“There’s a line in this song that comes from my own life experience,” Maher says, “when the orphan kids sing ‘this isn’t who we are, it’s just where we’re at, we could be somebody if someday we get half a chance.’”
“I met The French Family band through when I was finishing up a record with Joe Robinson who’s an incredible guitarist and singer/songwriter who happens to be from Australia. I mentioned to Joe that I was at a point in the musical novel where I need some young people to sing the parts for the main characters in act one,” Maher says. “Joe said some friends of his, also from Australia, just moved to Nashville and he thought would be perfect. The French Family Band. Was he ever right! Sonny was fourteen at the time and became the voice of Jacob, Manaia who was ten, sang on a number of songs. Mother, Camille sang on some tracks and Dad, Stuie played some stunning guitar parts. I can’t imagine these songs without the French Family band bringing them to life.”
The Orphan Train Movement, which relocated more than 250,000 orphaned and homeless children from off the streets, primarily New York City, to new homes across America between 1854 and 1929.
The first orphan train from New York departed for Dowagiac, Michigan on September 20, 1854, carrying 46 boys and girls ages 10 to 12. The train was organized by The Children's Aid Society and was part of a program that would transport over 200,000 children from urban centers to rural areas for adoption and to find homes with farming families. Maher was inspired to create the project after discovering The National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, Kansas. Moved by its history, he set out to tell the story through a blend of original music and narrative, following three fictional children from age 11 into their 20s. The result is Night of the Orphan Train – A Musical Novel, a unique fusion of historical storytelling and Americana, Bluegrass, and Classic melodic compositions.
Brent Maher has become one of Nashville’s most acclaimed songwriters, engineers, and producers. Maher’s accomplishments include over 20 #1 singles and a wide array of platinum and multi-platinum selling albums. He has worked with such iconic artists as Ike & Tina Turner, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, The Judds, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Taj Mahal. In addition, Maher worked with Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and others while producing the 2023 “A Tribute to the Judds” album. In 2025 Maher’s 1979 hit song, “Lesson in Leavin’” was once again released as a duet by Sierra Ferrell and Nikki Lane, and his song “Why Not Me” is featured in the 2025 season of The Bear on FX/Hulu.
A percentage of proceeds from this project will benefit Youth Villages of Middle TN, which is part of nationally recognized non-profit organization focused on providing services for children in foster care, group homes and teens aging out of foster care.
November is National Orphan Awareness Month, a time to focus on the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide. It's a month where various organizations and individuals highlight the plight of these children and advocate for their well-being. A key event during this month is Orphan Sunday, which falls on the second Sunday in November, and is a day dedicated to raising awareness and support for orphans and foster children.
The full audiobook of Night of the Orphan Train - A Musical Novel will be available on October 17, 2025, and the original soundtrack will follow on November 7, 2025.
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