(AUDIO) TYLER RICH IS PROUD OF HIS VETERAN GREAT GRANDFATHER WHO IS SOMETIMES PART OF SHARK WEEK

Tyler Rich’s respect and admiration for those who serve our country started with his great grandfather, who was a notable figure in World War II. As Tyler tells the story, “My great grandfather that passed away a few years ago was a Naval pilot in World War II. It’s crazy sometimes they’ll show it on Discovery Channel during Shark Week – I love this story so I’m gonna tell you. Basically a bunch of Japanese soldiers took all of our prisoners and dumped them in the middle of the ocean, like shark infested waters. And after a few days our guys were literally just getting eaten alive by sharks, drowning, dying.  And he was one of the pilots that came down and saved a bunch of them.”

Tyler’s respect for those who choose to put their life in harm’s way by serving our country, is also heightened by the fact that it’s a choice he didn’t make. “My cousin Brad went into the Navy and it kinda became a family thing. And then I decided, I was 27 and I had a degree and I was like, ‘I can go into the Navy and be an officer right off the bat and I could try to be a pilot, and all that stuff.’  But that was the cut off for the age. That was the moment I had to decide, am I going into the Navy or am I going to go to L.A. and chase music again. I went to L.A. for another two years and then moved out here.”

Tyler‘s decision to dedicate his life to music is paying off.  His new song, “Leave Her Wild,” is currently climbing the country songs chart. And although Tyler has never had the opportunity to play a show specifically for the troops, he says, “My respect for military is just crazy and I cannot wait to get to go do one of those shows.  It’d be awesome.”

Tyler Rich – Memorial Day

“I have never gotten to play a show for the troops yet. I come from a Navy background family. My great grandfather that passed away a few years ago was a Naval pilot in World War II. It’s crazy sometimes they’ll show it on Discovery Channel during Shark Week – I love this story so I’m gonna tell you. Basically a bunch of Japanese soldiers took all of our prisoners and dumped them in the middle of the ocean, like shark infested waters. And after a few days our guys were literally just getting eaten alive by sharks, drowning, dying.  And he was one of the pilots that came down and saved a bunch of them. So then my cousin Brad went into the Navy and it kinda became a family thing. And then I decided, I was 27 and I had a degree and I was like, ‘I can go into the Navy and be an officer right off the bat and I could try to be a pilot, and all that stuff.’  But that was the cut off for the age. That was the moment I had to decide, am I going into the Navy or am I going to go to L.A. and chase music again. I went to L.A. for another two years and then moved out here. So my respect for military is just crazy and I cannot wait to get to go do one of those shows.  It’d be awesome.”

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