Singing soldiers join forces with Americans

A TRIO of singing British servicemen who released a hit record are to be joined for the first time by two US soldiers in concert.

The Soldiers reached number four in the UK album chart with their debut release Coming Home last October, selling 600,000 copies.

Two US soldiers, who recently returned from frontline duties, will fly over to accompany the three men when they perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London tonight as part of their Coming Home tour.

Richard Scarlett from Atlanta and Tyrone Basnight from Georgia, both Sergeants in the US Army, asked to sing alongside The Soldiers in a "personal show of solidarity" for fellow soldiers worldwide.

The Soldiers comprise Gulf War veterans Sergeant Major Gary Chilton and Sergeant Richie Maddocks, plus Lance Corporal Ryan Idzi, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the 20th Armoured Brigade.

The five are to record a new version of Coming Home for release in the US later this year.

Footage from the recording session will also be posted on YouTube.

Part of the album's proceeds are planned to go directly to charities including Help For Heroes, the British Legion and the Army Benevolent Fund.

Sgt Maj Chilton, 41, said: "We never dared to imagine that our album would be such a hit, especially as just a few months ago we were completely unknown. We can't wait to go on tour and to meet all of our supporters. This makes us not only the first serving soldiers to release an album but also the first serving soldiers to go on tour."