A choir of firefighters is hoping to top the charts with its debut single which marks the 15th anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorism attacks in history.
Cheshire Fire Choir, made up of firefighters and support staff from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, was brought together by Gareth Malone for the BBC series The Choir: Sing While You Work, in 2013.
During the TV series, the choir won the nation’s hearts with their moving rendition of The Rising – the Bruce Springsteen song, written soon after the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York in 2001.
The song tells a story of a firefighter who went into one of the crumbling twin towers, but later came to terms with the fact he would not survive.
The decision to record the song came in New York where Cheshire Fire Choir had been invited to take part in a concert at Carnegie Hall in February earlier this year.
Following the choir’s performance of the song at the Ground Zero memorial, the decision was taken this year to release the song as a single to raise funds for the Fire Fighters charity which provides life enhancing support to UK fire and rescue service personnel.
Watch Manager Phil Marke said performing The Rising is their way of never forgetting their colleagues who lost their lives during the shocking attack 15-years-ago.
“The moving song holds a special meaning for every single member of the choir as it was written in reaction to the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers in New York in which 343 firefighters, 60 police officers and 10 paramedics lost their lives,” he said.
“But, for Cheshire Fire Choir, the song isn’t only a reminder of those who fell on 9/11; each time we sing it we feel it is a tribute to those emergency services personnel in the UK who have given their lives in the line of duty.
“We feel it is the right song for us to release to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity which is there to help firefighters who put their lives on the line every day to save others. The charity really makes a difference with their support for firefighters and their families.”
All proceeds made from the single will be donated to the Fire Fighters charity.
Originally released by Bruce Springsteen in 2002, the song earned him a Grammy award for the best rock song and best male rock vocal performance as well as a nomination for song of the year.
The Fire Fighters Charity Chief Executive, Dr Jill Tolfrey, said: “We are delighted to support the Cheshire Fire Choir with the release of its debut single and are hugely grateful to all of its members.
“Every penny we receive from sales will directly help us to support more injured or ill fire service personnel across the UK, so we urge everyone out there to download the single and enjoy it, safe in the knowledge that they will be making a real, life-changing difference to our beneficiaries.”
