Local Marine Maj. Mike Corrado Contributes Song to To The Fallen Records Compilation
By PETER RUGG
Before 9/11, U.S. Marine Corps Major Mike Corrado was opening up for acts like John Mayer and Robert Cray. After 9/11, he was in Iraq, overseeing security at a military base in Fallujah. Now safely back in Kansas City, his experiences and his lyrics about the life of a military man have given the singer-songwriter a wave of national attention.
Photo courtesy MikeCorrado.com
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The attention is mostly because of his work on a compilation of songs by guys in the armed forces called To the Fallen Records Presents: Rock Vol. 1. The songs and the label focus on recently returned soldiers and those still serving and recording their music in the Middle East. It’s the second compilation released by the To the Fallen label, following a hip-hop record.
Corrado’s song, "Start Saving Me," is track five on the rock record, and ironically immediately follows a song called "Don’t Try and Save Me." So you know they’re representing all points of view on this thing.
Corrado was pictured and quoted in February’s Rolling Stone when the magazine profiled the label and its acts – he was also listed as one of the magazine’s picks for To the Fallen’s four best acts. If he wanted more exposure, he got lucky with the magazine’s decision to print the story in the Britney Spears death mask cover issue, which was reportedly one of Rolling Stone's best sellers in years.
Apart from his involvement with To the Fallen Records, Corrado has put out four albums with another on the way.
“I recently got back from L.A. and signed a management deal with a group out there, GMA. I’ve got an album being mixed in L.A. that should come out in the next three or four months and hopefully we’ll do a video for one of the singles,” Corrado, 38, says. In the meantime, he's working as Inspector & Instructor for Headquarters Company, 24th Marines, 4th Division here in KC.
Regarding the music itself, it’s as if Lee Greenwood were fronting Train. That might sound like a dig, but both of those acts have sold a million more records than most of the bands I like, so somebody’s going to love this. Back in 2006, this blog did an entry when Major Mike first emerged as a balladeering soldier from these parts, and the author, a reckless infidel named Jason Harper, wasn't too kind to Corrado's songwriting. Though Harper says he sticks to his guns on the music, he wishes to convey all respect for Corrado's service in Iraq.
Now, on to the music.
"Start Saving Me"
Mike Corrado "Start Saving Me" (acoustic)
"On My Watch Tonight"
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