MOG

Who is Grayson Capps?
By Cynthia Tittle Welborn, To the Leader-Call


My U.S. History professor at Ole Miss taught that for the most part, the South is 10 years behind the West Coast socially, economically, and theatrically.
Thus for Grayson Capps, growing up in Brewton and Fairhope, Ala. in the 70’s, the scene was right out of Steinbeck’s, Cannery Row or Greenwich Village.
There were vagrants, writers, musicians, artists, and ne’er-do-wells reciting poetry. He remembers a man named Fred Stokes, who would show up at his house with an old beat up Martin guitar.
Accompanying him, was a former literature professor named Bobby Long. Stokes, Long, and Everett Capps(Grayson’s father), would sit around a Realistic Tape Recorder, singing three-part harmony, trying to get the perfect recording. Then at some point, Bobby Long would stand up and recite T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song Of J.Alfred Prufrock”, and the scene was theatrical.
A scholarship recipient to Tulane University, Capps earned a BFA in 1989. His major concentration was theatrical performance. During this time, he began playing the guitar, and formed a band called The House Levellers. They were signed by Tipitina’s Records and appeared on the cover of USA Today. But, three years of too much junk food and too much time on the road, brought their band to its demise.
With his next band, Stavin’ Chain, Capps wrote and performed five original songs for the documentary Anthem, based on the question, “What Is the American Dream?” Capps was invited to walk the red carpet in LA and New York for the premier of the film.
No doubt, Capps considers the movie, A Love Song For Bobby Long, his pinnacle. The movie starring John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson, is based on his father’s novel, Off Magazine Street. It was filmed in New Orleans in 2003. Not only does Capps appear in the movie, but he also plays six songs. He served as both guitar teacher and dialect coach to Travolta.
Influenced by Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash, Doc Watson, and Hounddog Taylor to name a few, Capp’s genre is that of Blues fused with Bluegrass and heavily engrossed in New Orleans Jazz.
He is characterized as a preacher, a poet, a singer, a guitar player, and a landscaper. The later, I believe, “hits the nail on the head” so to speak. For in his lyrics, he tells a story and paints the scene for the audience. Not that he speaks out about social injustice, racial inequality, or political correctness, but that he speaks of the plight and dignity of every man.
Grayson Capps and The Stumpknockers, with new Laurel resident, John Milham, drummer, will be appearing at the Laurel Little Theatre on Saturday, at 8 p.m.
Other band members include: John Kerin, bass and Tommy MaCluckie, guitar. Opening band, Fat Man Squeeze, will perform at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 prior to the show, and $20 at the door. Children 12 and under are $5. For more information call 601-426-7046.
John Milham is a native of the Mobile area. He studied at The Berklee College of Music in Boston. His association with Grayson Capps began in 2000. Married to the former Andrea MacDonald of Laurel, they are the proud parents of 2-year-old John Brooks Milham.