This week we’re highlighting Tim Dugger, an incredible recording artist from Roanoke, Alabama. We chatted with the singer-songwriter about his love of music, his path, and his most recent album. Keep reading to learn more.

“I grew up in a little town called Roanoke, Alabama. It’s a pretty small town. It was a dry county up til 2016, so very backwoods and not a lot going on down there, but I fell in love with music at a young age,” began the singer. “My dad was a truck driver and he would come home with all these cassette tapes from traveling around, he just had so many. […] I would say 95% of them were country and more classic country, a lot of Merle Haggard, a lot of trucking songs like Red Soul Vine. […] And of course 90s country music was on the radio when I was a kid I grew up on Alan Jackson and 90s country.”

While 90s country music was arguably his first love, Dugger honed his singing skills through church choir.“I started out singing in church and we would travel around the southeast singing at all kind of churches, doing gospel music.”

Eventually, at the age of fifteen, the singer and his parents helped him put together his first band. “It was one of those kind of started out playing at a bar with five people, and four of those people you were related to, and that’s kind of how it started,” shared the singer. Adding, “I was the youngest in the band by probably fifteen years or more. I’m from the school of thought that you have to be playing and being on stage and singing, and be out there, and get your honky tonk university [degree]. I did that for years and years.”

The Turning Point:

With a love for 90s country imbedded in his veins, Dugger truly only saw one path forward. He continued to sing all around with his band, while also making frequent trips to Nashville to record Nashville-quality demos.

“I didn’t live in Nashville at the time, I’m from about 5 hours from Nashville, and I’d commute back and forth to write and record, so at the time the demos I had were really good, they were Nashville quality. I was glad I wasn’t behind the eight ball on that, but you never know, country music goes through these waves here over the last ten years, but my shows can be kind of rock sometimes or lean a bit more traditional, but I”m not one of those that goes “that ain’t country or this ain’t country.” It’s a fun time to have music out.”

Eventually, as fate would have it, Dugger met a guy at one of his shows who was friends with a Nascar team owner, and he was asked to play a few shows. He got me booked at a couple of races, and that gave me an opportunity. I actually met Mike Curb on pit road at the Daytona 500 and gave him a CD, and that’s how I ended up with Curb Records, just by that meeting.” Shortly there after, Dugger signed with Curb Records.

Today:

Flash forward to today, Dugger is making a living as a signed singer-songwriter. The singer brings a rock flair to his country lyric by creating a sound that feels distinctly ‘him.’ Most recently, the artist released his album, Stars Over Alabama, which features thirteen songs, including eight that the singer had his hand in writing.

“When we were writing those songs, I didn’t know we were writing the album, I just knew I was cutting songs. I didn’t know if it was going to be an EP or a full album, and then about halfway through it, they were like you should cut another batch, and the best song ever wins, and Nashville is full of the best songs that we may never hear. […] So the best song always wins, but I love when I am able to write something.”

Dugger went on to add, “I like when I have a story to tell behind the guitar. […] “Most of it is stories I’ve lived or at least try to put that somewhere within the stories and songs that we’re writing.”

All of the songs on the record feel like getting to know the singer and his story, as well as, the music he loves and appreciates. While Dugger has been at this seemingly his whole life, it is clear that he is primed for a big 2025.

“My winter, like a lot of singers, slows down from touring, which is nice, but it’ll be all about writing. […] Definitely going to dive in, I have a lot to say. This year’s been a pretty wild ride. […] We’re going to be back on the road and keep putting out more music for everybody who likes this album.” Stay tuned!

Connect:

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Tim Dugger’s music is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.