WATCH: Wind Beneath My Wings track released by Hillsborough survivors and community choir

A choir including Hillsborough survivors and relatives has released a single of a moving rendition of the Wind Beneath My Wings.

The Liverpool Lighthouse Community Choir, which was formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, recorded the track as part of a project to bring communities together through song.

They also sang in a free Songs of Healing concert earlier this month at their namesake venue in Anfield, the Liverpool Lighthouse.

The Wind Beneath My Wings track is free to stream from all platforms including Spotify and iTunes or 99p to download.

All proceeds will go to Liverpool Lighthouse Charity which will support music in the local community with a focus on disadvantaged and vulnerable young people.

Songs of Healing Concert

The free Songs of Healing Concert shared songs from Hillsborough memorial services over the last two decades which were sung by the Love and Joy Gospel Choir.

Margaret Aspinall, former chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, whose son James died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, attended the event along with others affected by the disaster and lit a candle.

What is the Liverpool Lighthouse Community Choir?

The community choir includes survivors of Hillsborough and families and friends of victims. It also has members of the Love and Joy Gospel Choir who have performed at Hillsborough memorial services over the years.

The Liverpool Lighthouse Community Choir met online throughout the height of the pandemic then came together at Liverpool Lighthouse over the summer to record songs for an album due out at the end of the year.

The choir is led by vocal coach and choir director Anu Omideyi who was asked to audition, select and vocally coach members of the public either based in Liverpool or with connections to the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

She said: “This community choir is perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring choirs I’ve worked with. We met online, rehearsed online and came together as new friends and family to record during a pandemic.

“Some members have personal connections to the Hillsborough disaster having been there, or anxiously waited for loved ones to return home that day or connected to someone who lost their lives.

“Others joined the choir because it meant much to them for personal reasons, including combating loneliness during the pandemic, but amongst all there is a special sense of purpose, community, friendship and the overwhelming desire to pass these on to listeners everywhere."

Inspirational way to bring families together

Jenni Hicks, who lost her two daughters and was Vice Chair of the former Hillsborough Families Support Group, asked the Love and Joy Gospel Choir to sing at the Hillsborough memorial services, which led to the Songs of Healing concert and recording of the song Wind Beneath My Wings.

Ms Hicks said: “Such a positive, inspirational and beautiful way of bringing communities together during lockdown through the songs and hymns the Love and Joy gospel choir sang at the Hillsborough Memorial services over many years.”

Rebecca Ross-Williams, the new Creative Director of Liverpool Lighthouse said:  “It was an incredibly emotional and beautiful evening. The power of the songs moved everyone and so many of the audience spoke to our staff to express their thanks and often with mascara stained faces they wanted us to know how much it meant to them. 

“We were honoured to have so many families and friends of Hillsborough last night. Now our focus is to share the music with the world.”