Sonora band releases 16th CD in honor of America’s wild land firefighters, featuring Michael Martin Murphey and the Texas State Symphony under the direction of Howard Hudiburg.

SONORA, CA - The Black Irish Band of 18 years have just released their much anticipated 16th concept album entitled, "Into the Fire". The CD features 14 songs and stories about the men and women that risk their lives to extinguish forest fires every summer. The songs are all based on the hardships and sometimes tragic nature of firefighting.

Former wild land firefighter and band member Patrick Karnahan wrote eleven of the albums story songs. The originals are all based on past experiences and knowledge he gained while employed by the United States Forest Service from 1978-1993. Because of the subject matter, each story song takes the listener into a world of unknown consequences. "One minute all is fine on the fire line, like during the 1949 Mann Gulch Fire, and then the next minute all hell breaks lose and you are running for your life"- Karnahan.

The Black Irish features all five members in the lead singing roll. Special guest vocalist, Michael Martin Murphey (Wildfire Fame), introduces the album and also sings the title ballad, "Into the Fire". The band thought Murphey would be the perfect singer for the song because of his great past involvement with the Smokey Bear Ad Campaign. Murphey has also been awarded the Golden Smokey by the Forest Service. When approached to sing the original song, Murphey was excited to be a part of the project and wanted to promote the albums theme according to Karnahan. Because of Murphey’s involvement, a special arrangement was made between Patrick Karnahan and the Texas State Symphony.

Patrick’s final original song for the band’s project was in need of a full orchestra. His work entitled South Canyon, is a requiem for the 14 brave fire fighters who died in Colorado in 1994. Murphey put Patrick in contact with Howard Hudiburg, Murphey’s own string arranger, who directs the Texas State Symphony. Howard worked with Patrick and wrote out the entire score for a 60 piece orchestra. On May 14 & 15, the song was recorded in the Studios of Texas State. "Being in the studio with a full string section playing your song was a trill of a lifetime and a moment not to be forgotten"-Karnahan.

Of the 14 tracks on the new CD four songs will be used in music videos. The United States Forest Service has selected South Canyon & "Last Flight of Air Tanker 123" as special production videos. The title track, Into the Fire, is being produced in a joint effort between the Black Irish, Murphey, and the Forest Service. The final video is already finished from the original story song about Smokey Bear and will be available for viewing at the bands web-site and at public performances. Site www.blackirish.com

PART OF THE SALES GOES TO THE USFS.
PRICE INCLUDES SHIPPING & HANDLING.