AJ CASE

I stumbled across the video for “Hang Glide to Malibu” by AJ Case and as I pressed play and listened to this beautifully moving song I was immediately drawn in. I started looking for anything else I could find, track after track, each one more impressive than the last.

What I like about AJ is his ability to create music across a very wide canvas. I hear many flavors of musical styles and genres both in his composition and in his writing. It’s relaxed and it does not speak at me but rather it speaks to me, like a conversation between two people or when you just let someone talk it out while you listen and don’t say a word. I’m glad I found AJ, it’s been good getting to know him and I’m very proud he is a South Carolina artist.

CROSSFADE

If you stop and think about what three young men accomplished here through hard work and determination you have to be amazed. In a home built studio utilizing what was at that time a technology newly available to the masses they wrote, performed, and produced a body of work that was so well done not only did it get them signed to a major label but could be released with little to no modification.

Crossfade had a global impact on music, their body of work stands the test of time and their fan base has never wavered but actually grown in their absence. I’m proud that they are a South Carolina band, (hometown actually), and proud to have them represented here on Local Music Scene SC. Thanks to Mitch James for his input and guidance and to the band as a whole for their contributions to our...

STEVE WATSON

Steve Watson has had an incredible career in music, playing alongside and in front of world-class musicians and artists from all genres. Over the years he has refined his style creating a signature sound unique to himself and along the way built a healthy catalog of impressive work.

At some point he must have taken stock of the knowledge and training he possessed and made a life altering decision to teach. This is one of the bravest and most selfless acts anyone can commit to, helping grow and shape young minds and the talents contained therein, no small work indeed. This world could use a lot more people like Steve Watson and I’m very proud to have him represented here.

GRITZ

As mentioned before on the Stoney Creek String Band showcase page, you can’t have one of these wonderful bands without the other. Gritz and Stoney Creek are intertwined at the root, born from each other and both containing a wealth of talented individuals and musicians. It is a gift that one complete recording came from each band and more so that I am allowed to present these in their entirety.

Much thanks goes to Danny Griggs for taking the time to talk with me about the history and story behind Gritz and to Gaille Cook for all the work she did gathering items to use on these pages, information on both bands, and helping to put names to faces throughout the photo albums...

THE MADHATTERS

It only takes one great song to leave a mark, a placeholder that tells the world you were here and that you created something worth being noted, heard and remembered. The young men who formed The MadHatters from the small town of Gaffney, SC did just that in the early 60’s. A very limited pressing of a perfect pop song, “Who’s That Girl”, as fine a song as anything being released from that time period in North America.

I want to thank Edward Gault, Bob Cooksey, Roger Maglio, Vance Pollock, Ken Friedman, and a special thank you to Jeff Gossett who kept pressing me to pursue the task of gathering the data and information to put this showcase page together for The MadHatters. It only takes one really cool song, thanks guys!

THE STONEY CREEK STRING BAND

This one is very special for me and I want to tell you why. Seven years ago when I started this website I gathered the names of hundreds of South Carolina artists and bands to create showcases for and the Stoney Creek String Band was on that list. I had heard of them and I had heard how talented they were but it wasn’t until working with Butch Hendricks on his body of work that I was reminded of them.

Butch, being so passionate about all the musicians and bands from South Carolina proceeded to pour out to me a long list of names, in his opinion each deserving to receive their own showcase page and then BOOM! there they were again, the Stoney Creek String Band.

With my new mission in sight I began researching Stoney Creek...

MOSES DILLARD

Most musicians can only hope to live a life of artistic accomplishment, spiritual fulfillment, and personal satisfaction but Moses Dillard is that rare exception, he did just that. The deeper I researched into his 4 decade career the more my respect and awe grew for this man. Names like Jesse Boyce, Curtis Mayfield, Peabo Bryson, and Al Green, these are giants in the music industry and Moses was right there with them.

A very special thank you to Chandra Dillard for giving me permission to post this showcase for her father and to Jack Hines and the Greenville Music Preservation society for allowing me to use this article, by far the most in depth and detailed...

THE BOJAX

What a really cool band! I love the story where a group of school friends put a band together, practice in a garage, build a fan base, write some good songs and record them, find regional success, then they are rediscovered decades later by a totally different type of music scene to be categorized by them as “trail blazers”, and "classic".

Now that’s a good story…

NOAH "BUTCH" HENDRICKS

I had the privilege of spending an entire Saturday with Butch Hendricks. He drove down from upstate bringing with him boxes containing precious artifacts of South Carolina musical history which I very carefully prepped for your viewing and listening pleasure here on this showcase page. To say that Butch is an integral part of our state’s musical tapestry and history is an understatement, after talking with him and listening to the stories, the adventures, he had to share I was left in awe witnessing a life lived for the love of music...