Programmer Playlist: Tim Dugger

Breaking new Curb artist Tim Dugger is addicted to the “fast lane” –whether it’s horsepower in the pursuit of superstardom in country music, or hanging-out at the track with the major names in NASCAR who just happen to be his “good buddies.” Speed is in the blood of the Alabama born native.

A diehard NASCAR fan, Dugger developed a loyal fan base in the country music clubs surrounding the race circuit. “I grew up in awe of Dale Earnhardt and it was a major Sunday tradition back at home to sit around with my dad and watch the races,” Dugger recalls. “When I started playing the clubs I had the thrill of meeting Richard Childress and struck up a real friendship with his whole family. From that meeting I ultimately met Mike Curb at Daytona and got to hand him a CD—that was the beginning of where I am today.”

After forming his own bands as a teenager, in a few short years his reputation as a performer kept him on a solid road schedule of club performances throughout the south.

“At home growing up there was always a guitar in the house and I taught myself out of a little book that showed me three basic chords,” Dugger recalls.  “I’d go to this music store in town every day during the summer when school was out—it was a bunch of old school musicians just pickin’ and singin’ and I’d get in the circle with them and watch their fingers. That led me to going around to the circuit of little pickin’ houses—I was 99% percent of the time the youngest musician there. It was like a college education in music.”

Dugger musical influences reflect his love of the traditional.  “I’ve always loved the legends—Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin, Gene Watson.  My dad was a truck driver and he’d come home with all their cassette tapes from the truck.  That sealed the deal with me when I heard their music.”

As witnessed by his debut single, (I Called Her) Tennessee, a world of new country fans are about to have Dugger on their playlists.

The single itself is one of his favorite songs from his debut album. “I wrote the song four or five years ago and it’s actually one of my favorite songs that I’ve written to date.  I think every good ‘ol Alabama boy in high school dreams of spring break when he can hit the beaches down to Mobile or Panama City and meet that older and wiser college girl that can teach him a thing or two about love.  That’s the story in this song.  They have a great time—he never asks her name—but he knows she’s from Tennessee.”

Tim’s music reflects his passion for a great country lyric and his debut album for Curb offers the proven production genius of veteran producer Jim Ed Norman whose long list of credits include the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Kenny Rogers.

“Jim Ed is more than someone whose production I love—he’s a guy whose opinion I respect on all aspects of the music industry.  Spending time in the studio with him is a learning experience for me and I’ve dug every second that’s gone into the album so far.”

Sharing stages with artists of the caliber of Trace Adkins, Diamond Rio, Sarah Evans and Craig Morgan gives further witness to Dugger’s ability to command attention with his own special brand of music and onstage charisma. His featured spot in the television reality series, Highway To Fame took the message wider that a new major career was in the making.

With new music on the horizon and with smoldering good looks and southern charm packed securely under his cowboy hat, America’s about to buckle up for Dugger’s fast ride to the top.

Dugger is philosophical about the potential of super stardom on the horizon. “The only goal I had setting out in music was to make a living at it so I’ve already been very blessed. This world is very stressful if you’ve written a song that can give someone a lift for three minutes —I think you’ve done something pretty cool.