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Powerful song honoring fallen soldier and friend ‘Daddy’s Son’ available now

by | Jun 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

POWERFUL SONG HONORING FALLEN SOLDIER AND FRIEND “DADDY’S SON” AVAILABLE NOW

Written By Army Veterans John “PK” Kelley and Marc Budnik along with Jay Clementi and Sean Bode – Performed by Jay Clementi, featuring Brody Clementi

Available June 12 as Part of the Non-Profit’s New Music Program

 LINK TO COVER

LINK TO PERSONAL PHOTOS SGT. TOMMY MACPHERSON, Courtesy Claudia Bravo MacPherson

June 12, 2026 — Nashville, Tenn. — Non-profit SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) releases “Daddy’s Son“ today, June 12, ahead of Father’s Day as part of the organization’s mission-driven music program. The song was penned by Army Veterans John “PK” Kelley and Marc Budnik, along with Jay Clementi (SW:S Music Director/hit songwriter) and Sean Bode at a retreat in Arizona.

“Daddy’s Son” is intensely personal to PK and Marc, both former Army Rangers, who wanted to write a song to honor their fallen friend, Sergeant Thomas “Tommy” R. MacPherson, a Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Recipient who was killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2012 at the age of 26. Tommy’s son Brayden was only 18 months old at the time.

We never got to play catch, so charge the ball
Give your best
Never start a fight, but don’t back down
Sometimes you gotta walk away to stand your ground
And if your heart pounds to a rockabilly song
If your hair stands up when someone’s being wronged
And you’re wondering where all of that comes from
It’s your Daddy, son

Written as a tribute to a fallen comrade for his son, this heartfelt song honors a father’s life through the voices of those who knew, served with and loved him. It offers his son the guidance, love, and life lessons his father never had the chance to share, ensuring his father’s spirit lives on through the stories and values he left behind. “Daddy’s Son” marks the 8th release in SongwritingWith:Soldiers’ New Music program.

 Photo “Daddy’s Son” Writing Session HERE, Credit Jake Herrle

“Daddy’s Son” along with an in-depth story behind the song available now.
The music video will be released on June 19. 

 

“Songwriting With Soldiers changed the trajectory of my life. The 2018 retreat was the catalyst that helped me begin healing in various areas of life—mentally, physically, and spiritually—ultimately leading me to a life of sobriety,” shares PK. “Through songwriting, I found a way to process what I carried and give meaning to it. ‘Daddy’s Son’ is more than a song, it’s a legacy. It ensures that my friend, Thomas MacPherson, is remembered not just as a Ranger, but as a husband and a father. It’s a reminder of sacrifice, love, and what it means to be a good man. SongwritingWith:Soldiers has provided me and many others an outlet to heal in an unconventional way.”
“It’s tough. You don’t want to see any child without a parent, you know, whether it’s a mom or dad, so writing ‘Daddy’s Son’ was tough,” shares Marc. “At the same time, writing it also gave me some closure, knowing that I was somehow able to get through my career and I’m still here for my kids. I think that with that song, it allowed me to look back at it in regard to Tommy. He might not be there physically for his son, but through faith and through everything, I know that he’s probably looking down at him and he’s still there for him. He’s still taking care of him, just not physically.”
“It was such an honor to be trusted with helping write this song,” shares Clementi. “We just wanted to create some heartfelt words of wisdom from father to son. The fact that Marc and PK knew their friend so well really made it feel like the words were truly coming from him, he was in the room for sure that day! It was extra special for me to have my son Brody singing harmony with me on this recording!”
L to R: Brody Clementi & Jay Clementi HERE, Courtesy SW:S

SongwritingWith:Soldiers’ (SW:S) mission is to transform lives by using collaborative songwriting to build creativity, connections, and strengths. SW:S holds weekend retreats across the U.S. for veterans and their families from all conflicts. Since 2012, SW:S has connected with more than 7,000 veterans and military families, creating a safe and inspiring environment to share their experiences and co-create songs grounded in lived experience with professional songwriters.

SongwritingWith:Soldiers believes they are not just creating songs, but a deeper understanding of the veteran experience. For veterans to be understood, they need to be heard. It starts with providing a carefully crafted experience so they can connect to themselves and others, and where songwriters can help shape their story into song. Once the song is created, SW:S provides ways for it to be heard beyond the writing session by veterans and non-veterans alike.

The first eight compelling tracks are available NOW on all streaming platforms.

 Listen Now:  “The Man You Used To Know,” “At Ease,”
“When You Look At Me,” “Let Go Of The Pain,” “Hey Brother,” “Strumming Hand,” “The One They Call” and “Daddy’s Son”

Watch Now: “The Man You Used To Know” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “At Ease” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “When You Look At Me” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “Let Go Of The Pain” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “Hey Brother” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “Strumming Hand” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “The One They Call” lyric video and story-behind-the-song
Watch Now: “Daddy’s Son” story-behind-the-song

Learn more, listen, and support the mission at songwritingwithsoldiers.org Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) brings service members, veterans, and military families together with professional songwriters to co-create powerful songs that are grounded in lived experience. These collaborations take place in a trusted, evidence-informed retreat program designed to foster creativity, connection, and meaningful expression.

Since 2012, SW:S has offered retreats, alumni programs, and music-based initiatives grounded in dignity, care, and respect. The process invites participants to express what often goes unsaid—through a creative partnership that honors their words and experiences.

Every song is co-written with full consent and intention. With participant permission, many of these songs are shared—through performances, playlists, and public platforms—to build understanding, strengthen community, and amplify the voices of those who serve.

This work is guided by multidisciplinary creative professionals including songwriters trained in the SongwritingWith:Soldiers’ methodology and culture. A pilot study by Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital found that the SW:S collaborative songwriting method may support reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress and depression, reinforcing the power of creative expression in trusted settings.

To date, SW:S has engaged thousands of service members, veterans, and family members across the country. The organization’s work has been featured by CBS Mornings, Good Morning America, SPIN, The New York Times, and more.