By Dana Jordan
Blessed and highly favored is what Scotty Hawkins of Greer said that he felt as he took the stage at Greer Family Fest with the Marshall Tucker Band Saturday night. “It’s amazing to feel all this love,” Hawkins said.
I have known Scotty for several years and there is no doubt the passion and love he has for music and playing drums. Scotty grew up in a musical family and has been playing the drums for 45 years.
He had his first gig at eight years old. “I have only put in one application in my entire life and it was for Redemption World Outreach Center. I give private lessons and it’s important to pass down the knowledge to children who want to play drums. I am so thankful for the ones who passed that knowledge down to me,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins was asked to join Country Music star Reba McIntyre’s band in 1991, but it was just weeks after most of the members of her band were killed in a plane crash.
“I had played with most of those guys and we did our own little thing and I just felt that it was bad timing and I declined,” said Hawkins. Later that year Hawkins was asked again by McIntyre and accepted.
He is the drummer for Kix Brooks, formerly of the county music group Brooks and Dunn, and also is a producer.
Scotty said his journey has been an incredible ride. His advice for artists sharing the same calling and passion for music was, “Never give up no matter how old you are and most of all stay humble and true to yourself."
Scotty's wife, Tangela, and other family members came out to show their support Saturday night.