Kelly answers songwriter John’s call to hit right note for the NHS

A professional singer from Stourbridge, who has performed at venues across the world, has taken on an appeal from a Black Country songrwriter to record a tribute to the National Health Service.

John Woolridge, from Coseley, has penned a song to the NHS

Mother-of-one Kelly Rogan, 38, who performs under the name K-Lo, answered an appeal by John Woolridge to record a song he wrote several years ago and which he has now adapted to praise the heroes of the NHS for their work, particularly during the pandemic.

John, aged 76, from Coseley, who started working life as an engineer and then spent 30 years as a probation officer, has been writing songs since 1982 and hopes his work will be taken up as an anthem for the NHS.

Kelly Rogan, who performs under the name K-Lo

He wrote a tribute to the Armed Forces during the Falklands War and the song, Santa Send My Daddy Safely Home to Me, was recorded by Katie Teitge.

Later he wrote For King and Country to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War and this raised £450 for the charity Help for Heroes.

John said: "Now I have adapted the wording of this song and am delighted that Kelly has recorded it, and hope that people will listen to it on YouTube and donate funds to the Captain Sir Tom Moore charity and the appeal to mark what would have been his 101st birthday.

"I want funds to go to the National Health Service and hope it raises as much money as possible."

Gratitude

Married with two grown-up children and six grandchildren, John said: "If this takes off I hope it makes a lot of money for the NHS and would love the song to become an anthem for the NHS."

"The country owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the NHS for their relentless courage and resilience in the face of such adversity.

Kelly, who is also part of a duo called Brass Lyrical with Mike Snow, who is also the frontman for local band Rang-a-Tang, said: "John got in touch with me through another artist who suggested I might be right for the project.

"The song was recorded at Splinter Studios in Wednesbury, and had this come at any other time I would not have been able to do it because of commitments.

"For the first occasion, because of the pandemic, I have had time to do something for a worthy cause.

"I think it is important that we put back any money we can into the National Health Service."