Jackson Nance returns to help music hall of fame

Nance, the youngest artist who has ever been signed to Warner/Chappell Music in Nashville, is headlining a “Swamp Thing” fundraiser at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame on Friday.

The 15-year-old, who lives in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee, visited the hall of fame for the first time a few months ago and decided he wanted to do a benefit concert for the museum.

Nance will be backed by an all-star band including Swampers Jimmy Johnson and David Hood, Rob Robinson, Will McFarlane, and Kerry Gilbert Band members Kerry Gilbert, Wayne Walker and Randy Kimbrough.

Hall of Fame Manager Dixie Griffin said she’s excited about the show and the chance to showcase Nance.

“This is going to be just a fun, fun show with the Swampers and other great musicians,” Griffin said.

“It’s going to be great.”

Nance said he will perform five songs that Johnson and Hood played on, then play five of his originals.

“We have a great group of guys playing with us,” Nance said. “That’s just a big confidence booster.”

Nance started singing in public at age 8 and learned to play guitar at 12.

“I didn’t really get into history that much until I started to play guitar when I was 12,” Nance said.

“The way I see it, if you want to learn something and do it good, what better place to go then back to where it all started.”

He was referring to Muscle Shoals.

“I love the dirty, grittiness of the Muscle Shoals sound,” Nance said. “It’s kind of swampy, but they can still put out ballads that are pretty good.”

Gilbert said he met Nance about three years ago when they were both performing at a fundraiser for FAME Girls Range.

“I had arranged for his parents to bring him down from Leiper’s Fork to play with my band that night,” Gilbert said. “While we were playing, up to the stage walked this young man, full of charisma with a great big ole’ smile.”

“I knew this kid was special the first time I had met him downtown Florence one night, two months prior.”

Gilbert said Nance has a “movie star” quality about him that makes him stand out in a crowd.

He said Nance has played with Gilbert’s band, The KGB, several times, including shows at the Roxy Theatre in Russellville and during the W.C. Handy Music Festival.

Friday’s show also will feature the debut of Nance’s first music video, “It’s a Swamp Thing,” which he co-wrote with songwriters Eddie Wilson and Rob Robinson as a tribute to the Swampers.

The Swampers is the nickname of Muscle Shoals Sound Studios rhythm section members Johnson, Hood, Roger Hawkins and the late Barry Beckett.

“These guys are my heroes,” Nance said.

The video was recorded in January at Jimmy Nutt’s NuttHouse Recording Studio in Sheffield, and the song was produced by Johnson.

Tickets to the show are $20 and include a tour of the hall of fame and museum. The show begins at 7 p.m., and seating is limited.

Tickets for the Swamp Thing pre-party are $30 and include a ticket to the show, hors d’oeuvres, a complementary drink and a meet and greet with the band.

It also includes a copy of “It’s a Swamp Thing.”

The pre-party begins at 6 p.m. and advance tickets are required. A cash bar will be available.

For details, contact the hall of fame at 256-381-4417.