Larry Tidwell
Certified Senior Advisor for 10 years and a Believer in the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, without whom I am nothing, I believe he is the reason this great nation came into existence.. to be able to worship God as we are lead is a privilege that I hope I never take for granted. That privilege is one that was bought first by the Lord himself as he died on that terrible cross for our sins, he was buried and as he said he would, rose again the third day for our justification... simple faith can attain eternal life as a gift from God! Second this privilege is continued due to the our BRAVE Military and the unselfish willingness to put their lives on the line so we have Freedom! It is such a wonderful blessing to be a part of a group called Homeland that loves Jesus and love our troops and "as long as God gives us a voice to sing NEITHER WILL BE FORGOTTEN!!!" God Bless American and Glory be to God!!!! -- Larry
Ed Jones
Ed, originally from Columbia SC, moved to Alabama in 1970 and met Larry Tidwell in 1972. They became good friends, particularly after Ed heard Larry sing and Larry heard Ed play guitar. They started playing at small events which eventually led to larger events and then into recording. In 1979 they recorded a single that Ed wrote called "You Know the Feeling" which was played on a number of country stations around the south east. They had a local band called "The Royals" which played in a number of the hotels in the Alabama area. The band played its last gig in 1980. During this time, Ed was beginning a career with Primerica in the financial services industry which he is still involved with today and presently holds a position of Senior Vice President. In 1985 Ed wrote a series of songs for the company, including "The A. L Williams Fight Song". Larry was also involved as the lead vocalist on a couple of the songs. They performed at a few of the company conventions. We still get requests for those songs, even today.
In the early 90's Ed and Larry started singing and recording Gospel and Patriotic music. This is where Boyce joined the group. We were inspired and named the Bridge Builders by Ranger Gary Horton of Trussville, Alabama (youthontrack.org). We were recording frequently at Prestige recording studio in Birmingham owned by Kenny Wallis, who eventually became the fourth member of our group. Kenny, a devout Christian and a GREAT friend who we dearly miss, joined the ranks of the heavenly choir in the spring of 2003.
Prior to Kenny's passing, while we were performing at a Medal of Honor tribute near Birmingham, our group crossed paths with Carl Jones, a Marine Vietnam Veteran. Carl, for many years, penned numerous songs about his Vietnam experiences. As he shared his heartfelt songs with us, we began recording and performing them at various patriotic functions. Eventually Carl became a member of the group and also manages our bookings, marketing, promotion and web site development. This is where the group's name was changed "Homeland".
Over the history of The Bridge Builders and Homeland, I met thousands of Vietnam Vets. I have seen reflections of their pain, much of which was due to the fact that they felt forgotten by their Country. I never served in the military and therefore do not and cannot understand what they have, and, in many cases still are experiencing. A few years ago, a saw the movie about the first battle in Vietnam called "We were soldiers". I left the movie with an emotion that was overwhelming to the point that I sat in the parking lot and wrote the song, "We did not Understand". It is written from the perspective of someone who never served in the military and is included on our Homeland "Tribute" album.
While we have been fortunate enough to have traveled and preformed at many events across this Country, the one that will always be at the Top, at least
in my mind, was the week we spent in DC in August 2004 performing for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Gen James Jones and Gen Pace) along with 30 Medal of
Honor recipients, at the Washington Hilton. I learned so much that week from our American Heroes. That is a experience I will never forget.
Ed lives in Irondale Alabama with his wife, Becky. He has 2 sons: Michael and Chris and 6 grandchildren.
In the early 90's Ed and Larry started singing and recording Gospel and Patriotic music. This is where Boyce joined the group. We were inspired and named the Bridge Builders by Ranger Gary Horton of Trussville, Alabama (youthontrack.org). We were recording frequently at Prestige recording studio in Birmingham owned by Kenny Wallis, who eventually became the fourth member of our group. Kenny, a devout Christian and a GREAT friend who we dearly miss, joined the ranks of the heavenly choir in the spring of 2003.
Prior to Kenny's passing, while we were performing at a Medal of Honor tribute near Birmingham, our group crossed paths with Carl Jones, a Marine Vietnam Veteran. Carl, for many years, penned numerous songs about his Vietnam experiences. As he shared his heartfelt songs with us, we began recording and performing them at various patriotic functions. Eventually Carl became a member of the group and also manages our bookings, marketing, promotion and web site development. This is where the group's name was changed "Homeland".
Over the history of The Bridge Builders and Homeland, I met thousands of Vietnam Vets. I have seen reflections of their pain, much of which was due to the fact that they felt forgotten by their Country. I never served in the military and therefore do not and cannot understand what they have, and, in many cases still are experiencing. A few years ago, a saw the movie about the first battle in Vietnam called "We were soldiers". I left the movie with an emotion that was overwhelming to the point that I sat in the parking lot and wrote the song, "We did not Understand". It is written from the perspective of someone who never served in the military and is included on our Homeland "Tribute" album.
While we have been fortunate enough to have traveled and preformed at many events across this Country, the one that will always be at the Top, at least
in my mind, was the week we spent in DC in August 2004 performing for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Gen James Jones and Gen Pace) along with 30 Medal of
Honor recipients, at the Washington Hilton. I learned so much that week from our American Heroes. That is a experience I will never forget.
Ed lives in Irondale Alabama with his wife, Becky. He has 2 sons: Michael and Chris and 6 grandchildren.
Boyce Smith
Boyce hasn't told us who he really is or what he does yet :) when we find out, we'll keep you posted. All we know is that he's a real good singer and has a very lovely wife!!
Carl Jones
Carl was born and raised in Birmingham, AL and attended Hewitt Trussville High School until joining the Marines at seventeen and finding himself fighting in Vietnam at eighteen. Upon returning from Vietnam, I played guitar and sang with country bands in bars and "honky tonks"....Until one night, while sitting on the hood of my car pickin' my guitar, the depression of war, that I had tried so hard to ignore in hopes of being able to forget, began creeping up on me like an all too familiar enemy in the night.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, hundreds of painful lyrics began flowing across my lips; "I was seventeen when I went to serve my country. It was a country I had never seen before. There were people whose lonely eyes reflected, the destruction of a hot and lonely war." Song after song, some one hundred and fifty of them, began flowing as though God had just chosen me to share my talents in a important way. He was asking me to reach out to other veterans like myself who were aching for answers and breaking down for unexplainable reasons. I had lost me and God had found me -- in fact, that too emerged as a song "In a war long ago in VIetnam, I lost sight of just who I am, now I'm someone, whose lost someone, I've lost me. You want find me at the lost and found, cause noone cares or even gives a damn, I'm just here temporarily, living on the edge of insanity....cause I'm someone, whose lost someone......I've lost me."
"Many of the songs you'll find on our Patriotic CD were written while God used me to do his work. All I did was simply hold the pen. The Wall, Angels Touch, The Few The Proud With Wings, Look What We've Won, Why I Wear The Flag and Corpsman Up, to name a few. Our group has touched countless thousands of veterans and their families who have found healing in the work of our songs.
I believe that God brought Larry, Ed, Boyce and I together for a divine purpose; of helping wounded veterans; not only veterans with physical wounds, but those with emotional and spiritual wounds as well. As you listen to our music, you'll quickly understand that HOMELAND is not just a group of four guys singing songs, our mission is to do God's work by bringing veterans and people, just like YOU, to come to know Him in an up close and personal way." says Carl.
Today, Carl is President/CEO of CADRE Solutions Group, LLC., www.3dcadre.com, a Birmingham based company that specializes in developing 3D Interactive Training Technology for Nuclear, Petro Chemical, Electric Utility and Defense markets. Carl's company is CCR certified as a minority Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business. CADRE's mission is to help our wounded warriors by creating job opportunities. By creating advanced training programs using 3D technologies, CADRE can help disabled veterans obtain meaningful job opportunities.
Carl has served as a Commandant of the Marine Corps League and is currently Co-Chairman of the Military Advisory Council at Lakeshore Foundation. He serves with Col. Don "Doc" Ballard, USMC, Medal of Honor Recipient Vietnam, Marines Tom "Doc" Eagles, Sgt. Frenchy LaFountaine, USMC / Vietnam Veteran.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, hundreds of painful lyrics began flowing across my lips; "I was seventeen when I went to serve my country. It was a country I had never seen before. There were people whose lonely eyes reflected, the destruction of a hot and lonely war." Song after song, some one hundred and fifty of them, began flowing as though God had just chosen me to share my talents in a important way. He was asking me to reach out to other veterans like myself who were aching for answers and breaking down for unexplainable reasons. I had lost me and God had found me -- in fact, that too emerged as a song "In a war long ago in VIetnam, I lost sight of just who I am, now I'm someone, whose lost someone, I've lost me. You want find me at the lost and found, cause noone cares or even gives a damn, I'm just here temporarily, living on the edge of insanity....cause I'm someone, whose lost someone......I've lost me."
"Many of the songs you'll find on our Patriotic CD were written while God used me to do his work. All I did was simply hold the pen. The Wall, Angels Touch, The Few The Proud With Wings, Look What We've Won, Why I Wear The Flag and Corpsman Up, to name a few. Our group has touched countless thousands of veterans and their families who have found healing in the work of our songs.
I believe that God brought Larry, Ed, Boyce and I together for a divine purpose; of helping wounded veterans; not only veterans with physical wounds, but those with emotional and spiritual wounds as well. As you listen to our music, you'll quickly understand that HOMELAND is not just a group of four guys singing songs, our mission is to do God's work by bringing veterans and people, just like YOU, to come to know Him in an up close and personal way." says Carl.
Today, Carl is President/CEO of CADRE Solutions Group, LLC., www.3dcadre.com, a Birmingham based company that specializes in developing 3D Interactive Training Technology for Nuclear, Petro Chemical, Electric Utility and Defense markets. Carl's company is CCR certified as a minority Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business. CADRE's mission is to help our wounded warriors by creating job opportunities. By creating advanced training programs using 3D technologies, CADRE can help disabled veterans obtain meaningful job opportunities.
Carl has served as a Commandant of the Marine Corps League and is currently Co-Chairman of the Military Advisory Council at Lakeshore Foundation. He serves with Col. Don "Doc" Ballard, USMC, Medal of Honor Recipient Vietnam, Marines Tom "Doc" Eagles, Sgt. Frenchy LaFountaine, USMC / Vietnam Veteran.
