FIVE FOR FIGHTING’S JOHN ONDRASIK and JIM BRICKMAN Discuss Their Recent Holiday Duet ‘Christmas Where You Are’ and Giving Back to Veterans and Their Families

Photo Credit- Duston Todd

Grammy-Nominated artists John Ondrasik aka Five For Fighting and Jim Brickman have announced a special collaboration to send a message of thanks, love, and support to the troops this holiday season with the song, “Christmas Where You Are.”  Watch a snippet of the lyric video, featuring soldiers and their families, HERE. The song was officially released on November 3^rd across all digital platforms as well as the Jim Brickman album, A Joyful Christmas, featuring classic hymns & carols mixed with new original songs and duets.  This collection was released on November 10^th via BMG.

“The holidays can be an especially hard time for our troops and their families,” says Ondrasik and Brickman, “’Christmas Where You Are’ is a thank you and reminder to soldiers that we are with them in heart and spirit, wherever they stand, in service and sacrifice to our nation. We hope that no matter where these brave men and women are stationed, the warmth and love of family transcends the miles. We want them to know that a grateful nation holds them close to our hearts.”

Ondrasik and Brickman witnessed first-hand the raw emotions of families being apart during the holidays through the work they’ve both done with the USO and “Operation Care Package.” The experience was so meaningful and humbling to both of their lives that they wanted to do something special to honor them. Since Brickman has recorded dozens of Christmas songs, Ondrasik asked him if he’d want to collaborate on a holiday song for the troops.  So, Brickman started noodling on the piano, then they came up with a musical framework, and that night Ondrasik wrote the lyrics.  The call to serve in the military takes so many men and woman far from home and especially during the holiday season, it leaves an emptiness felt by both the troops and their families. “Christmas Where You Are” reaches out with a thank you to the them and is a gentle reminder that though they may not be sitting in our living rooms on Christmas morning, they are always front and center in our hearts and minds.

A percentage of the proceeds of the song will go to the Gary Sinise Foundation, which honors defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities as well as What Kind Of World Do You Want, an initiative Ondrasik created which raised more than $250,000 for five designated charities — Augie’s Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save the Children and Operation Homefront.

About John Ondrasik:

Singer-songwriter John Ondrasik has spent the past two decades writing deeply personal songs that include social messages, invoke the human spirit and make an emotional connection. With the past six albums, by Five For Fighting, the name under which he records and performs, Ondrasik has sold over three million records.  Five For Fighting’s breakthrough came in 2001 with the Grammy-nominated song “Superman,” and his performance at The Concert for New York. Ondrasik proceeded to become part of the American songbook with the hits “100 Years,” “World,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” and “What If.” He has also been deeply involved in philanthropic efforts. Highlighted by his whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com project and distributing over a million “CD for the Troops” to servicemen and their families around the world.  Ondrasik continues to release new music, including recent singles “Born to Win” and “All for One” as well as touring with his string quartet and symphonies around the country.

Connect with John Ondrasik: Website | Facebook | Twitter

About Jim Brickman:

The hit-making songwriter is the best-selling solo pianist of our time earning 21 Number One albums and 32 Top 20 Radio Singles in the industry bible, “Billboard Magazine.” He’s garnered two Grammy nominations, gospel music’s Dove Award, two SESAC Songwriter of the Year Awards, and the Canadian Country Music Award. He also has a music scholarship at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music & is an ambassador of Roland piano products and passionate advocate for young musicians.  He’s written three best-selling books and is in the 20th season of hosting the popular radio show “The Jim Brickman Show.”

Connect with Jim: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Learn more about this project and John and Jim in the following All Access interview:

John’s Answers-

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you two?

In the midst of a Los Angeles deep cold freeze…It got down to 62 today.

Let’s get right into it and talk about the making of your special Holiday song, “Christmas Where You Are.” How did it all come together? How did you decide to collaborate on it?

Jim and I were discussing how our work for the USO and other military charities were so meaningful in our lives and I asked him if anyone had written a Christmas Song for the Troops. We immediately started working on musical ideas and I wrote the lyric that night, thus “Christmas Where You Are” was born.

How did your meaningful experiences with the USO and “Operation Care Package” make you want to record this song and give back to Veterans?

I like that while Jim was doing his Care Package we were doing the CD for the Troops project.  There is never enough we can do for our troops and their families. As songwriters hopefully sharing a Thank You from a song or two can remind our troops how much we love them and appreciate their sacrifice.

How did you get involved with the Gary Sinise Foundation? And, John, can you please talk about starting your What Kind Of World Do You Want initiative? 

Gary is our generation’s Bob Hope. Starting with working with the Medal of Honor Foundation we have done dozens of events and concerts for our troops with Five For Fighting and Gary’s Lt. Dan Band. Gary’s foundation builds special need homes for severely wounded troops such as triple amputees. I am honored to be his partner and friend and happy to share profits from this song with his foundation. What Kind of World Do You Want was a foundation started with the idea of making an active difference in changing the world for the better. Our CD for the Troops project took that theme and thanks to many artists in the music community we were able to distribute over 1 million CD’s to our troops worldwide.

How long have you been wanting to work with each other on something like this song? Why do you think this collaboration worked so well for this? Do you see any more collaborations in the future? 

My publisher wife Carla worked with Jim over twenty years ago on some of his biggest hits so we have known of each other for decades. I enjoy working with him as I don’t have to play piano for a change! Jim is such a wonderful player and his ability to build a career, as an instrumentalist is a testament to his talents and fortitude. I look forward to more songs in the future.

What is the message that you hope listeners take from it? Right now, during the current cultural and political climate, songs like this one seem even more important. How do you think new music today is being reflected because of the state of our world right now?

To me this song is a simple Thank You to our troops and their families. We recognize being away from home is always hard but particularly during the holidays. In a divided nation, we must never forget who allows us to have political and cultural disagreements in a free democracy where everyone has the right to voice their opinion, write any song. It is our troops.

John, do you have plans to release a Holiday album and include this song on it as well?

Yes! We just recorded a Christmas television Special “Christmas Under the Stars” that will air on BYUTV his holiday season. It was the first time Jim and I played “Christmas Where You Are “ live. There will be an accompanying FFF Live album of this concert available by Thanksgiving.

What are each of your all-time favorite holiday songs?

Rudolph, Bleak Midwinter, Silver and Gold!

What else are you two working on right now?

A couple TV shows, a musical, my keynote series, how to build the perfect shopping cart.

What is one thing you are both excited about for 2018?

The L.A. Kings and L.A. Dodgers Championship parades.

Jim Brickman’s Answers –

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

I’m in my hometown – Cleveland, OH

Let’s get right into it and talk about the making of your special Holiday song, “Christmas Where You Are.” How did it all come together? How did you decide to collaborate on it?

I had always wanted to do a duet with John. I’m a big fan of his music, and we met up to write together for the first time last year.
It was a great writing session, and so when it came time to write together again, we decided that we’d try our hand at a Christmas song. But not just any Christmas song. One that had meaning, and emotional connection, that connected on a very heartfelt level. That song idea ended up being “Christmas Where You Are”

Photo Credit- Duston Todd

How did your meaningful experiences with the USO and “Operation Care Package” make you want to record this song and give back to Veterans?

A few years ago I did a performance for the USO at Baltimore airport, as the troops were deploying, and as others returned for leave.
It was incredibly meaningful – especially for the families.

How long have you been wanting to work with each other on something like this song? Why do you think this collaboration worked so well for this? Do you see any more collaborations in the future?

I think John and I really have a similar sensibility when it comes to what we want to say with our music.
We’re both at a point in our careers where “what” you say, and the connection that message makes, are more important than simply making a “hit” song.

What is the message that you hope listeners take from it? Right now, during the current cultural and political climate, songs like this one seem even more important. How do you think new music today is being reflected because of the state of our world right now?

The message in the song is a thank you to unsung heroes , and a way to say “we know how much you do, and how far away you are”. we just want to say . We appreciate you. It’s important that music has hope, and positive messages in it. Especially given the time in the world

Jim, how do you think this song compares to the rest of your forthcoming album, “A Joyful Christmas”?

It’s a very eclectic album. When you have everyone from Five for Fighting to Dick Van Dyke on the same album, it’s really about a wide range of emotions, and the spirit of beauty and kindness this holiday.

What are each of your all-time favorite holiday songs?

Oh Holy Night

What else are you two working on right now?

I’m working on a “Brickman sings Brickman” album, where I’m doing the vocals on all my songs for the first time.

What is one thing you are both excited about for 2018?

I have an exciting initiative for songwriters and piano players. I’m setting up a foundation and summer festival for music education and young musicians to gather in my hometown Cleveland to celebrate music, and collaborate.