X Factor stars team up with Glasgow artists for Christmas charity single
Twelve artists have been rounded up by singer Lee Cammy and they include names such as X Factor runner-up Nicholas McDonald.
Last updated 27th Nov 2023
X Factor runner-up Nicholas McDonald has recorded a charity single with eleven other artists from Glasgow to be released before Christmas.
The band is made up of twelve recording artists from across the city, including fellow X Factor act Nicole Caldwell as well as professional performer Jane Henderson and singing duo Jubilee.
The artists joined together on Wednesday to record their rendition of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
Organiser and singer Lee Cammy said: “At this moment in time, Kilbryde Hospice needs everybody to get together to ensure the funds are there to keep the best end of life care possible.
“And also, it is an absolute classic. As soon as you hear the chimes at the start, you know what you’re in for.”
The single will be released on Friday, giving it enough time to work its way up the charts ahead of Christmas.
This year, Lad Baby, the husband-wife duo who have held the top spot for the past five years, have pulled out of the running.
The band is hopeful for a shot at a Christmas number one.
Lee added: “I’m very excited. Very nervous as well, because obviously you want people to like the song, as well as the cause.
“There is a number one position there and I’m pretty sure we can give it a good bash and see how far we can take it. With the array of talent we have, I think it’ll be a walk in the park.
“Then again, I’m just a typical Glaswegian boy with hopes. But here’s hoping that it goes quite far and let’s hope to try and push it onto the charts.”
Rod Stewart tribute singer, James Frew and award-winning drummer Aidan Kelly also feature on the Christmas single.
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Lee says it was “humbling to say the least” to be joined by “people who are renowned for their tremendous entertainment in Glasgow.”
The artists spent eight hours together recording the song to raise money for the Kilbryde Hospice Appeal.
The voluntary charity is focussed on providing palliative care and support within South Lanarkshire.
It was founded in 2001 with the aim of enabling people with ill health to still live life to the fullest.
Since then, the hospice has offered a number of services to support patients with life limiting illnesses such as Cancer and Multiple Sclerosis, and their families.
Patients can access day assistance and counselling from Kilbryde Hospice’s four-million-pound building which opened in 2015.
Proceeds from the single will go towards helping the hospice continue to provide free services and specialist care to individuals with progressive sickness.
Lee said he thought the fundraising idea would “just be something different.”
“The idea came about fairly quickly. I reached out to all my friends initially to see if they’d be willing to do something and everybody agreed.
“So, through the help of John McIntyre and especially Bill Warren, who I could never have done this without, we all teamed together, and everybody all came in and we recorded this song in an 8-hour long stint.
"So, it was a long, long day but of course the benefits for it is something that we can only just dream.”
The All Stars have followed in the footsteps of Band Aid, the first group of musicians to come together and record a charity single for Christmas back in 1984.
Lee said they chose to record their own version of Band Aid’s iconic single “Do They Know It’s Christmas” because it’s a widely recognised song where “everyone gets together”.
“At this moment in time, Kilbryde Hospice needs everybody to get together to ensure the funds are there to keep the best end of life care possible.
“And also, it is an absolute classic. As soon as you hear the chimes at the start, you know what you’re in for.”