Living Jackson Magazine

Jackson County native Scotty Wilbanks (far left), now a singer, songwriter and producer, has been nominated for a number of awards and in April received a Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year at the 38th annual Gospel Music Awards.?

Jackson County Gone BIG TIME

By Gail Ellen Daly

Judges chose country music artist Dustin Wilkes as a finalist for Nashville Star 2007 from 22,000 hopefuls.

This year, Christian music producer, songwriter and performer Scotty Wilbanks received an individual Grammy nomination.

Although the two men are almost 10 years apart in age, and perform different music genres, they have one thing in common: both grew up in Jackson County and graduated from local high schools.

Scotty Wilbanks
“This is the one we really wanted to win,” Wilbanks said, the day after the April award ceremony in Nashville. “There were a lot of good records in that category.”

Wilbanks, who produced the album “DecembeRadio” for the group DecembeRadio, said that right now he is “passionate” about being a record producer “so this one is great for me.”

And how did Wilbanks and the band celebrate?

“We didn’t go to any of the parties, but went to Steak ’n Shake and had our own party,” he said, quickly pointing out that after the Grammy telecast he attended a party at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel, “which was something.”

Two months earlier, the 36-year-old musician had attended his first-ever Grammy Awards celebration in Los Angeles as a double nominee.

In addition to being a Grammy winner with the group Third Day in the pop or contemporary gospel category, Wilbanks was nominated as producer of the year in the rock/gospel category for producing DecembeRadio’s self-titled album “DecembeRadio.”
“You never think about being nominated or about being in an elite crowd,” Wilbanks said during an interview from Nashville before the Dove Awards took place. “It was pretty crazy, but also terrific having that experience.”

Is it true when performers state that “just being nominated is enough?”

Wilbanks can’t speak for all nominees, but, he insisted, “I was blessed just being nominated.”

The son of Patsy and Johnny Wilbanks, the family lived in Commerce until Scotty was 10. Although they moved to Maysville, Wilbanks had attended Commerce Elementary School. He continued in the Commerce schools, graduating from Commerce High School in 1988.

Wilbanks began taking piano lessons at age 8. Two years later, he joined the Commerce Band program as a saxophone player.
“Growing up, I was the nerd in the band,” he said. “It wasn’t cool back then (to be in the band), but now all the athletes want to be in the music business.”

After high school, Wilbanks attended Truett-McConnell College in Cleveland with an eye toward pursuing a career in music. He graduated from Truett-McConnell in 1991 with an Associate in Music degree, then continued his education at the University of Georgia. After graduating from UGA with a degree in Music Education, Wilbanks joined NewSong as a performer and toured with the Christian music group for a decade.

About a year ago, Wilbanks joined Third Day. He sings and plays keyboards and saxophone with the contemporary gospel group.

Third Day took home the Grammy in that category for their album “Wherever You Are.”

“He’s worked really hard,” Patsy Wilbanks said. She recalled that as a senior in high school he wrote a song about his graduating class and sang the song at the graduating ceremony.

When not on the road, Wilbanks can usually be found in his own production studio, Juke Box, which is located in his Canton home. This keeps him close to his wife DeDe and 19-month-old son Levi.

Wilbanks not only produces, but also helps develop up and coming bands in his studio. One of those up-and-coming bands is Georgia-based Echoing Angels. Wilbanks co-wrote “You Alone,” which hit number four on the Christian music chart.

“Two of the band members are from Gillsville in Banks County,” he said, “which is pretty close to Jackson County.”

Wilbanks is working with After Edmund, a new rock band from Charleston, S.C., and writing a new song for DecembeRadio’s next album.

“He loves music which scares me a little,” said Wilbanks’s father. “It’s hard to do music for a living—it’s not like corporate America where you can climb the ladder—the best talent doesn’t always rise to the top.”

Producing and the family will soon be left behind as Wilbanks and Third Day head for Europe next month.

“When we tour it’s just the band,” Wilbanks explained. “I miss them when I’m on the road.”

One of their performances is set for London’s Royal Albert Hall where the Beatles and Eric Clapton have played. After the overseas tour, Third Day will be performing at major festivals around the country. However, the closest he comes to Jackson County is Atlanta Fest in June.

His success in his chosen field—songwriter, producer, performer—led to his being named Outstanding Young Alumnus of the Year by the Truett-McConnell College Alumni Association.

“It’s just awesome to be able to do what you love,” Wilbanks said.

Dustin Wilkes
Although Wilkes’s tenure on “Nashville Star” was short-lived, performing before a national television audience was “a lifetime dream.”

Determined to keep his career on an uphill track, Wilkes performs live every week at several Nashville venues and has concerts scheduled around the south this summer. Locally, he will be appearing in Braselton at the town’s Fourth of July celebration.
“It’s not easy—music is a money-driven, cutthroat business,” Wilkes said in an interview from his Nashville home. “And it (appearing on Nashville Star) was a blessing that helped and hurt.”

The 27-year-old believes that the show, and all the other versions, is similar to a reality TV show.

“People tend to pick out those who get the most buzz,” he said.

Wilkes grew up in Jackson County, a stone’s throw from the Jefferson City line. As a child, his father Luther said, his talent showed up early. He made up songs and was playing guitar by age 5 or 6.

“His grandfather, Worth Wilkes, was in a nursing home and we would visit him once a week,” the elder Wilkes recalled. “He and Dustin would sing and play together.”

Many nights, he continued, “I would make him go to sleep or he would stay up playing (the guitar) all night.”

In high school, he sang in the school chorus. Music was not Wilkes’ only interest during his school years. Sports also played a role—baseball, football and basketball.

After his 1998 graduation from Jackson County Comprehensive High School, shortly after his mother died from cancer, Wilkes joined the Marine Corps.

“He had always talked about joining the service,” Luther Wilkes said, laughing as he talked about “Dustin’s first ski trip.”
As the story goes, Wilkes—a rank beginner—ignored the bunny slope and went to the top of the most difficult hill. On the way down, he crashed into a tree, badly injuring one knee. He underwent surgery and had a pin placed in the knee.

“I told him the Marines would not take him with a pin in his knee,” Luther Wilkes said.

Nevertheless, he passed the physical and basic training.

Aware of the Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign, Wilkes volunteered to package and sort toys. After watching a child gazing longingly at the toys, he told his commanding officer he would like to write a song about the toy drive. He wrote “One Toy at a Time,” the song that turned into an anthem for the charity, and Wilkes found himself singing his composition at large football stadiums and smaller venues.

After five years in the Marines, “as soon as the ink was dry” on his honorable discharge, he headed to Nashville—country music’s Hollywood. A year of various jobs led to a position at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, a well-known Nashville nightclub.

“I was the doorman,” he said. “For six or seven months I sat there day after day watching the performers.”

One night a performer was late and Wilkes took his place on stage.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” he said. He has been a fixture on that stage ever since.

In addition to Tootsies, where he performs twice a week, Wilkes is appearing at the Nashville Palace.

He is a two-time winner of the local Colgate Country Showdown and last year wrote a campaign song for Gary Black during his run for Commissioner of Agriculture.

Wilkes calls his music Southern rock—aggressive music. He continues writing and cutting demo CDs hoping for that big break. He would especially like to record his song “I Bleed Country,” which tells of the values his parents taught him.

“It’s a bit unfair,” he said. “The talented are not always discovered—those days are over.”

Luther Wilkes said his son remembers who he is and calls home often.

Before Wilkes comes home for the Braselton concert, he will be meeting fans June 7-10 at Fan Fair, the annual Nashville event where fans can meet their favorite stars and attend concerts.

“I love my fans,” Wilkes said, “that’s the number one reason I do what I do.”

Local fans can see Wilkes at the July 4 concert at Braselton Park, where he will be joined by Nashville Star 2006 finalist Melanie Torres. Wilkes invites all his supporters to come to the Fourth of July Festival and “we’ll have a big party.”