South Carolina Native Steve Ray Ladson Blends Gospel, Hip-hop, and Country for an Unforgettable Ride
This Grammy-nominated artist plays the lead role in Cirque Du Soleil’s New Country Music show “Songblazers”
HOPKINS, SC | AUGUST 23, 2024: South Carolina-born artist Steve Ray Ladson, known for his authentic storytelling and genre-blending sound, is set to release the single “Back of My Truck,” on August 23rd, 2024. The new country-trap anthem, infused with hip-hop beats, notes of bluegrass, and the country music theme of yes, Steve Ray’s Ford F-150 pickup truck, is a boot-stomping track that showcases Ladson’s vast musical influences growing up in the South. Ladson, a banjo and blues guitar virtuoso, partners with Ben Sanders on fiddle, lap steel guitar by Ray Ray Holloway, and honky tonk piano by Peter Levin, all layered into trap beats and Steve Ray’s nuanced vocals. His down-to-earth storytelling shines as he takes listeners on a nostalgic journey, inspired by his high school days driving his dad’s old Ford F-150. The track captures the essence of a rollicking country evening, complete with a romantic ride into the sunset, fishing gear in tow, and the thrill of kicking up dust on a dirt road.
Ladson’s talent and unique blend of genres position him alongside artists like Willie Jones and Shaboozey who are in the genre-bending pop-trap-country music scene that continues to dominate American music in 2024. His humor, showmanship, and deep-rooted connection to country music are evident in every note, making “Back of My Truck” as fun as hanging out with the artist himself.
“Every man or woman needs a truck,” says Ladson. “This song is for everyone who’s ever felt the freedom of a ride in the back of a pickup, surrounded by friends, family, and the wide-open country.”
Steve Ray Ladson is no stranger to the spotlight. Raised in a gospel music family, he began performing professionally as a teenager with his brother and cousins touring in Quartet Gospel Music. His musical journey led him to writing and touring for the past decade with 6-time Grammy-award winners Blind Boys Of Alabama, and nominated for a Grammy with Robert Randolph and the Family Band, for contributing to their acclaimed album “Brighter Days” which earned a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
Ladson’s star continues to rise as he takes on the lead role in Cirque Du Soleil’s country music show, Songblazers, which debuted in July 2024. Tapped by the entertainment giant after an audition in Nashville, Ladson now tours the South with *Songblazers* as the lead vocalist with his banjo skills and magnetic stage presence. His social media series, “From the Greenroom,” offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the show, where he jams with co-star Hillary Krug, a folk-dancing fiddle player with a massive Instagram following of over 350,000 followers.
Steve Ray adds,
“Back of My Truck” was inspired by an old Ford F-150 pickup that belonged to my Dad, which I used to drive in high school. I would often pick up friends on his way to or home from school and it became a thing to have a few of them ride on the back of the truck bed. Being from from the country we all have a custom of riding on the back of a truck, especially during hot summers when there’s yard work to do. I decided to take the idea and make the song about sharing a romantic country trip with a lovely lady where we take a ride into the sunset and end up sleeping on the back of my truck. No hotel room, me, her, my guitar, her dog, my fishing rod, blanket, and a firearm or two just in case there’s a bear or a mountain lion trying to hurt us during our adventurous country evening. I even let her drive for a while and take the truck on a spin and kick up some dust for a change.” – SRL
“Definitely a must-hear and a true anthem for all the country boys and country girls across the nation. After all, every man and woman NEEDS a truck!” – SRL
ABOUT: Steve Ray Ladson is a Grammy-nominated blues guitarist, songwriter, producer, vocalist, and banjo virtuoso from Hopkins, SC. He is currently starring as the lead role in the new country music-themed Cirque Du Soleil show “Songblazers” throughout the United States. Raised in a gospel music family, he began performing professionally as a teenager with his brother and cousins touring in Quartet Gospel Music. His musical journey led him to writing and touring for the past decade with 6-time Grammy-award winners Blind Boys Of Alabama, and nominated for a Grammy with Robert Randolph and the Family Band, for contributing to their acclaimed album *Brighter Days* which earned a nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
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