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White has partnered with organizations like Homes for Homes and Habitat for Humanity to give back to people who need help , and with a degree in building science from Auburn University , he says it ’ s a passion of his because “ everybody needs a roof over their head ”.
Another passion of White ’ s is volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club . “ I have a huge passion for young boys and girls and just teaching them how to build a fire , how to catch a fish , how to pitch a tent , how to cut a tree down with a chainsaw , how to cook a pancake breakfast . That was stuff that I took for granted because my grandfather and my parents taught me . . . and kids don ’ t know it .”
White shared with me his dream of one day hosting a Wild Kids Camp . “ I ’ m going to have a common sense course one day and I ’ m gonna have a big compound out here and just invite thousands of kids and show them how to make a G chord on a guitar , and if they have a video game out here I ’ m gonna make them run five miles or something ,” White says . “ It sounds like I ’ m kidding but I ’ ve really thought of all this and it ’ s part of the brand . The brand is sitting around a fire .”
White ’ s energy on and off stage is infectious . When he ’ s performing it spreads through the crowd . You could even say that White , himself , is the spark that ignites the crowd , and he promises to bring that same energy to Anniston . “ I love the fans . I ’ m a servant to the fans . Im theirs when I ’ m on stage and I love being that , taking that role .”
“ My dad worked at Goodyear and my mom just retired from Ayers , the Gadsden State Technical College in Anniston . [ They ] worked really hard for their money so I just feel like if somebody ’ s gonna pay 10 , 20 , 40 bucks to come out there and see a show , our motto is 10 or 10,000 ,” White says . “ People deserve to be jolted , they deserve to be taken out of their hurts and their bills . . . they deserve to come out and have a damn good time .” White believes it ’ s his job as a musician to provide that escape for people . “ I wear that badge very proudly , sometimes to the point of a little too much excitement ,” he laughed .
Off stage , White is down to Earth and as easy to talk to as an old friend . Underneath the hat and behind the voice is a man who was born in Alabama , who is making music that matters , and is helping people every chance he gets .
White says he “ learned life ’ s lessons around the orange glow of a fire ” and that is now his brand . “ What can I teach you about a fire ? Oh my friend , I can teach you a lot .” ✽
12 April 2018
INSIGHT