Sawyer
Brown headlined the 1990 Black Gold Festival over newcomer - Garth Brooks. The
Main Street concerts always brought the feel of Marti Gras to Hazard with wall
to wall people, something that has been lost in recent years when the shows were
moved to Memorial Gym. A big screen television was placed down the street for
those who couldn't get close enough to the concert. Although Garth Brooks has
since passed Sawyer Brown as a Country superstar, Sawyer Brown's 14 albums in 13
years, six with sales over a half-million speak for themselves. 18 Top 5
singles, including eight No. 1's; the Top Vocal Group honor from the Academy of
Country Music Awards, five consecutive Top Vocal Band trophies from the
fan-voted TNN/Music City News Country Awards, three Top Video Group prizes from
Country Music Television and numerous CMA, Grammy, ACM, and American Music Award
nominations, not to mention an unprecedented 28 hit music videos and
certification as 1994's top grossing country group. But that's not the most
impressive part of the picture, for behind the mind-boggling resume stand five
men with a genuine love for fans, friends and family rivaled only by their
passion for the music they make. Family, in fact, is a cornerstone of Sawyer
Brown's staying power. Eight of Mark's relatives hold important positions in the
band's organization, as well as other of Mark's business interests. Four of the
five band members are married men and fathers, all of which gives the group a
firm foundation and maturity that's an inseparable part of Sawyer Brown's
philosophy and music. That balance of seriousness and lightheartedness is
written all over Six Days On The Road, and is one of Sawyer's most endearing and
exciting qualities. The album's title number rocks with an authority never fully
realized in the song's previous incarnations. And though it's a paean to the
pride in tackling a difficult job, it still overflows with the jubilation of
people who love what they do. Akey ingredient in the Sawyer Brown sound and
success is writer, singer, instrumentalist and co-producer Mac McAnally. Long
revered as one of contemporary music's great, multifaceted talents, Mac
approaches his co-production of Sawyer Brown as what he terms a "vicarious
sixth member." Mark adds that the familial togetherness fostered by years
on the road also invariably finds its way into Sawyer Brown's music. "We
crawl on a bus or a plane together," Mark explains. "We stay in hotel
rooms together. We eat together and we record together. It's a lot like being
brothers, and that also has led to everyone having a sense of satisfaction about
where they fit in the band." And while Mark has always been a dynamic
showman fronting the band, he's quick to point out what each of his
partners--Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard on keyboards and vocals, drummer Joe
Smyth, bass man Jim Scholten and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist and vocalist
Duncan Cameron--brings, both personally and creatively, to Sawyer Brown. "Hobie
is absolutely brilliant and one of the easiest-going personalities in the world.
He's the mediator and the guy who makes sure we all treat each other well. We
co-write a lot. He has a really sensitive heart and that shows in his writing
and it really touches a lot of people. "Duncan is a really excellent,
hard-nosed guitar player. Whatever you need, he can give it to you. He's ready
to take the ball when it's his turn, and he's a fine songwriter. He's also got a
very big heart, even though he may not always want you to know that. Jim, I
believe, is the best bass player in music today. He's an incredible musician and
he has such a good spirit about him, he's the kind of guy you love to be around.
"Joe has the most formal training of anybody in the band. He's got a degree
from Berklee College of Music in Boston as well as a masters from Miami, but
along with all his knowledge and chops, he's one of those guys who knows that
all you really need to get to the heart is three chords and the truth."
Even as Sawyer Brown's touring pace has slowed in recent years from frantic to
merely very full, creatively the boys are cranking the gears harder than ever.
"I feel like we still have more things to say," Mark concludes,
"and I'd like to think we've got some experimenting and stretching
musically still to do. I hope that never ends. I would like to think our albums
are collections of great songs that are enjoyable and take you through a lot of
different emotions. If there's a broader statement it is just that after all the
years we're still here doing it. I hope I can be having conversations about our
records another 15 years from now."
Sawyer
Brown headlined the 1990 Black Gold Festival over newcomer - Garth Brooks. The
Main Street concerts always brought the feel of Marti Gras to Hazard with wall
to wall people, something that has been lost in recent years when the shows were
moved to Memorial Gym. A big screen television was placed down the street for
those who couldn't get close enough to the concert. Although Garth Brooks has
since passed Sawyer Brown as a Country superstar, Sawyer Brown's 14 albums in 13
years, six with sales over a half-million speak for themselves. 18 Top 5
singles, including eight No. 1's; the Top Vocal Group honor from the Academy of
Country Music Awards, five consecutive Top Vocal Band trophies from the
fan-voted TNN/Music City News Country Awards, three Top Video Group prizes from
Country Music Television and numerous CMA, Grammy, ACM, and American Music Award
nominations, not to mention an unprecedented 28 hit music videos and
certification as 1994's top grossing country group. But that's not the most
impressive part of the picture, for behind the mind-boggling resume stand five
men with a genuine love for fans, friends and family rivaled only by their
passion for the music they make. Family, in fact, is a cornerstone of Sawyer
Brown's staying power. Eight of Mark's relatives hold important positions in the
band's organization, as well as other of Mark's business interests. Four of the
five band members are married men and fathers, all of which gives the group a
firm foundation and maturity that's an inseparable part of Sawyer Brown's
philosophy and music. That balance of seriousness and lightheartedness is
written all over Six Days On The Road, and is one of Sawyer's most endearing and
exciting qualities. The album's title number rocks with an authority never fully
realized in the song's previous incarnations. And though it's a paean to the
pride in tackling a difficult job, it still overflows with the jubilation of
people who love what they do. Akey ingredient in the Sawyer Brown sound and
success is writer, singer, instrumentalist and co-producer Mac McAnally. Long
revered as one of contemporary music's great, multifaceted talents, Mac
approaches his co-production of Sawyer Brown as what he terms a "vicarious
sixth member." Mark adds that the familial togetherness fostered by years
on the road also invariably finds its way into Sawyer Brown's music. "We
crawl on a bus or a plane together," Mark explains. "We stay in hotel
rooms together. We eat together and we record together. It's a lot like being
brothers, and that also has led to everyone having a sense of satisfaction about
where they fit in the band." And while Mark has always been a dynamic
showman fronting the band, he's quick to point out what each of his
partners--Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard on keyboards and vocals, drummer Joe
Smyth, bass man Jim Scholten and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist and vocalist
Duncan Cameron--brings, both personally and creatively, to Sawyer Brown. "Hobie
is absolutely brilliant and one of the easiest-going personalities in the world.
He's the mediator and the guy who makes sure we all treat each other well. We
co-write a lot. He has a really sensitive heart and that shows in his writing
and it really touches a lot of people. "Duncan is a really excellent,
hard-nosed guitar player. Whatever you need, he can give it to you. He's ready
to take the ball when it's his turn, and he's a fine songwriter. He's also got a
very big heart, even though he may not always want you to know that. Jim, I
believe, is the best bass player in music today. He's an incredible musician and
he has such a good spirit about him, he's the kind of guy you love to be around.
"Joe has the most formal training of anybody in the band. He's got a degree
from Berklee College of Music in Boston as well as a masters from Miami, but
along with all his knowledge and chops, he's one of those guys who knows that
all you really need to get to the heart is three chords and the truth."
Even as Sawyer Brown's touring pace has slowed in recent years from frantic to
merely very full, creatively the boys are cranking the gears harder than ever.
"I feel like we still have more things to say," Mark concludes,
"and I'd like to think we've got some experimenting and stretching
musically still to do. I hope that never ends. I would like to think our albums
are collections of great songs that are enjoyable and take you through a lot of
different emotions. If there's a broader statement it is just that after all the
years we're still here doing it. I hope I can be having conversations about our
records another 15 years from now."