New Artist Spotlight - Craig Sellers

New Artist Spotlight: Craig Sellers

By Gary Voorhies

Craig Sellers grew up in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, steeped in music and farming. His father was a local Country Music performer, and his mother played piano and sang in church.

Sellers began playing guitar at 10, learning a variety of styles. He began singing in earnest in high school, when he fronted his first band.

He became a regular on the Knoxville circuit, opening for national artists who toured in the area.

After years of balancing music and a law enforcement career, Sellers left his job as a police officer in the spring of 2004 to concentrate on music.

Sellers co-wrote eight of the 12 songs on his debut album, Something Worth Fighting For, produced by Kenny Holloway. The album on Cozy Records was released Oct. 4 and features the title track, "Redneck Saturday Night" and "Let Me See You Ride."

IN HIS OWN WORDS:

Who is your musical hero? "I don't really have one musical hero. My all time favorite artists are Vern Gosdin, Brad Paisley, Jerry Reed and Don Williams."

Which song would you secretly like to cover? "I would love to record Jerry Reed's 'Amos Moses.' I perform this song at about every show I do. It's my version but I really love the song."

What CD is on your stereo right now? "Don Williams Greatest Hits is in my stereo right now."

What book is on your nightstand right now? "Tick Tock by Dean Koontz."

What do you sing in the shower? "I don't sing in the shower."

What moment in your life would you relive if you could? "I would relive and change my high school years by paying more attention."

What song do you wish you had written? "'Friends in Low Places,' written by Dewayne Blackwell and Bud Lee.

Do you have a lucky charm? "No lucky charms, I lose everything."

Which mode of transportation do you prefer - planes, trains or automobiles? "Automobiles for short trips. I don't like long rides in a car, so I'll pick a plane over that."

Who is your dream duet partner? "I've always thought it would be awesome to do a song with Jerry Reed."

If you wrote an autobiography, what would the title be? "Swinging from the Fence would be the title."

When they look back on your life in 50 years, what do you hope people say about you? "I want to be remembered as a good and honest person. If people say something like, 'Craig was a good guy,' and mean it, then I did ok."

On the Web: www.craigsellers.net

October 25, 2005