Operation Encore: Soldiers, Stories, and Songs – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of “Soldiers, Songs and Stories” Guy and Adam chat with Jeff Daugherty, an Operation Encore artist (class of 2023), military spouse, singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who is fluent in mandolin, guitar and banjo.  Jeff was born in Richlands, NC and is currently living outside of Nashville with Syndey, his wife of 16  years.  Sydney is an active duty Air Force Missile Operations Officer currently working on her PhD at Vanderbilt.  Together, Jeff and Sydney have “enjoyed” 6 PCS relocations.  Jeff is an “active professional musician”, recently coming off a spot at the highly prestigious Newport Folk Festival and several weeks touring Germany, Ireland and England.  When Jeff is not performing solo, he plays with the Colorado-based Red Mountain Boys bluegrass band and has shared stages with such luminaries as Sam Bush, Billy Strings and the Infamous Stringdusters.  Welcome Jeff!

Dear John

Right Track

Booth Shot Abraham

You can follow Jeff on any of your favorite streaming platforms or at https://jeffdmusic.com 

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In this episode of “Soldiers, Stories & Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) spend time with Army combat engineer Mike “Doc Straw” Swart. Mike served from 2004-2013 and deployed twice to the Middle East, first near Fallujah in Iraq and later to Asadabad in the Kunar Province in Afghanistan, conducting road clearance for IEDs and other explosives.  Following Mike’s separation from the Army, he went back to school and became a doctor of physical therapy focusing on how the body and brain changes when we are subjected to stressful experiences/environments.  Mike currently lives in Virginia and fronts an alternative rock band called “Doc Straw and the Scarecrows”.  During this podcast, Mike presents three of his original songs, including:

“Get On By”

“For The Broken”

“Situational Awareness”

You can follow “Doc Straw and the Scarecrows” on any of your favorite streaming platforms or at:

https://www.facebook.com/docstrawandthescarecrows/ 

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In this episode of “Stories, Soldiers and Songs”, Guy (Jaquier) and Adam (Rossi) catch up with Operation Encore artist and Navy veteran Adam Gaffney while he is recording his new EP (!) at AR Audio in San Francisco. During the podcast, they discuss Adam’s humble Midwest roots his adventures while shopping at Walmart, his military service loading weapons as a Navy Aviation Ordnanceman on aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf (including one particular moment almost having his arm torn off while casually leaning against an F-18), and his style of music that combines Neil Young and The Band with a touch of Tom Petty.

Throughout the episode, they play Adam’s new recordings of his original songs:

“My Dear Friend”
“For Being Someone”
“White Lines”

You can find more information about Adam and his music on the Operation Encore website or by searching for “Adam Gaffney Music” on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

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In this episode of "Stories, Soldiers and Songs", Guy and Adam interview a new 2021 addition to the  Operation Encore family, Scotty Hasting.  During the podcast, Scotty discusses his military service and the challenges of trying to become a household name in country music as a Nashville-based singer-songwriter.   He also describes his "really bad day" in Afghanistan when he was shot 10 times and reveals how he adapted his guitar-playing by using a little bit of velcro and ingenuity to overcome his combat injuries.

Throughout the episode, Scotty performs three of his original songs:
"Truck it"
"The Stories That They Tell"
"Forever to Me'

You can find more information about Scotty and his music on the Operation Encore website or by searching for "Scotty Hastings Music" on your favorite social media or streaming platform.

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In this episode of the Operation Encore (OE) podcase, active-duty Army soldier Bob Deprato drops in the OE studio during his stateside leave and talks to Guy and Adam about his 18-year career in Special Operations.  Bob describes his deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan, his time in the Crisis Response Force providing security for overseas embassies, his efforts leading military support for overseas Presidential visits, and his experience acting as an Army security liaison for the Tokyo Olympics.  Bob also discusses his recent attempts to reconnect with one of his Afghan interpreters and his work to deliver an SUV-load of kids' winter coats to the Afghan refugees housed at Marine Base Quantico as they await their resettlement to local communities.

During the podcast, Bob plays and describes three of his original songs:

"War Brewin' "
"Fightin' Man"
"Tennessee Mystery"

To find out more about Bob, visit the Operation Encore website. 

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In this episode of the Operation Encore podcast, Marine Landing Support Specialist Barbara  Sim gives a fascinating, open and honest description of her time in her marines and her  singer-songwriting journey.  An upcoming country artist with a soaring voice, Barbara describes her time as part of the "Lioness Group" in Iraq, searching for dangerous contraband and explosives among the population  (Preview: finding a grenade was "no big deal"). She also describes the feeling of loss and survivors guilt associated with combat loss and describes the stories behind three of her  most memorable songs:

"Silent Anthem"     
"Running From Goodbye" and
"Freedom Isn't Free"

If you want to learn more about Barbara, you can find her on the Operation Encore website and on her social media sites below.  Send her a message and let her know that her music speaks to you.  You can also find and book Barbara at local venues in the Greenville, SC area.

Facebook (@barbarasimmusic)
Instatram (@barbarasimmusic)
Spotify (Barbara Sim)

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In this episode of the Operation Encore podcast, former Marine Combat Engineer Steve Harwood takes Guy and Adam on a journey of discovery, from a tumultuous youth to the battlefields of Fallujah.  Born in Woodenville, WA, Steve tells the story of how his father bought him a 45-day Greyhound bus ticket after high school and how that eventually led him to join the Marines and drive Humvees across Iraq.  After dodging incoming fire during his time in Operation Enduring Freedom, he returned to Washington and began taking his music career seriously and joined Operation Encore in 2019.  During the podcast, he plays three songs from his recent EP that highlight his unique sound and rocker pedigree:

"Tuesdays with You"
"Shadowland" and
"All That I Need"

Find out more about Steve on the Operation Encore website and on his numerous social media sites below:

Facebook (@steveharwoodmusic)
Instatram (steveharwood_music)
Spotify (Steve Harwood)

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Army Combat Medic John Evans has a lot of stories to tell.  Born in Houston, TX and raised in upstate New York, John idolized his WW2-veteran grandfather and decided to enter the Army immediately following 911.  After hearing a slightly inaccurate portrayal of the "Health-Care Specialist" field from his local recruiter, John signed up and was trained as a combat-medic, then deployed multiple times in support of operation Iraqi Freedom.  During the podcast, he tells Guy and Adam about one of the worst days in his life, when a suicide bomber detonated a vest-borne improvised explosive device in a crowd of civilians.  This life-changing event changed his perspective and focused his life-efforts on supporting the humanity and fragility of every human being.  Following his service, John describes his struggles with his transition out of the military, how he became sober (since July 2, 2007!) and how his life-journey led him full circle to help those struggling with addiction.  During the podcast,  John also describes the major influences to his music and performs three songs that capture the essence of his Americana style:

"The Arrow of Time"
"The Creek Don't Rise" and
"Turn Me Back Into Stardust"

If you enjoy John's music, look for his upcoming 3-song EP release on the OE website and social media channels soon!

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Meet Angel "Nolo" Santiago -- the kind of man who sets his mind to a task and overcomes all obstacles to make it happen.  A native of Puerto Rico , Angel had music in his life from a young age. He began playing a nylon-string guitar in grade school and steadily increased his skill through high school as he waited on weekly TV shows to pick up tips and tricks from the likes of Eddie Van Halen.  One day after college as he was taking garbage out for a local restaurant, he decided he needed to adjust his vector in life and  joined the Air Force, "one of the best decisions [he] ever made"...despite some slight  misrepresentations of truth from the local recruiter.  During his conversation with Guy and Adam, Angel describes his initial culture shock to middle America, how he had to send his pregnant wife back to Puerto Rico during training, and how music always has always had  a heavy influence on his life.  His guitar doesn't sit in a closet, but like him, is "always plugged in, ready to go."   During the podcast,  Angel performs three of his newest songs -- two that are exclusive to the podcast, and one that was recorded at Adam Rossi Studios and is available at your favorite streaming service.

Ayer
Insinto Animal
Enloquecer

You can find out more about Angel on Operation Encore website, or through his handle on Instagram and Facebook:  @nolo.oficial

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Meet Mr. Lloyd Smith -- a doctor, surgeon, chemistry professor, student of California Gold Rush lore, California native, singer/songwriter, and one of the most generous men you'll ever meet. He's also a self-taught luthier who has built over 80 beautiful, custom guitars which he has given away as gifts -- some of which have made their way into the hands of our artists.  In partnership with Lloyd, Operation Encore is announcing the Lloyd Smith Project --- an album of Operation Encore artists covering Lloyd's songs on his custom guitars.  During this Special Edition Podcast, Lloyd describes his family history in California, how he used music as a therapeutic stress reliever throughout his life, and how he discovered and developed his skills making guitars.  You'll hear about his not-so-secret techniques for creating long-lasting pieces of art (HINT:  Carbon-fiber is a key ingredient) and the story behind his infamous "bullet" guitar. Along the way,  OE artists Andrew Wiscombe and Steve D. Wilson join Lloyd for performances of three of his impactful songs:

"Big North Wind" (Steve D. Wilson)
"Two Bad Men from Bodie" (Andrew Wiscombe - Upcoming Release)
"Grandfather's Tool Chest" (Lloyd Smith)

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