Today we’d like to introduce you to Gritty Flyright.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
BACKGROUND: I didn’t grow up playing or writing music. Was actually a public school teacher in Colleton and Charleston County for 10 years. I always had a deep appreciation for music, but it wasn’t until my battle with Crohn’s Disease that I began to turn that appreciation into participation. I had recovered from a resection surgery and with the removal of parts of my small intestine/colon had experienced 3 consecutive years of remission until a return of my symptoms in the Spring of 2013. I was in and out of MUSC missing 40 days of school and going out on FMLA as a Fifth Grade Teacher at Minnie Hughes Elementary. It was in this dark time that I would turn to music as therapy.
THE START/INFLUENCES: Got my start playing music here in Charleston under the mentoring of Graham Whorley, a Local Legend and Master of Acoustic Guitar/Looping. Graham was my neighbor and close friend who helped launch my career as a musician. He and I are still tight as he continues to be an influence in my life. I have lived and worked all over the state of South Carolina. I was raised in the Upstate in Woodruff, SC, attended The University of South Carolina in Columbia, then lived in Colleton and Charleston County from 2007-Present (James Island). Being from the rural South, I have always been surrounded by Country Music, but not limited to that genre, always have a special place in my heart for Soul Music as well. Big fan of John Prine, Tyler Childers, Sturgill Simpson, and those outlaw country guys, but also truly appreciate Bill Withers, Otis Redding, Allen Stone, and those guys with the R&B vibe.
THE NAME: My friend Brad Elliott taught me how to play a few chords on the guitar, and when things started progressing he introduced me to David Kascak, who helped me start playing shows professionally as an acoustic duo. David and I became fast friends and were able to play mostly covers for public and private events around town. The biggest compliment we ever received was that our sound was “raw” and “real”, but if you know David and I we could never go by “The Raw n The Real” just didn’t suit our personalities or musical style. So, “Gritty Flyright” became our name and we formed the feather logo to match. Shortly after, we would be joined by saxophonist Jamal Hall, guitarist Noah Shue, percussionist Ben Harrison, and fiddle player Boyd Richardson with the occasional legends like Graham Whorley and Juke Joint Johnny as special guests. People ask, “Is Gritty Flyright a band?” It’s odd because Gritty Flyright has become my stage handle as a singer-songwriter and I think 3 years ago when I started writing the album it started to make a little more sense.
In fact, half the people around town just call me “Gritty” instead of Wes. instead of Wes I perform solo shows as Gritty Flyright and sometimes feature 1 or 2 of the guys as special guests, or sometimes when it’s the full group together we book as “Gritty Flyright with “The Music Family”. All this to say, Gritty Flyright is my handle/moniker for a singer-songwriter here in Charleston and I have the privilege of playing with not only some of the most talented musicians but also some of the best people/friends I know.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would say the road to music was “Gritty” for me 🙂 As I mentioned, I turned to music for therapy during my struggle with Crohn’s Disease. It has certainly served me well and I’m grateful to tap into the creative space, but like most musicians, you have to ride the wave of a pretty tough business. My biggest struggles come from just being an independent artist: 1) Wearing multiple hats within the business 2) Lack of funding 3) Constantly trying to knock down the walls of communication with venues, radio, etc…
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a singer-songwriter based in Charleston, SC. I play under the handle “Gritty Flyright”. I just released my debut album “Tales of the Famously Unknown” on all major platforms back in May 2022. I think what’s special about the work is that each track on the record is a true story from the last 3 years of my life. I really put my time and talent into the lyrics and make it a point to tell the story the best way possible.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
As much as I get frustrated with trying to knock down the doors of the music industry, I always try to remind myself of how fortunate I am to be surrounded by such incredible family, friends, musicians, mentors, and people of influence. I am so grateful for the village of people that continue to support the music.
Pricing:
- Vinyl – $30
- CD – $10
- Shirt – $20
- Hat – $25
- Sticker – $2
Contact Info:
- Website: www.grittyflyright.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gritty_flyright/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grittyflyright
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZop4EjicJ-sx4vAco5x7Zw?app=desktop
Image Credits
Jeanne Mitchum
