The Reporter of Wars
1966 · Columbia 4-43880 · New York City, New York
- Artist
- Gene Wyles
- Title
- The Reporter of Wars
- Release
- Follow Me / The Reporter of War
- Year
- 1966
- Label
- Columbia # 4-43880
- Format
- 7" · Single
- Language
- English
- Country
- New York City, New York, USA
- Genre
- Country · Country
- Primary theme
- Home Front Perspective / Soldier's Perspective
Annotation — Draft Songs
The song "Follow Me" The song "The Reporter of Wars" In country, military Billboard, 7 January 1967: "The Army's Special Forces has contributed a second 'Green Beret' to the ranks of the music industry. Columbia Records has recorded and released two sides penned and performed by Gene Wyles, currently a captain in the elite army unit. Wyles Columbia recording, produced by Don Law and Frank Jones, was released last month without reference to Wyles occupation and outstanding war record. Jones feels that Wyles musical talents are solid enough to stand on their own merits, without exploiting the singer's full-time career and heroic background. Wyles sings 'Follow Me', a controversial song challenging U.S. draft dodgers to join him in Vietnam, b/w 'The Reporter of Wars' for his record debut. The singing soldier found the theme for his country music style song as an officer candidate at OCS in Fort Benning, GA. Wyles was chosen to model for the fort's now-famous 'Follow Me' statue depicting a soldier leading his men into combat. The flip side is a tribute to the courageous journalist and photogs covering the Vietnam war". (1)
Annotation by Justin A. Brummer
About the artist
Capt. Gene Wyles, US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) captain who wrote and recorded 'Follow Me' b/w 'The Reporter of Wars' (Columbia 4-43880, December 1966; produced by Don Law & Frank Jones). Billboard (7 Jan 1967) called him the Army's 'second Green Beret' recording artist; he conceived 'Follow Me' as an officer candidate at OCS, Fort Benning, Georgia, where he also posed for the famous 'Follow Me' infantry statue (1960). Reported in 2009 to be living as a farmer in South Carolina. [Source: Billboard 7 Jan 1967 via VWSP YouTube / 45cat / Dick's World blog]