Page 34 - Classically Carolina 2019

MUSIC

taking lessons at 6 through
Johnny Marshal (at Dubose
Music in Lugoff) and he
taught me how to read
music.”

Kelly’s second teacher, Rusty
Davis, holds a special place
in his heart.

“I feel like I carry a bit of
his influence everywhere I
go. Rusty taught me how to
use my ears and how to play
from the heart. We never
read sheet music out of book.
We’d listen to a track from
a record and then learn the
song by ear. Rusty put me on
to much ’60s and ’70s music.
From Chuck Berry, Cream,
Gram Parsons, Led Zeppelin, to The Kinks, The in life and we are lucky to have witnessed and
Byrds and Traffic. It was rock ’n’ roll school for me.” experienced what our hearts desire most at such a
young age. Holding on to your inner kid becomes
Kelly says home is always with him. “Camden more and more important as time goes on. That’s
gave us a place and a time to find our true paths where I’ve harvested all of my writing. All of those
adventures we went on
through the woods around
Camden permeate through
our work. I feel like we are
still those same exact kids.

“It’s bizarre when you run
into your old friends who
have married and moved on
in their own ways and you
take a look at yourself and
realize you are doing the
same exact thing you were
doing as a kid. I love that.

“Knowing that I am
growing as a writer and
producer but staying true to
myself and following what
my younger self would be
proud of is such a fulfilling
and honest feeling.”

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