Nell Robinson’s “Soldier Stories” has been a labor of love. The inspirational concert remembers all those who have served in this country’s armed forces since the American Revolution. As lead vocalist and producer, Robinson is joined onstage by her string band consisting of Grammy Award nominees and participants: Jim Nunally on guitar and vocals; Keith Little on banjo, mandolin and vocals; Joe Craven on percussion, fiddle and mandolin; and Marshall Wilborn on string bass. “This is the third year I’ve produced this show,” Robinson said. “My family going back to the Revolution has had members involved in every single war. Jim’s a duo partner of mine, and the genre of our music is at the intersection of American country, bluegrass and folk with their common elements of acoustic and strings.
“When we thought about a way to honor our veterans and all those who have fought and died for this country, we decided upon storytelling through music accompanied by authentic voices. We began with letters our families have saved through the years and soon began gathering letters and stories from other sources so that we have something from every war, even the War of 1812. Some of them are sad and tender, others are rousing and funny. They’re placed strategically between appropriate songs.”
| Onstage |
| Soldier Stories |
| Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage |
| When: 6 p.m. Sunday |
| Tickets: Free |
Robinson has curated the program like a museum piece. Each song references a specific war and time period, and each letter or story comes from a soldier, mother, wife, uncle or other family member.
Many of the songs are traditional, while “American Anthem” by contemporary composer Gene Scheer was first sung by mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves at the unveiling of the restored Star-Spangled Banner Flag at the Smithsonian. It has since been performed at two presidential inaugurations and recorded by Norah Jones.
The letters from many sources include one written Christmas Eve in the World War I trenches when American and German soldiers paused to play football and sing traditional hymns. Another, filled with a soldier’s poetic thoughts, comes from the same war. A letter to his mother from a young man who enlisted in World War II at age 16 cannot mask his terror at living through a typhoon on Okinawa. Still others are written by Vietnam vets and those fighting in Iraq.
“People in the audience who come up afterward are most touched by the personal letters,” Robinson said. “The stories are presented from different perspectives and different times, but they all inspire us to remember the sacrifices made by our servicemen and welcome them home with thanks.”
