U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Wild Blue Country, the Air Force Academy Band’s Country Music ensemble, released its latest recording, “Here We Are,” this fall.
The release features longtime Nashville, Tennessee singer-songwriter, and now airman first class, Jamie Teachenor.
Before enlisting in the Air Force in 2015, Teachenor, 36, spent the better part of two decades singing on Country Music recordings and writing songs for mainstream Country artists Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Trisha Yearwood, and others. His three solo albums charted high in the U.S. and UK.
“When people listen to my music, I always hope to reach an emotion inside of them, whether joy, sadness, or any other range of emotion in-between,” Teachenor said.
Teachenor hopes to contribute to the band in what he called atypical ways.
“I wanted to bring the competitive, far-reaching and commercial element of the music industry to the table for the military, the type of commercial appeal that makes us all turn on the radio,” he said. “I believe this album is a giant step in the right direction.”
“Here we are” was produced by Teachenor and Master Sgt. Jeff Valentine, NCO in charge of the performing group, at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville.
“Our overall goal was to release an album of great songs that represented America and the Academy, that would stand up against anything released in the country genre,” he said. “We wanted to push the boundaries of what Air Force bands have done in the past.”
Teachenor hopes the recording sets the bar for military bands around the Department of Defense.
“My dream is for this album to be a stepping stone for all military music and lead to a greater appreciation by the nonmilitary music industry,” he said.
Teachenor wrote or co-wrote the release’s 10 new songs.
“There are many personal life experiences that inspired me,” he said. “Hopefully, the listeners will identify. I believe everyone brought their best to the studio and I hope it moves people when they hear it.”
“Here We Are,” was released Oct. 11.
(Editor’s note: Teachenor’s father, Jim Teachenor, was inducted into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2013. Jamie Teachenor's wife, Jen Teachenor, is a best-selling fiction novelist.)