On The Line
As a child I had a love for music. My grandfather played bass in a local gospel band.
I would go to their shows all the time. I soon learned at the age of 7 to play guitar.
I then started getting on stage with them playing and singing. I started writing songs at
Age 11. My father also dabbled in guitar and loved to sing traditional country music.
I was raised listening to great artist such as Vern Gosdin, Marty Robbins, Ricky Van Shelton, George Jones, Bobby Bare and many others.
I soon developed such a passion for music I even took my guitar to school with me.
I was asked on several occasions to play at several school events and festivals. By my late teen years I played in a number of contemporary Christian bands at local churches. Then became the assistant choir director at my home church.
I recorded my first album of original and cover songs during this time. In my early 20’s I was asked to be the front man for a local variety band which traveled and performed weekly.
I stayed in this band for 8 years, then decided to move on. I started a strictly traditional country band on my own and was successful for another 8 years. It was in this band that I met 2 very influential and important people to my recent success. Ronnie Stamey who had previously played guitar for the duo “BROOKS AND DUNN” pushed me to play telecaster and acoustic lead. He also played on my next album. That landed me a song on local radio stations. My song “Edisto” I wrote about my favorite vacation and relaxing destination. Ronnie soon left the band due to having to travel long distances to our shows.
I was soon introduced to Mr. Rusty Autrey, who has recently been inducted into the South Carolina music hall of fame. Rusty lived and worked in Nashville playing guitar for several big name artists. None more important to my career than the band Dixiana. Rusty and my current producer, Mr. Randall Griffith, made really good friends during their Dixiana tenure. Mr. Randall had gone on to build a studio in Gallatin Tn. and produce other artists music. He also managed a few artists. As a total surprise to me, I was on the way to a show one afternoon and got a call from Randall. Mr. Rusty had told him about me and my songs I had written. He asked me to send him a few for him to listen to. I happily did so! In a few days I got another call from him. He asked if I was interested in coming to Nashville and cutting an album with him.
I was super excited to say the least! Rusty and I loaded up and headed toward Nashville!
Next thing I knew we were cutting scratch vocals on my album “Short Stories and Hard Livin’”
This was a huge experience for me, The album opened new doors for me and sparked new life into my career. Soon after putting it out I was playing locally and traveling some singing my songs, I got a call one day from a local legendary artist around my parts named Leon Everette. He asked what my plans or goals were for music. I told him I wanted to mainly write but I’d be willing to give a career a shot.
He immediately told me to contact Debbie Bennett with Grace Records Nashville and tell her that he told me to call. I nervously made the call and she made me feel like family right off the bat. She was very excited to welcome me to the label and answer any of my concerns. I am proud to be a part of her label and pray God continues to bless our music."
