Edwin McCain, a renowned musician, expresses his contentment with life, entitled 'What a Cool Way to Live'
Edwin McCain, the acclaimed American singer-songwriter, is set to perform at The Birchmere on March 8, a venue he holds in high regard as the gold standard of the songwriter experience.
McCain's musical journey began at the tender age of 8 in Greenville, South Carolina, where he joined the church choir as a means to cope with his struggle with dyslexia. His choirmaster, whose name remains undisclosed, ran the choir with military precision, drilling the young McCain and his fellow singers with discipline and dedication.
It was around this time that McCain was inspired by folk singer David Wilcox, whom he saw perform at McDibb's in Black Mountain, N.C. This encounter ignited a passion within McCain, leading him to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter.
By the time he was 19, McCain was playing 10 gigs a week in a resort town in Hilton Head Island, a moment he thought marked the pinnacle of his music career. However, a Hail Mary moment was yet to come.
Inspired by a personal break-up, McCain penned the poignant ballad "I'll Be". Initially rejected by the label, the song gained traction after being played on three radio stations in Alabama and Mississippi. The song's popularity soared, reaching #5 on the Billboard chart and selling 19,000 copies per week.
The success of "I'll Be" opened up new opportunities for McCain, with record labels offering him record deals. The rise of local acts such as Matthews and Hootie & the Blowfish in the Southeast also played a significant role in catapulting McCain into the limelight.
Despite the highs of his career, McCain admits to a few lows, such as smoking in hotel rooms during tours. He apologizes specifically for his actions at the Doubletree in Atlanta.
McCain's grueling pace on the road saw him playing over 200 shows a year, living in a bus and hotels during tours. However, he continues to find joy in playing for people and is still living out the dreams that got in his head when he was 12 years old, watching David Wilcox sing about life.
For those eager to witness McCain's live performance, ticket information for the Birchmere show can be found here. In his downtime, McCain prefers watching the NFL Network and supporting the Patriots, rather than listening to music.
Join Edwin McCain at The Birchmere on March 8 for an unforgettable night of music and storytelling, as he shares his journey from the church choir to music stardom.
