Doc MacNab’s Enlistment Adds Firepower to VETUNES ® ROCKATORIUM Army Elite Rockin’ Manifest

June 28, 2010 - PRLog -- Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York – Doc MacNab has been appointed to a coveted seat on the Advisory Board and is on the roster of VETUNES®.

VETUNES® a division of the American Veterans Aid Fund that works with the music industry to raise funds for veterans and their families and create awareness campaigns.  Musicians donate music for our ReverbNation Player, for streaming, to bring attention to veterans issues, our programs and events.

The recent donation of "Snow Near My Birthday" is expected to enhance VETUNES® already immensely popular “awareness through music program/campaign.” http://www.reverbnation.com/controller/audio_player/detachable_player/artist_349694?autoPlay=true

Doc’s song is fittingly right after the Tribute to our U.S. Marines voiced by Simon Kirke and his tribute to American-British Goldstar Parents “Over There.”

“I recorded "Snow Near My Birthday" in late 2003, just prior to returning to active duty after a nearly 10-year break in service. "Snow" was written by Jason Hull for the band, Trigger Finger and it seemed a nice contribution to Greg Kelly and Vetunes. "Snow Near My Birthday" is my favorite song recorded by Trigger Finger when I was a member. The lyrics are very personal and in many ways have a universal appeal. Upon completion of the sessions, I returned to service for about a year,” Doc MacNab said.  “Thanks to Vetunes for the work they do bringing light to veterans' issues; the government and VA in particular doesn't always do enough to address the many needs vets and especially combat vets need. Specifically, the suicide rates for both vets and active duty soldiers/sailors/airmen is at an all-time high. Reach out to a vet and let him/her know how appreciated they are.”

Official Website(s) for Doc MacNab:
http://www.docmacnab.com
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=ff#!/docmacnab
http://www.myspace.com/docmacnab
http://www.linkedin.com/docmacnab.
http://www.youtube.com/docmacnab

“It is an unbelievably great honor for us to welcome Doc MacNab to the VETUNES® Advisory Board not only for his tremendous talent and knowledge but also in recognition of his outstanding service to our country,” said Greg Kelly aka SGT AIRBORNE, CEO.  “Doc is taking his place on our team that consists of notable musicians and bands including Legendary Musician Simon Kirke (Free & Bad Company), Pyp~n~Hot Pipapelli, The Jamming Southern Rock Society/Band, Rockin’ Caroline Purr and more.”

VETUNES ® is the music division of the American Veterans Aid Fund.
It is the mission of VETUNES to Rock for our Veterans, Active Duty, and Their Families.

The inspiration for the creation of VETUNES ® is Legendary Musician Mr. Simon Kirke (FREE & BAD CO) who has earned the love and respect of our Veterans here in the United States and in The United Kingdom not only through his music but Mr. Kirke has shown our Brothers/Sisters-in-Arms nothing but the highest love and greatest respect.

The nickname "Doc" originated during his time in the army. "Doc" was an affectionate name given to all combat medics and Doc MacNab served his fellow soldiers in that capacity. Doc's term of service spanned four (4) U.S. Presidents, more than a few low- and high-intensity conflicts, many roles in combat medicine and lasted almost 9 years. The Army medical creed is "Service Above Self," and Doc incorporates that motto into his work ethic with other artists and producers. A world traveler, Doc has lived and worked all over the globe, as soldier and citizen.

Doc served in several different units as a medic: 37th Engineers (CBT) (ABN), Special Forces Training Group JFKSWC (ABN) 4/17th Field Artillery, 11th Special Forces Group (ABN), US Army Medical Detachment Womack Army Community Hospital, 2d Infantry Division HQ, 264th Medical Bn.

Doc MacNab's drumming began in a public school music program at the age of 10. Most of Doc's career has been spent learning and playing with small bands in small towns, until 1993, while in the Republic of Korea, Doc performed for a festival crowd of over 10,000 people. Since then, Doc has lived and worked the music scene as drummer, bandleader, club DJ and radio personality and station general manager in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Richmond, Virginia, Seattle and New York City.

Doc has worked with some notables and other musicians in the studio and on the road. With a strong business sense and a deeds-not-words/service-above-self approach to working in the studio and on the road, Doc is dependable and professional in all his endeavors.

Doc MacNab’s’ drumming lends his tasteful jazzy fusion of pop, rock and world styles to artists from nearly every musical genre. Doc works out of his home in Greensboro, NC and is available for session work, tours and casuals/substitutions in central North Carolina: from Raleigh to Charlotte and beyond. With a valid US passport and no visa issues, Doc travels all over the world to perform.

During much of the year, drummer extraordinaire Doc MacNab can be seen by many in the drum shop at Guitar Center in Greensboro, NC as well as being a member of some of western North Carolina’s premier live music acts. Come on in to GC Greensboro for tuning and repair tips, to pick up that new piece of coveted gear or to grab him for a gig.

Versatile enough to jump from style to musical style, Doc lends his talents across the musical spectrum to some very gifted musical talent, playing R&B, Americana, jazz, pop, metal and punk. Doc delights producers, engineers and players alike with his warm and rich-sounding Pearl Reference drum kit, Black Beauty and Longo snares and mixture of Zildjian K and Paiste Twenty series cymbals.

Long before he landed on NC soil, Doc discovered his love of drumming by banging on his mom's clothesbaskets at the age of nine. The drummer grew up during the FM radio revolution and the blue-collar rock music scene of industrial Akron, Ohio, where he played in a twenty-four-piece jazz orchestra for the first time at the age of fourteen, and hasn't looked back since.

Relocating to North Carolina almost two years ago from New York City, MacNab, now 41, has become known as the hardest working drummers music today, in NC and even he sometimes has a hard time believing how truly blessed he's been.

Using each song as a canvas from which to craft his drum parts, Doc brings his varied influences to the sonic table: like the progressive technical bombast of Neil Peart (Rush), the circular African rhythmic poetry of Manu Katche (Peter Gabriel,) the passion of Stewart Copeland (The Police) or the jazz-inspired tasteful rhythms of Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting), among others. Whatever an artist's songs need, Doc's drum palette only adds to the musical landscape and blends seamlessly into each musician's part.

Doc has served as musical director and drummer for Haak-MacNab, while at the peak of their careers. A few of his other musical director credits include Trigger Finger, John Goose and Nightmare Sonata.

No stranger to life on the road, Doc has toured with Haak-MacNab, Stevi Marie & Jackson Road, American Motel, The Raygun Girls, Broken Wings, Steppin’ Stone and The United Cities of America.

Doc has also supported such notables as Katy Cornell, Artis the Spoonman, Stretching Madness and E. Scott Warren.

Despite all of that work, MacNab still finds the time to stay true to his roots, and occasionally teaches and tutors at-risk youth. "I got my start working with kids in the projects of Richmond, Virginia when in college," Doc explains. "I worked as a teacher in an after-school program for a nonprofit agency to boost reading and math skills.”

No stranger to service, Doc has been an Army medic, high school teacher, three-term volunteer president of a public radio station and also an officer in the Percussive Arts Society.

Drummer, Musical Director, Teacher, Veteran … Doc wears many hats, and there is no limit to what this talented musician can do.

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American Veterans Aid Fund (AVAF), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, was established to assist veterans and their families in obtaining and maintaining the respect, dignity, and honor earned through their service and sacrifice.