthem for the ages.

Please consider supporting this project with a donation. It would be wonderful to get your help and know that you, too, support the message of "Stand Up, America!” and want to share it.

Here is how the money will be spent:

Studio and production time — $5,000

Artists — $1000

Social media marketing/Production/website — $3,500

Future professional recording session — $10,000

GoFundMe goal: $20,000

Help the patriots who have given their all

Any money we raise above our expenses will be donated to three non-profit organizations that dedicate their resources to helping and healing those who defend our freedoms and have sacrificed greatly for us:

Freedom Alliance — www.freedomalliance.org

Blue Angels Foundation — www.blueangelsfoundation.org

Green Beret Foundation — www.greenberetfoundation.org