By: Tracy Sanders
tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
1. Can you tell us about your musical journey and how you found your way into the world of Country music?
I didn’t always write or play music. I was a school teacher in Colleton and Charleston County before I stepped into the singer-songwriter role of today. My good friend Brad Elliott taught me how to play a few chords on a $90 guitar that I bought to play for my fourth and fifth graders. I just wanted to bring music into the classroom for the upper elementary kids, and that’s all that I really did for a few years. The guitar never really came home, it just stayed in the classroom, and I didn’t consider myself to be a musician…Just used the guitar and harmonica to motivate my students. Fast forward a few years more, and I’m in and out of MUSC dealing with my Crohn’s Disease, and this would eventually displace me from teaching full time. It was during this time that I was now at home with the guitar and really leaning on music as more of a therapy to get me through a tough season. During that time, I would connect with Graham Whorley, a local musician who soon became a dear friend and mentor, encouraging me to sing, play, write, and eventually launch a career as a full-time musician.
2. Can you tell us a little bit about your song “Spartanburg County Bound” and how that song came to be?
Being raised in Woodruff, South Carolina, I have always found myself coming back home to Spartanburg County to visit for various reasons. So many times, I’ve said how I feel like I’m always traveling back to The Upstate for the benchmark dates, weddings, birthdays, funerals, etc..… and would really just like to take a regular trip up for fun with family and friends. I wrote the song when we lost Mrs. Brenda Harrison, a beautiful person who had such an impact on everyone she met. Losing her, along with many others from the Community, broke my heart and sent me into songwriting as I drove back down I-26 to Charleston. The rest of the track came together with my brother and sister’s weddings paired with the birth of my nephew Liston to inspire the first verse…Then the third verse was finally getting the opportunity to just come up for fun and play music with another musician raised in The Upstate, Ms. Nikki Lane, aka “The Highway Queen”.
📢Listen to “Spartanburg County Bound” 📢
3. How has your upbringing in Woodruff, SC, influenced your musical style and songwriting?
Being raised in Woodruff, South Carolina, has always been something that I’m proud of. The people in Woodruff have an incredible work ethic and have always relied on their “Grit” to provide. Being from a small rural town in Spartanburg County has certainly influenced and, in some ways, validated the sound and lyrics of my music. In Today’s Country Music, it’s hard to know what you’re getting in regards to authenticity, with the lyrics being mainly about Trucks, Beer, Whiskey, or whatever catchphrases these artists use. I feel like you could be from anywhere in the world and say these punch lines while never setting foot in the woods or knowing the first thing about the rural lifestyle and all that goes into the culture that is being portrayed. I feel like when people hear my record and they Google “Gritty Flyright,” it makes sense to see my roots in Woodruff, SC.
4. Your mentorship under Bunky Odom has been significant. Could you share a bit about how that collaboration came about and the impact it has had on your music?
Bunky is truly a living legend. He has been to the top of Music Mountain, and it’s an honor to work with him. We were connected by mutual friend Stratton Lawrence back in the Spring, and we have become fast friends over the last six months. Bunky has a wealth of knowledge in the music business, and he continues to instill confidence in my craft. He says, “Gritty, you’re still in diapers…We are just getting started”.
5. You’ve been compared to artists like Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks, and Whiskey Myers. How do you view these comparisons, and how do you ensure your music maintains its distinct identity?
I’m always flattered to be compared to those guys. They, along with many other artists, are doing a great job of what I view as a much-needed disruption to Modern Country Music. They are all incredible storytellers, and I think it’s a fair comparison to say my music is cut from the same cloth. As I create, I just always want to remain true to myself…At the end of the day, nobody can tell your story better than you.
6. “Tales of the Famously Unknown” was your debut album. What was the inspiration behind this project, and how did you approach creating an album that introduces you to the music scene?
The Record was produced right here in Woodruff, South Carolina, with Ian Guthrie, Brad Phillips, and the team up at Studio 101. The guys did a great job of taking my stories and maximizing them to their fullest potential. Each song on the ten-track album is a truth from my own life. This project, as well as the latest singles from earlier this year, are all locally inspired…Just experiences put to music.
7. Opening for Martina McBride is a significant opportunity. How do you feel about being chosen as the opening act, and how do you plan to energize the audience before her performance?
It’s an incredible opportunity and a tremendous honor to support Martina McBride. She is a wonderful and effective singer-songwriter, producer, performer, and from what I hear, just as good a cook. I actually got to see her in concert with Alan Jackson back in, I think, 2005/2006 in Columbia. She has an amazing voice and has the magic to connect emotionally with her audience. The Music Family and I are certainly looking forward to kicking off the show on Sunday. The best thing we can do is find that place where humility and confidence meet and go play to the best of our ability.
8. As someone who has performed across various South Carolina venues, do you have a favorite live performance memory or a particularly memorable crowd interaction?
South Carolina has some excellent venues, for sure. I think one memory that sticks out for me is the show we played at The Charleston Pour House for the Album Release Party back in 2022. The place was packed with family and friends from all over, and we just really celebrated the music with a live performance that I felt brought everyone together. Another venue that I’m partial to is located no further than Main Street Woodruff, South Carolina…TAP THREE. My good friend and drummer in The Music Family, Ben Harrison, has done an exceptional job of providing The Upstate with a legitimate music venue. His attention to detail and commitment to music sets TAP THREE apart with a main stage, full stationary PA, lights, green room, professional staff, and a menu full of delicious food. My favorite TAP THREE memory would have to be the night I got to open for Nikki Lane. Not only was the place packed with an energetic hometown crowd, it was the chance to share the stage with one of my influences. Nikki put on a custom show for the local fans, and that evening actually inspired what would be the third verse to Spartanburg County Bound.
9. What can your fans look forward to in the upcoming months from Gritty Flyright & The Music Family? Are any new projects or performances on the horizon?
I just released a new single, “Prayer Line,” last month that I think does a great job of representing my sound currently as a Country Artist. Ian Guthrie and the Team at Studio 101 continue to produce quality music that I’m proud to share on all major platforms. I am grateful to work with first-class musicians from right here in Spartanburg County. I’m looking forward to playing a show here for the City of Woodruff coming up on Friday, September 15th down at McKinney Park. It’s always special to play here where I grew up.
10. Are there any other Woodruff locals involved in the Gritty Flyright “Family”? Can you elaborate on those people and their roles?
Yes, As I mentioned, Ben Harrison is the Drummer in The Music Family. He does a great job with not only percussion but also serves as a mentor to me as we move forward in trying to navigate the music business. Not too many days run together without us talking about some of the moves being made and how to present the best foot forward. And again, he’s from Woodruff, so you can’t find anyone who can outwork him. I couldn’t ask for a better friend. I have also had the pleasure of working with Elliott Satterfield on Bass as well as Jessica Skinner with vocals. These two Woodruff Natives have mastered their craft and bring a high level of musicality to each performance.
11. You’re headlining the new CB-18 Bar, performing at Gamecock Village, and more. How does it feel to be performing at venues close to your roots in Woodruff and other South Carolina locations?
Playing CB-18, Williams Brice Stadium, and Steel Hands Brewery this September will be excellent opportunities to catch up with friends that I know from attending The University of South Carolina years ago. It will also be a great time to play the music in front of some new faces in Columbia that have never heard the record and hopefully gain momentum with the music as we enter the Fall. Who knows, we might even see another Woodruff Native in the crowd as the Gamecocks boast one of the Nation’s leading defensive backs in our own Marcellas Dial.
12. Finally, what message do you hope your music conveys to your listeners? Is there an overarching theme or feeling you aim to share through your songs?
This album is just a collection of true stories that I put to music. I enjoy piecing together the lyrics and really take pride in the art of storytelling. My music doesn’t necessarily have an overarching theme or expectation for me or the listener. Right now, my music is just a written extension of myself and some of my experiences that have really shaped me as a person. I’m always moved when someone says they have a connection with one of my songs. Whether it be a moment of celebration or a tough season you had to overcome, there’s nothing more gratifying than putting the purest and sometimes most vulnerable version of yourself out to the world and having someone recognize or appreciate your work…because you know they are giving a nod to who you really are.
Author: Tracy Sanders
