Story Tools
Christmas came early for Cass Dillon this year. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter’s first CD was Billy Joel’s Greatest Hits, and he feels blessed that Joel has passed along his latest composition, “Christmas In Fallujah” to him. Dillon, a Rockville Centre native, has always admired Joel’s music. “It really opened me up to pop music, melodies and structure,” he says, and now the Piano Man is opening him up to the world.
Joel was inspired to write “Christmas In Fallujah” last year as a response to letters received from the troops in Iraq. Yet, he felt the voice delivering the message should be that of a young man, like the soldiers reaching out to him. Dillon caught Joel’s attention through another Long Islander, Tommy Byrnes—guitarist in Joel’s band and musical consultant for the Broadway hit Movin’ Out. “Tommy heard me in a café . . . I played a bunch of songs on acoustic guitar, and after the show we talked about working together,” Dillon recalls. “He produced my first demos.” Nearly two years ago, Byrnes brought Dillon and the demos over to Joel’s studio and that night “Christmas In Fallujah” found its voice.
Recorded with Joel’s ensemble, “Christmas In Fallujah” is available exclusively from iTunes. Net proceeds will be donated to Homes For Our Troops, a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted homes for service members with severe disabilities. The song itself is a powerful and poignant depiction of the emotional realities in Iraq. A denunciation of the insanity of war, it has been said to be anti-patriotic, which Dillon clearly refutes. “I find it hard to call the song anti-patriotic when the proceeds go directly to disabled troops,” he says. “It’s not a political song, but an emotional song about a day in the life of a soldier.”
Check out Dillon’s six song EP, A Good Thing Never Dies, available on iTunes or visit cassdillonmusic.com
Candice, Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 08:01 PMI listened to Cass Dillon on myspace when my dad sent me the link in an email.. I think his voice is really great and I think it's awesome that there is such talent right here on Long Island. I think the way the song Christmas In Fallujah came about is really unique and genuine and I admire that.
