Singing soldier aims for the top

A FAILSWORTH soldier who was awarded the Gulf War Medal is aiming to top the pop charts.

Sgt Richie Maddocks is part of the Army threesome The Soldiers, whose debut single “Coming Home” is available to download from today.

It will take on the likes of urban pop act Taio Cruz and “Fame” actress Naturi Naughton.

Proceeds are in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund and the former South Chadderton School pupil is not ruling out a chart topper.

“Why not? The more singles we sell, the better the Army Benevolent Fund is going to do out of it,” said the 37-year-old who serves with the Minden Band of the Queens Division.

“It’s not for us. It is such a deserving charity and does so much work. If a soldier loses his limbs in battle and needs their house adapted they will do that — right through to being there to talk.”

One of seven brother and sisters, Richie took up the trumpet at school and played with Failsworth Band.

He joined the Army at 16 and said: “I did not want to be a gigging musician. I wanted to be a full-time professional musician and the British Army is probably the biggest single employer of musicians.

“I joined up and did two years training alongside my normal Army training. I am a soldier first before I am a musician.”

Sgt Maddocks served as a medic in the first Gulf War and has also travelled to Bosnia, Canada, the Falklands and across Europe.

He was approached by a production company to be in The Soldiers alongside LCpl Ryan Idzi (24), who made it through to the boot camp stage of “The X-Factor”, and Sgt Major Gary Chilton (41).

Their album, also called “Coming Home”, is released on October 26 by Rhino Records, part of Warner Music Group, and will raise money for the Army Benevolent Fund, Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion.

It features ballads such as “Lean on Me”, “Freedom”, “Tears in Heaven” and “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”.

Sgt Maddocks, who lives with his wife Nicci in Cambridgeshire, said: “It reflects what you expect from the Army — comradeship, brothers.

“People will listen to it and, if they have got loved ones overseas, it will make them think about them. I think they are great songs to be honest.”

The album is produced by Nick Patrick who has worked with Russell Watson and Katherine Jenkins.

But Sgt Maddocks, who is preparing to take up a post as an instructor at the Royal Military College of Music, will not let any success go to his head.

He once played on the same bill as boy band McFly and said: “I have got my sights firmly fixed on becoming a sergeant major. If it goes mega, mega you don’t know, I can’t speculate.”

“I have been in the Army too long to have visions of grandeur. I hope it does well for the charities we support.”