FOCUS on the 615
Nashville's premier entertainment blog including album, song and show reviews and exclusive artist interviews.
PHOTO: Keith Stegall and Craig Campbell
Nashville, TN…July 25, 2012… Craig Campbell is currently back in the studio with producer Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson, Zac Brown Band) working on the follow up album to his critically acclaimed debut . A brand new single is expected late this summer with an album slated for early next year.
Pictured L to R: BLA’s Matt McGuire and Zinnia Martinez; RJ Stillwell; The Devious Angels’ Jon Decious and Steevie Steeves; and BLA’s Kevin Neal, Jake Kennedy, David Kiswiney.
Nashville, Tenn. – Premiere booking agency, Buddy Lee Attractions (BLA), has announced the addition of duo The Devious Angels to their roster. The duo, consisting of Jon Decious and Steevie Steeves, have been in the studio working on their debut album with producers Chad Jeffers and RJ Stillwell; Stillwell also manages the act.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to represent The Devious Angels and to be part of their team,” shared Kevin Neal, President of BLA. “Their songwriting and live performance is undeniable.”
The Devious Angels performed on Tuesday, August 7 beginning at 7 p.m. at Mercy Lounge as part of The Billy Block Show.
For more information, please visit www.thedeviousangels.com and www.buddyleeattractions.com.
Nashville, TN…(August 7, 2012)…Counting down the final days leading up to Craig Morgan’s 6th annual charity weekend, the country music star and award-winning TV host is excited to announce the final list of music, motocross, and celebrity friends joining him for the weekend’s festivities.
On Saturday, August 11, motocross stars Destry Abbott, Fred Andrews, Cowboy Kenny Bartram, Randy Hawkins, Kevin Windham, and country star Bucky Covington will take part in an exhibition and trail ride in Vanleer, Tennessee. Later that night, country music star Darryl Worley and HLN “Morning Express” host and “Brand New Day” singer Robin Meade along with the evening’s emcee, GAC host and TV personality Nan Kelley, will take the stage in concert with Morgan to support the Craig Morgan Charity Fund.
On Sunday, August 12th the popular Celebrity Sporting Clay Event will take place from the Tennessee Clay Target Complex in Nashville. This year’s event, a 12-station course, will feature an exhibition by “The Ultimate Shooter” Tim Bradley.
Proceeds from the two-day event will benefit the Craig Morgan Charity Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The Craig Morgan Charity Fund continues to raise funds to establish Billy’s Place, an organization that will benefit foster children in Dickson County and throughout Middle Tennessee.
Fans can take part in the event by bidding on auction items via eBay through Friday, August 10th. Items include a Husqvarna for a day experience, allowing fans to ride in style alongside motocross stars at Saturday’s ride. Concert attendees on Saturday night will also have the opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items including a Pre-Owned Volkswagen Passat GLS, high end MAC Tools chest, music, tv, and sports memorabilia, and more!
All events are open to the public with tickets on sale at NowPlayingNashville.com as well as all TriStar Bank locations in Dickson.
Craig Morgan Charity Weekend
Dirt Bike Ride/Trail Ride
Date: August 11, 2012
Location: Paul Allen Farm 1286 Bell Hollow Rd., Vanleer, TN
Registration Opens: 8:00 AM
Ride and Exhibition Start Time: 10:00 AM
Tickets: $40 pre-registration; $45 day-of registration; $15 spectator. All ticket prices incl. lunch
Motocross stars Destry Abbot, Fred Andrews, Cowboy Kenny Bartram, Randy Hawkins and Kevin Windham plus country star Bucky Covington will take part in an exhibition and group trail ride with Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan Concert
Date: August 11, 2012
Location: Dickson Middle School 401 East College St., Dickson, TN
Doors Open: 6:00 PM
Concert Start Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $25 adult; $10 children 12 and under
Darryl Worley and Robin Meade will join Craig Morgan in concert, hosted by GAC’s Nan Kelley
Sporting Clay Event
Date: August 12, 2012
Location: Tennessee Clay Target Complex 1100 County Hospital Rd., Nashville, TN
First Flight: 9:00 am Registration; 10:00 am Shoot
Second Flight: Noon Registration; 1:00 pm Shoot
Tickets: $100 per competitor with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place competitors
Includes lunch and 12:30pm exhibition with “The Ultimate Shooter” Tim Bradley
ABOUT CRAIG MORGAN: One of country music’s best-loved artists, Craig Morgan has made a name for himself with massive radio airplay of his signature hits: “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” “International Harvester” and his latest hit, the title track to his new record This Ole Boy. The new album, his first release on Black River Entertainment, boasted a Top 5 debut on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart when it released on February 28, 2012. Craig received one of country music’s highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. Prior to becoming a country music and TV sensation, Craig Morgan spent over 10 years of active duty in the Army and an additional nine years in the Army Reserves. He is an avid supporter of America’s military personnel and a recipient of the 2006 USO Merit Award. In addition to a prolific country music career, he hosts the award-winning show “Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors” on The Outdoor Channel with season 3 set to debut July 1. For more information on Craig Morgan, please visit www.craigmorgan.com or follow him on Twitter @CMorganmusic.
ABOUT BILLY’S PLACE: The idea for Billy’s Place was born while Craig Morgan was serving as an Assistant Sheriff’s Deputy in Dickson, TN and named for his wife Karen’s father. The organization will support foster children in Dickson County and throughout Middle Tennessee. Craig’s continuing charitable mission is to eventually build and maintain a home called Billy’s Place for temporarily displaced children in Dickson County Tennessee and to provide lasting funding for the home. His long term goal is to start additional Billy’s Place homes around the country. The annual Craig Morgan Charity Weekend, encompassing a motocross ride, concert and sporting clays shoot, raised more than $95,000 last year in support of Billy’s Place and other children’s welfare organizations.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE: The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee oversees more than 840 charitable funds, providing customized philanthropic solutions with flexibility for donors, nonprofit organizations and the community. In the past 20 years, The Community Foundation has distributed more than $596 million to community programs and institutions. It is located at 3833 Cleghorn Avenue, #400, Nashville, Tennessee 37215. For more information, call 615-321-4939 or visit www.cfmt.org.
Nashville, TN – (August 8, 2012) – It is already proving to be one hot summer for new progressive country/rock trio The Cadillac Black and the heat will continue to rise as they open for Dierks Bentley on his Back To College Tour this August. The tour will visit the SEC campuses of The University of Georgia (8/20), The University of South Carolina (8/21), and The Grove at The University of Mississippi (8/22). This marks the second tour that Dierks has tapped The Cadillac Black to open and they have also landed coveted slots opening for Eric Church, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top.
NASHVILLE, TN – (August 8, 2012) – Country music trio Gloriana’s second studio album A Thousand Miles Left Behind debuts at #2 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and at #10 on Billboard’s Top 200. The album has received critical praise for the growth the band displays on the 11 tracks, especially on their current single “(Kissed You) Good Night,” which is at #2 on the Billboard Country Singles Chart. The trio is currently out on the road performing headlining shows across the country in support of the new album.
“It’s so exciting for us to finally have this new album out and to watch the great response it has gotten is just incredible,” said Gloriana. “We are so grateful for the support and encouragement we have received from our fans and everyone in the country community.”
Tom, Mike, and Rachel have funneled everything they’ve learned into A Thousand Miles Left Behind intent on revealing more of themselves as artists. Gloriana worked with some of Nashville’s finest songwriters and had a hand in writing every track on the album. The trio worked with GRAMMY Award winning producer and Emblem Music Group label owner Matt Serletic (Willie Nelson, Matchbox 20, and Aerosmith). Fans can get up to date information on Gloriana’s tour and more information on the rising country trio by going to www.Gloriana.com.
Renegade Radio Nashville and artist manager Dale Morris (Kenny Chesney, Alabama, Jake Owen) have teamed up to present a live performance every Monday night at Fontanel Mansion. The show, entitled Andy Gibson & The Buds, features Curb recording artist Andy Gibson, as well as several other artists, songwriters, and musicians.
The radio station, which just began its second year broadcasting live from Music Row, has been given sole broadcast rights to the show.
“It’s an honor to be working with Mr. Morris, as well as a wonderful team of people, on such a fun show every week,” said ‘Captain Jack’ Aponte, the voice and President of Renegade Radio. “There’s something for everyone at Andy Gibson & The Buds – a culmination of the latest sound coming from Nashville and some classic favorites. We’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
Aside from broadcasting live, Captain Jack hosts the show, which takes place at Fontanel’s Pepsi Studio Gallery and begins every Monday night at 7:30pm. Andy Gibson & The Buds is also sponsored by Budweisser and Cafe Fontanella.
To purchase tickets for the show, visit www.ticketmaster.com and search Fontanel.
About Renegade Radio:
Renegade Radio Nashville began as the brainchild of longtime broadcasting veterans Captain Jack Aponte and Bob Steele. With a solid vision of utilizing the latest technology to reach the largest audience worldwide, Renegade Radio Nashville began Internet broadcasting on June 7, 2011. The station currently has listeners tuning in from 143 different countries and, in December of 2011, became the first ever Internet radio station to be granted reporting status with Music Row Magazine. For more information on Renegade Radio Nashville, visit www.renegaderadionashville.com.
About Fontanel Mansion:
Minutes from downtown Nashville, Fontanel Mansion is a 27,000 square foot log home set on over 100 acres of land formerly owned by country great Barbara Mandrell. Offering daily tours, the mansion is the only country musician mansion to give outsiders a glimpse into the life of a country legend. The property also features The Woods Amphitheater, hiking trails, The Farmhouse, The Silo Shop, Cafe Fontanella, and The Pepsi Studio Gallery. Fontanel Mansion is available for private events and weddings. For more information regarding Fontanel Mansion, visit www.fontanelmansion.com.
NASHVILLE, TN (August 7, 2012) – Amid a sea of industry change that has seen major creative empires and labels rise and fall, the strength of Curb Records, which was founded in 1963 by Mike Curb while attending California State University as a student, remains intact.
On the eve of a half-century of success and in the midst of a field of gold standard milestones, Curb Records is a rare and enduring independent force of influence in the land of giants.
As Curb Records celebrates its 50th anniversary in the business of making and selling music, the success of the label and its founder are inseparable.
At the half-century mark as a creative brand, Curb’s presence eclipses history as the longest operating record label with the same ownership. Accumulated accolades include:
432 #1 Records
1,514 Top Ten Records
4,518 Charted Records
Today, Mike Curb is one of the most prominent figures in the music/entertainment world and presides over his own independent record label that is recognized as one of the most successful in music industry history.
If Curb has a magic formula for success, it might be captured in the portrait of its artistic family. Throughout the early years, Curb scored success with artists as diverse as the Stone Poneys (featuring Linda Ronstadt), Eric Burdon & War, Sammy Davis Jr., the Osmond Family, (including Donny & Marie), Lou Rawls, Exile, the Righteous Brothers, Solomon Burke, Gloria Gaynor, the Hondells, the Arrows (featuring Davie Allan), Debby Boone, Shaun Cassidy, Roy Orbison, the Electric Flag (featuring Buddy Miles and Mike Bloomfield), the Sylvers and the Four Seasons.
In 1969, Curb merged his young label with MGM Records and became the President of MGM. Under his reign, he boosted MGM’s war chests with a litany of hits, some of which he produced. His signings brought a new emphasis on Nashville based artists including Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Hank Williams Jr., Don Gibson, Mel Tillis, Ray Stevens, and Eddy Arnold. Curb also served as president of Verve Records, the historic jazz label, and scored a coup by signing superstar Tony Bennett. During the same period, Mike Curb went on to receive the Billboard Overall Producer of the Year Award, and he acquired the highly coveted BMI Award for writing Hank Williams Jr’s first #1 single, “All For The Love Of Sunshine”. He also won the BMI Award for composing the theme song to Clint Eastwood’s motion picture, Kelly’s Heroes – “Burning Bridges” which was a worldwide hit by the Mike Curb Congregation.
In the 80’s, Curb Records signed such emerging artists as Lyle Lovett, The Judds, Don & Phil Everly, Sawyer Brown, Chris Hillman’s Desert Rose Band, Jeffrey Steele’s band Boy Howdy, The Bellamy Brothers, Ronnie McDowell, Hal Ketchum and The Righteous Brothers who delivered the triple platinum selling album and single “Unchained Melody.”
Throughout the 90’s, Curb Records continued to establish ground as an independent force to be reckoned with. The label surprised many with the meteoric launch of superstar Tim McGraw, whose album Not A Moment Too Soon went on to become one of McGraw’s top selling albums to date. All told, Curb Records has sold over 40 million units and produced over ninety seven billion impressions at radio with Tim McGraw’s music. By 1997, Curb was Billboard’s #1 country label in four major categories for albums and singles and recognized as the overall #1 country label in the industry according to Nielsen SoundScan. Additional milestones for Curb in the 90’s included the signing of teenage superstar LeAnn Rimes whose single “Blue,” became an industry phenomenon who crossed multiple genres. Rimes’ “How Do I Live,’ co-produced by Mike Curb and written by Diane Warren, earned the label a Billboard Award for the longest running record of the 20th Century on Billboard’s Top Hot 100 chart. Curb also co-produced LeAnn Rimes’ “You Light Up My Life” which became the first album to debut #1 on Billboard’s pop, country, and contemporary Christian charts. Co-published by Curb’s publishing division, “You Light Up My Life” won both an Academy Award and a Grammy. This credit brought further honors to the Curb Publishing division—a side of the indie giant too often overlooked. Curb’s publishing interests have scored more than 100 ASCAP, BMI and SESAC award winning songs including the first record in Billboard history to debut at #1 on the Billboard Country Chart – Garth Brooks “More Than A Memory”. History was in the making when Curb published and released Lee Brice’s record, “Love Like Crazy” which was Billboard’s #1 record of the year in 2010 and the longest running song in the history of the Billboard chart. Curb recently co-published “Crazy Girl” by The Eli Young band which was the 2012 ACM Song Of The Year and Billboard’s most played song of 2011.
At the launch of the 21st century Curb Records had established one of the strongest country rosters in Nashville. Superstar artists such as Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Jo Dee Messina, Hank Williams Jr., Wynonna, Lyle Lovett, Clay Walker, Trick Pony, and Rodney Atkins were consistently pushing out hit product. In 2001, and for the first time in the history of music business, Curb Records became the first independent label to be named Billboard’s Country Music Label of the Year.
Building on the success of country, Curb expanded throughout the new millennium to play a major role in the contemporary Christian genre with artists such as multi-award winning “Female Artist of the Year” Natalie Grant, multi-Dove winning group Selah, Plumb, MIKESCHAIR, Michael English, and Nicol Sponberg all producing hits. Curb’s own personal involvement in contemporary Christian music began with the early signings of groundbreaking artists such as Larry Norman, 2nd Chapter of Acts, DeGarmo & Key, Debby Boone, and continued into the 80’s & 90’s to include Stryper, Whiteheart, Patti Cabrera, Jonathan Pierce, and Fernando Ortega. Curb also continues to serve as Chairman and Partner in Word Records, the oldest gospel record company in history.
In 2012, this their 50th Anniversary, label success on the scoreboard already includes:
Breaking Lee Brice as one of the most exciting new artists in country music in recent memory. His Hard 2 Love album debuted with a trifecta as the #1 Digital Country Album, #2 Billboard Country Album and Billboard’s #5 best selling album on the Top 200 Chart across all genres. The album has already scored a #1 single and a platinum certification for its lead single, “A Woman Like You”.
Rodney Atkins’ has produced his 7th number one record with the title track to his current album, Take A Back Road.
Curb’s January 2012 release of Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic, debuted as Billboard’s #1 Country album and the single “Better Than I Used To Be” became McGraw’s historic 100th Top 5 record on the Billboard charts.
Curb Records has achieved over 300 number one records on the Billboard chart and Mike Curb recently received a star on both the Music City Walk of Fame and the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In April of this year, Natalie Grant was named Female Vocalist Of The Year in the annual Dove Awards – her 5th win in the category. Curb again took home honors with Grant’s “Your Great Name” having won Worship Song Of The Year. Curb’s Christian Division was again honored with dual wins by Selah for Inspirational Album Of The Year and Inspirational Song Of The Year (“Hope Of The Broken World”).
New projects still ahead in the coming year include new releases from LeAnn Rimes, Andy Gibson, Wynonna, Plumb, Rachel Holder, Michael English and more. Also in 2012, Curb revitalized subsidiary imprint Sidewalk Records which plans new music from Heidi Newfield, Clay Walker, Morgan Frazier, Dylan Scott, and a new duet between Tyler Dean and Ashley Gearing.
Mike Curb exclaims, “We’ve been successful in large part to our employees, our artist roster, radio and a huge passion for music that inspires people across the globe. We are forever up to the challenges of the next half century and look forward to expanding upon our success.”
Born with American ingenuity, Curb Records’ independent spirit lives on. In celebration, Curb Records is announcing its 50 albums over 50 years feature on iTunes today. To view, click here: http://bit.ly/Curb50
Photo 1: Pictured (L-R): Michael Johns, K’naan, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, Chevy Chase, Norm Crosby, Starkey Co-Founder Tani Austin, President Clinton, Starkey Founder Bill Austin, Billy Crystal, Forest Whitaker, Billy Ray Cyrus, Glenn Frey, Okello Sam
Nashville, TN – (August 7, 2012) – Multi-platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus, his wife Tish Cyrus and daughter Brandi attended the Starkey Hearing Foundation’s 12th annual “So The World May Hear” Gala on August 4, 2012 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. The country music singer/songwriter/actor brought the house down with his performance.
“It is about the gift of love. It is just incredible that they go all around the world to give people their first chance ever to hear, to sing, to dance, to communicate. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of it,” shared Cyrus when asked about the Foundation.
The evening’s soiree brings awareness to and benefits the organization’s efforts to give the gift of hearing. Starkey Hearing Foundation fits more than 100,000 hearing aids to people in need in the U.S. and around the world each year and has conducted missions in more than 97 countries.
Currently, Cyrus is in the studio putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming album titled Change My Mind to be released October 23. He is set to make his debut in the Broadway play Chicago on Nov. 5, and will continue his run through Dec. 23.
For additional information on Billy Ray Cyrus, please visit www.billyraycyrus.com
Pre-sale tickets for this limited engagement begin tomorrow, Aug. 8;Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, Aug. 13
TWEET: It’s official! Country music’s hottest couple @TheTimMcGraw and @FaithHill bring their #Soul2Soul to @VenetianVegas beginning Dec. 7 #Vegas
LAS VEGAS (August 7, 2012) – Collectively, they’ve sold 70 million albums, won eight Grammy Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards, 14 American Music Awards, seven People’s Choice Awards and 26 Academy of Country Music Awards. Today, at a live ‘town-hall’ press conference, The Venetian® Las Vegas announced the biggest musical event in its history – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill “Soul2Soul.” This limited engagement, which opens on Dec. 7 and covers 10 weekends through April 2013, will take place in the 1,815-seat Venetian Theater. A ticket pre-sale will begin tomorrow and tickets for the general public will go on sale Monday, Aug. 13.
“Soul2Soul” at The Venetian will mark the first time in six years that McGraw and Hill have performed together in the United States. “Soul2Soul” will feature an all-new production with innovative lighting and set design technologies that were synonymous with the “Soul2Soul” concerts. The Venetian Theater will also be modified to accommodate this new production. These “Soul2Soul” concerts will include many of the no. 1 hits that have made them, both in their own right, two of the most significant entertainers of our generation.
“We are creating a show that will be completely different from what we’ve done before – and might ever do again,” said Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. “In arenas and stadiums, you’re always faced with the challenge of finding ways to make people feel closer to the action, no matter where they might be sitting. Now everyone will be close, so it opens up all kinds of creative possibilities and we’re looking forward to exploring those so that we can really give our fans something truly special.”
“It’s not every day that Las Vegas welcomes such stellar star power to the Strip,” said John Caparella, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo & Sands Expo. “Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are country music’s first couple and we are proud to have such extraordinary talent. When they hit our stage in December it will surely be the hottest ticket in town.”
McGraw and Hill have been dominating the music charts since the early ‘90s and began performing together in 2000 in their record-breaking “Soul2Soul” tour, becoming that year’s top grossing and most successful U.S. tour. Their success continued in 2006 when “Soul2Soul II” returned to the road. It became the highest grossing country music tour of all time, the most attended of the year in any musical genre and remains the highest grossing multi-year North American tour in country music history.
McGraw, whose hits include “Live Like You Were Dying,” “Everywhere” and “Real Good Man,” has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 32 no. 1 singles. He’s won three Grammy Awards, 14 Academy of Country Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 10 American Music Awards, three People’s Choice Awards and numerous other honors. With 7.8 million spins at radio, McGraw was deemed Artist of the Decade from 2000-2010 by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems. Also an accomplished actor, McGraw’s film credits include “Country Strong,” the Academy Award nominated “The Blind Side,” “Four Christmases,” “The Kingdom,” “Flicka” and “Friday Night Lights.”
Hill’s nineteen-year career has been highlighted by the sale of more than 30 million records worldwide, during which time she has celebrated thirteen no. 1 singles and twenty no. 1 videos. She was the first female artist to have three studio albums – 1999’s “Breathe,” 2002’s “Cry” and 2005’s “Fireflies” – all debut consecutively at no. 1 on Billboard’s Top Pop Album Chart and Country Chart. Hill is a five-time Grammy Award winner, who has also won three Country Music Association Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and four People’s Choice Awards. For the fifth consecutive year, Hill is once again the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football’s weekly show open.
Members of The Venetian’s loyalty program, Grazie, as well as Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s official fan communities and Clear Channel subscribers will be able to purchase advance tickets through the pre-sale starting tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 10 a.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, Aug. 13 at 10 a.m. Performances are scheduled for 8 and 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 7, 8; 14, 15; Jan. 18, 19, 25, 26, 2013; Feb. 1, 2, 15, 16, 22, 23, March 1,2; April 12, 13, 26 and 27.
Ticket prices are $95.50, $175.50 and $255.50 and $295.50 inclusive of tax. A limited number of VIP Packages – including preferred seating in the first two rows, a complimentary pre-fixe dinner at a select resort restaurant, two complimentary drinks at the show, a merchandise credit and more – will be available for $1,000, inclusive of tax. Performance dates and times are subject to change. Tickets are available for purchase at any Venetian | Palazzo Box Office, online at venetian.com or by phone at 702-414-9000.
For more information on Grazie and to become a member, please call Grazie Services at 702-414-1500 or visit www.venetian.com/Grazie-
For more information on Tim McGraw and Faith Hill go to www.timmcgraw.com or www.faithhill.com.
Nashville, Tenn. (August 6, 2012) – The Marshall Tucker Band family is mourning the loss of longtime band member and guitarist Stuart Swanlund. Swanlund passed away in his sleep at his Chicago home this past Saturday, August 4, 2012. Swanlund died of natural causes.
Swanlund joined The Marshall Tucker Band in 1985 where his slide guitar work added a new dimension to the band – on newer material as well as standards like “Searchin’ For A Rainbow,” “Can’t You See,” and “Fire On The Mountain.”
“Stuart, or ‘Stubie’ as we called him, was the longest standing member of The Marshall Tucker Band from 1985, onward,” says Marshall Tucker Band founding member Doug Gray. “He recently took a hiatus from the road due to health problems and even with those issues, Stuart’s enthusiasm onstage never waivered. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stuart’s family and those who knew him. We have lost a great friend.”
Stuart Craig Swanlund was born in Puerto Rico on April 3, 1958. Swanlund was reared in Spartanburg, SC, where he would sit on his grandmother’s porch and listen to his neighbor, Doug Gray, rehearse with a rock and roll band across the street. He was only five years old, and had no way of knowing he’d one day play alongside Gray and The Marshall Tucker Band.
When not touring with The Marshall Tucker Band, Swanlund performed in Chicago with local band, the Tone Generators.
According to Doug Gray, one of the highlights of Swanlund’s time on the road with The Marshall Tucker Band was last winter when he performed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.
Swanlund is survived by his son, William “Billy” Swanlund, his lifelong partner Stacey Schmaren, three grandchildren and sister, Suzanne Spencer. He was 54 years old.
Funeral services for Swanlund will be held this Saturday, August 11 at 11:00 AM at the Good Shepherd Memorial Park in Boiling Springs, SC.
Flowers and cards may be sent to:
Good Shepherd Memorial Park
4164 Hwy 9
Boiling Springs, SC 29316
