The Soldiers

Consisting of three serving members of the British Army, vocal group the Soldiers' heartfelt ballads struck an emotional chord with U.K. audiences to become one of the surprising success stories of 2009. Sergeant Majors Gary Chilton and Richie Maddocks, both Gulf War veterans, had performed around the world as clarinet players in the Corps of Army Music, while Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, made it through to the boot camp stages of The X Factor in 2007. The Soldiers signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2009 and recorded their debut album, Coming Home, during a break from their duties, with producer Nick Patrick (Russell Watson, Katherine Jenkins). Featuring cover versions of songs by Eric Clapton, Elton John, and Simon & Garfunkel and one original composition (the title track), it reached number four in the U.K. charts. The group also performed at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, embarked on a 23-date theater tour, and donated a percentage of their profits to several war charities. Their second album, Letters Home, was released in October 2010. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi