The Boston Red Sox and the Red Sox Foundation have joined forces with ABKCO Records to create the commemorative album, 100 Year Anniversary of Fenway Park.
I had the opportunity to attend the Hard Rockin’ Red Sox CD release party on Thursday morning at the Hard Rock Café in Boston. Dr. Charles Steinberg hosted the event, and Red Sox president and CEO, Larry Lucchino talked about the album and the importance of the Red Sox players showing their appreciation for Red Sox Nation and the Red Sox Foundation in the community of Boston.
Players Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Daniel Bard and Darnell McDonald were in attendance as we listened to Mark Salling’s rendition of "Sweet Caroline."
As for the CD itself, Grammy-nominated artist Jon Butcher told me he needed to summon his inner Aerosmith in "Dream On" as Saltalamacchia accompanied him on guitar. "Sweet Caroline" features David Ortiz providing background vocals and improv while Clay Buchholz plays acoustic guitar. Bard plays acoustic guitar on album’s debut single, "Let the Good Times Roll" and is joined by Extreme lead singer Gary Cherone (who also fronted Van Halen) along with guitarist Nuno Bettencourt. One of my favorite aspects of the CD is that Kevin Youkilis plays the cow bell in the song "2007" — who doesn’t love playing the cow-bell?!
At the event, I had the chance to speak with Casey Fang and Nohely Mariano Pinales, two of the 220 Boston students now part of the Red Sox Scholars program. A portion of proceeds of album sales benefits the Red Sox Foundation, which will provide these students with college scholarships.
This album is comprised of contemporary recordings of songs that are fan favorites traditionally heard at Fenway Park and associated with iconic Boston bands, all for an incredible cause!
