Paris songwriter pays tribute to Silver Cross recipients
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A Paris singer-songwriter has returned to the theme of remembrance for his latest musical endeavour.
Neil w. Young wrote and recorded The Silver Cross Medal of Honour. It can be heard on his website, www.neilwyoung.com, and on YouTube and Facebook and is performed by Young and Ray Lyell.
“Originally, it was called The Silver Cross Mother,” Young said. “But I decided to change the lyrics and the title to honour the widows, mothers, partners and spouses of those who served in the military and died for their country in the name of freedom.”
Lyell, Young’s producer, is a singer, guitarist and Juno nominee in 1989 as most promising male vocalist. His career dates back to the late 1980s when he and his band, The Storm, released their debut album.
Young said he believes his song is the only one to honour recipients of the Silver Cross. But it isn’t the first time Young has written about remembrance.
“Actually I wrote another song – The Price of Freedom – for Remembrance Day back in 1986,” Young said. “It got a mention from Ken Strachan, who was the editor of The Expositor, a couple of days later on the editorial page.”
The Price of Freedom also can be found on YouTube.
A lifelong resident of Brant County, Young went to elementary school in Mount Vernon and is a graduate of the former Burford District High School.
Young is a retired businessman who has been a recording artist, songwriter and author for the past 14 years. He has released five CDs and had two novels released by Cavern of Dreams Publishing.
“People often ask me how I come up with songs,” Young said. “Sometimes it just kind of happens when I’m sitting at the keyboard or playing my guitar.
“Other times, I’ll be busy doing something else and a phrase or line will come to me and I’ll put something together.”
He said sometimes he is prolific and other times his ideas run dry.
“There’s no real formula to it.”
Over the years, Young has amassed 60 songs that can be found on his website.
Young has been twice nominated for a Hamilton Music Award and it a three-time winner of the International Academy of Independent Artists Golden Kayak Award. As well, he has had a number of his singles reach No. 1 on indie music charts.
Two songs from No Looking Back, Young’s debut album, reached No. 1 on the Cashbox Magazine Country Chart.
Young includes a lower case w in his name on promotional materials as part of his branding and to distinguish himself from Neil Young, the Canadian music icon.
“The matter of my name has often cropped up since I became actively involved in the world of music some 14 years ago,” Young said. “I’m three years older than my more well-know countryman who shares the same first and last name with me.”
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