Soldier Songs and Voices’ Coaches are a group of established songwriters and musicians, about half of whom are veterans. We have played a wide variety of styles and genres in our musical careers and have a broad range of skills to share. Our rotating Coach schedule serves to expose our vet participants to different perspectives and approaches each week and we are committed to the principle that everyone takes something new home from each session.
Carl Solomon
Carl Solomon crafts songs from his journey through life, from carnival barker to counselor to songwriter. He grew up in Brooklyn with a beat poet’s name, and then in Baltimore. He creates portraits of characters, real or imagined, from his travels, relationships and observations. His use of language, recollections, and humor reflects the diverse facets of the human experience.
CHRIS Knight
Chris Knight is a Coach and SSV Communications Director. He served in the US Navy from 1975-1996. His roots are in Blue Grass music, playing guitar, mandolin, and fiddle, and he has released two well-received albums of original and traditional songs. His mantras, as SSV vets will attest, are “muscle memory,” “trust your ears,” and “stay in the bubble of the song, no matter what.”
ROBERT OWEN
Robert Owen serves as Coach and Secretary/Treasurer. Robert is a US Army veteran, musician, and songwriter. He has been involved in SSV-PDX since its inception in 2013. “Involvement in this organization gives me the opportunity to connect with many incredible veterans. That’s the best part!” he says.
TRISH WOODBURY
Trish Woodbury joined SSV in March of 2014 as a veteran participant. She says, “I had no significant musical experience and no experience playing guitar or writing songs. It was all new to me. After nearly six years of SSV workshops, I can honestly call myself a singer/songwriter.” She has been on the SSV Board of Directors as the Veteran Advocate for a year, advising the Board on general matters concerning veterans’ needs and concerns within the group.
SEAN RAMSTEAD
Sean Ramstead was born in Southern California in the early 1970s. He lived in Long Beach during his school age years. He began playing guitar at age 18. He moved to Oregon and started a family at 21 while his passion for music took a back seat to family and a professional career. Returning to music again at age 40, he began writing songs and performing original music. He has enjoyed being a Coach with Soldier Songs and Voices for the last several years. Sean is also an active member and volunteer with the Portland Chapter, Surfrider Organization.
MIKE DURHAM
Mike Durham hails from El Paso, Texas. He brings a southwestern flair to his music and it resonates in his songwriting and his on-stage presence. Mike's music is a combination of Americana, country, folk and blues, touching themes of love, life and lore, mixed with bite or two of humor. Since the 60s Mike's performed professionally, and began writing and recording songs in the 70s. His most notable performances were at El Paso's Border Folk Festival, Kerrville Folk Festival, and the Grand Ole Opry.
DANIT CHETRON
Danit Chetron grew up under the sunny skies of Los Angeles. She was born into a family with a long history of music appreciation and expression. She performs as a solo artist in the Pacific Northwest and mentors other performers. She teaches songwriting, voice, and performing skills. She also works as a sound engineer for Artichoke Music for live performances.
Edgar Wales
Ed Wales, Veteran Community Liaison, is our newest member of the SSV PDX Board of Directors. He has been an SSV member and supporter since 2016. Prior to that, he played guitar in a church choir and at family holiday gatherings. He especially enjoys playing fingerstyle on his classical guitar and is currently learning how to write songs based on his personal experience during the Vietnam War. He served with the USMC and later Oregon Army National Guard. He is active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1324, and a member of the American Legion. He earned a B.S. in Operations Management late in life and is a lifelong learner.
Artichoke Music has been kind enough to donate space, time, and equipment