Choir group from Glusburn, Sing It! South Craven have featured on singers new charity single highlighting the care industry.
‘Who Cares?’, released in support of The Care Workers’ Charity, is performed by Ivor Novello-nominated singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine, and was co-written by Brian Johnson from Glusburn.
Brian who is a marketing executive at ICG said:
"When I joined iCG (a non-profit organisation supporting the care sector) in 2023, I mentioned to iCG Chair Mike Padgham that I wrote songs in my spare time. He immediately said we need a song for the care sector.
"Over the next few months, whilst getting to grips with my new job, I began to develop a lyric that tried to capture ‘moments’ from the lives of carers and the people they care for.
"The phrase Who Cares? seemed to work well for the chorus so slowly it came together.”
Brian approached his friend Boo Hewerdine, described by BBC Music as “one of Britain’s most consistently accomplished songwriters".
One of his songs (‘Bell, Book and Candle’) featured in an episode of Emmerdale, when Marlon made the decision to turn off Tricia’s life support.
Brian added:
“We began writing together during lockdown, just after I’d attended a songwriting workshop Boo had run,”.
“We seemed to click immediately and have written a number of songs together over the years".
“We always felt more voices in the chorus would work well"
"The answer came even closer to home.
"I’d recently joined ‘Sing Out! South Craven’, a new community choir based in my home village of Glusburn.
I asked if they’d like to get involved and, despite only having formed a few months previously, they more than rose to the challenge.”
The choir, conducted by Skipton music teacher Damien Oxborough, was recorded at Glusburn Institute, where they rehearse, by Kurt Wood of Keighley’s Corner House Recording Studio.
To accompany the song, Brian has directed and edited a video, kindly shot by Silsden-based film-maker, Dawn Feather.
The pair filmed with staff and residents in care and nursing homes in the St Cecilia’s Group in Pickering and Scarborough, as well as with health and social care provider, Ubu in Harrogate, who support vulnerable adults to live independently in their communities.
Brian commented on the song saying,
“We were so privileged to be able to get access to their lives for a few hours and share the positive aspects of the care world and I think the images shot really support the song’s tone.”
‘Who Cares?’, distributed by Horus Music, is available to purchase as a digital download here.
You can watch the video here: www.independentcaregroup.co.uk
The project has been sponsored by Hempsons, leading health, social care and charity lawyers in Harrogate.
All proceeds will go to The Care Workers’ Charity.