(COLUMBIA, SC) "American Idol" country singing sensation Josh Gracin will perform at Columbia College on Friday, November 5, outside on The Green. Opening acts will begin at 8 p.m., and Gracin's performance will begin at 9.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 per person and will be available October 18-November 5. For tickets and information, contact Annahita Smedal in the office of student activities at 803.786.3840 or asmedal@colacoll.edu.
A native of Michigan, Gracin is currently a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in southern California. He signed with Lyric Street Records after his acclaimed performance on "American Idol" and has now recorded a debut, high-energy, country CD called, appropriately, "Josh Gracin."
Opening for Gracin will be Australia native Jedd Hughes. Hughes grew up listening to country music with his dad, who was a guitarist and a fan of Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and other American country icons. At age eight, he won first place singing at the Port Pirie Country Music Festival, after which his dad gave him a few guitar lessons. By age 10, he was accompanying himself on a custom-made De Gruchy acoustic guitar. At 12, he was chosen to represent Australia on a three-week performance tour of Europe.
He performed as a sideman with various country entertainers throughout his teenage years, then entered South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, which offers a bluegrass music program -- an experience that he says changed his life. While at South Plains, he met Terry McBride, who became his producer. He moved to Nashville in 2002, began writing songs with McBride, and within six weeks was performing on the Grand Ole Opry and playing guitar for Patty Loveless. His first CD, "Transcontinental," released this year, features guest harmonies by Loveless and by Alison Krauss.
