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Blaze Kranks America the Beautiful

by Theresa Sherwood

Buddy Blaze joins the 111th Army Band for a very special deployment ceremony at Aloha Stadium


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Honolulu, HI (September 10, 2008) – America the Beautiful has never rocked like this before!

 

More than 8,000 people gathered in Aloha Stadium on Saturday, August 16th to send off the Hawaii-based 29th Brigade, which will be heading to Kuwait and Iraq in late October. Lengendary luthier, Buddy Blaze, joined the 111th Army Band in a respectfully overdriven version of America the Beautiful.

“I'm truly honored and humbled that, Governor Linda Lingle, Lt. Governor James "Duke" Aiona, General Lee, Col Snakenberg, Command Chief Denise Jelinski-Hall and the rest of our Hawaii-based troops wanted to share this with my wife, Joyce and me,” said Blaze. “It was an experience that is hard to describe.”

 
From left to right: Buddy Blaze, Governor Linda Lingle, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, and Blaze's wife, Joyce.

Blaze brought his orginial Fubar Guitar, which was custom made for a U.S. military band in Kabul last Christmas, and a Krank amp, made specially with camo Tolex for the performance. The original Fubar Guitar is now in the hands of the 111th Army Band. 

 

“I can't thank the 111th Army Band enough for their patience, support and for being the caretakers of the Fubar Guitar and Krank Amp,” said Blaze. “And a special thanks to ‘Team Krank’ for their wonderful amp!”

According to Blaze, the combo was “a match made in guitar heaven.”

This isn’t the first time Blaze has reached out to the U.S. military. The original Fubar Guitar was named after and designed for the Fubar Fighters, a band composed of U.S. military personnel stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. The band consisted of two airmen, a solider, a Marine and a sailor. When guitarist John Gardner contacted Blaze for help with a guitar for the Fubar Fighters, Blaze was touched. Major General Robert F. Lee and Chief  Denise Jelinski-Hall graciously hand delivered the custom-made guitar to the band in Kabul on Christmas day of 2007.

 

"To me, the whole Fubar Guitar experience has been amazing. It's something you carry with you for the rest of your life," said Blaze. "What I have done for the troops is so small compared to what they're doing for us. It's all pretty humbling."

For more info:
Buddy Blaze Guitars
Buddy Blaze
Fubar Guitar
Krank Amps


     



Comments

 (21 comments) display by
UsernameComment
SMS Clay Gardner
on 01/14/2009 		OK so I'm a little slow getting on here and blogging but please don't let my tardiness take away from my appreciation for Buddy and all he has done to improve morale and lift the spirits of those in uniform. From the moment I saw his add in Guitar World while flying back to Afghanistan after my 15 days of leave in Texas, I knew I was witnessing quality and when I contacted Buddy via email to ask for help to endure the war and recieved a warm and friendy response back followed by a phone call to see what he and the folks back home could do to support us I found out that quality was not just in the equipment but stemmed from the individual. Buddy is truely a patriot for stepping up and supporting the uniformed services. I echo the statement that the world would be a much better place if more people acted like Buddy and put others first.

Thanks again Buddy!

God bless,

SMSgt John "Clay" Gardner, USAF (Ret)
Rudy Parris
on 09/17/2008 		This is a testament to a man of gold
ron
on 09/17/2008 		That camo Krank is bad ass!!
Col Dave Snakenberg
on 09/17/2008 		Buddy--- Thanks again for your participation in the 29th BDG send off. The FUBAR has made its trip around the world. When we were in Camp Eggers, Kabul, the FUBAR Fighters were a "great touch of home". SMS Clay Gardner and the other band members really appreciated the donation of the custom made FUBAR. Mahalo to you and Joyce for your continued support of our Hawaii National Guard and other military service members.
Shirley Lynch
on 09/17/2008 		Hi Buddy,
It is absolutely great what you have done, and continue to do, for our troops!The world would be a better place if there were more people like you who really care about others.Keep up the good work! Tell Joyce "Hello" for me.
EZ P
on 09/16/2008 		Thank you, Buddy, for doing what you do. Top notch killers and a killer dude. No wonder this guy is so highly respected
Rachie (a friend of Leesir)
on 09/16/2008 		Hey Buddy! What a great article. I am looking forward to meeting you, Joyce and Matt at Leesir's B day in Hawaii....can you play Happy Birthday on guitar??!! Can't wait to hear the old Kramer stories!
SSG Paul Higa, 111th Army Band
on 09/16/2008 		Mr. Blaze,

Thank you very much for everything you have done for the 111th Army Band, the Hawai’i National Guard and all of our deployed troops. You have given so freely of yourself, your time, money and talents in support of the troops and have asked nothing in return. You truly have a big heart and a warm and generous spirit. Thank you again, Mr. Blaze. God bless you! Rock on!
Mike Wolverton
on 09/16/2008 		Excellent, its good to hear of Buddy or anyone for that matter supporting our boys!
Ginnie
on 09/16/2008 		Buddy Blaze, what can I say. Great story and you still amaze me after all these years. My best Joyce.



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