As a former singer with The Lettermen, Don Campeau knows about the music business.

As a Vietnam vet, the Vancouver resident has a rooting interest in veterans' causes.

Now Campeau is joining forces with someone who shares those characteristics: Willie Nelson.

Campeau is part of a fledgling music company that will feature the Grammy-winning singer (and former Vancouver resident) in its rollout effort.

The company, Uncharted Waters, has produced an online version of "Love Letters" as a benefit for U.S. service members. Nelson is paired with Lana Phillips, a 2004 "American Idol" contestant on the song.

"Willie is a veteran, too," Campeau said, and pulled up a photo on his computer showing Nelson as a short-haired, clean-shaven U.S. Air Force enlisted man.

The fundraising campaign is labeled "Safe and Sound," which shares its name with another song by Phillips.

It's the launch of an unexpected career for Campeau.

"I thought I was retired," he said.

But a venture based on music downloads and Web-based productions helps Campeau extend a family show-business résumé that goes back to silent movies and vaudeville.

"I've always been around show folks. It's a family business," Campeau said. "My grandmother and her sister were in vaudeville."

Another member of that generation, Frank Campeau, started his career in silent movies. One of Campeau's uncles was a member of Lawrence Welk's orchestra, and "My sister sang on the first recording the Smothers Brothers did," he said.

Campeau's own entertainment career included a stint singing with The Lettermen.

"I started doing fill-in work when I was in high school," he said.

Frequent appearances in Las Vegas led to another career turn. Campeau went on to produce and host a talent-search show at the Riviera Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

Campeau and his family moved to the Portland area in 1986, where he bought a casting business and segued into films and TV work.

His movie credits included "Point Break," "My Own Private Idaho," "The Incredible Journey" and "Mr. Holland's Opus."

Campeau made more connections during that period, including with a Grammy-nominated music producer.

Texas-based Bob Johnston - who's worked with singers such as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Simon and Garfunkel - is another partner in Uncharted Waters.

"Johnston is recruiting other artists to join the effort," Campeau said.

Johnston and singer Natalie Pinkis were working on another song for the "Safe and Sound" project a few days ago in California, at the Skywalker Sound studio owned by George Lucas.

The songs are available on the Web site for $2. Seventy percent of the money will go to three foundations that support service personnel and their families: Wounded Warriors Family Support; Special Operations Warrior Foundation; and Fisher House, which has about 50 home-away-from-home sites for families of patients at military hospitals and veterans' medical centers.

"These foundations exist as a call to national involvement," Campeau said.

Campeau cited another nonprofit organization, USA Together, that provides a one-on-one link between a donor and a needy military member.

"When you have a vet come on a Web site and ask for a mattress ...," Campeau said, shaking his head.

Jim Mains, the record label's marketing director, said Uncharted Waters hopes to partner with local organizations on some community events.