Tim McGraw tribute act lands contract to perform at the legendary Gold Nugget
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Adam Tucker's week included gigs that are taking him from Las Vegas to Ohio to Nashville and West Virginia.
You'll not hear a peep of complaint from the Sissonville native who has been working on his country music career since he graduated from Sissonville High School in 1995.
"I've been pounding the roads," Tucker acknowledges.
And it's finally paid off. Soon, Tucker will get to unpack his bags and stay a while in Las Vegas, where he has been booked for a one-year contract at the Golden Nugget Casino as part of a Country Superstars Tribute Show. Tucker does a Tim McGraw tribute.
In fact, his show opened Tuesday night, and Tucker credits managers there with allowing him to work out contractual obligations he already had, including Friday night's stop in Charleston to polish off the summer Live on the Levee series.
"Oct. 22 is my last show in my current tour, then I will settle in Vegas and spend more time out there," Tucker said.
If there is an example of playing to your strengths, Tucker is it.
He's been traveling the country and beyond singing for years and came this close to record deals with Sony and RCA, before he was told, "You sound too much like Tim McGraw."
"I lot of people saw that as a negative. I saw it as a positive." Tucker said. "I always knew in the back of my head that this situation would come up and I would have the opportunity to do a Tim McGraw tribute show.
"They found me, and that makes it even better."
That last part is sort of the icing on the cupcake for a guy who is used to doing his own bookings and promotions - and enlisting family members such as sister-in-law Leslie Tucker to shoot promotional photos, for example.
"I used to work with one or two agencies, but to be honest, nobody wants it more than you want it," he said. "I'm not scared to make phone calls. No one's going to outwork me."
This time, however, the phone call came to him.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Adam Tucker's week included gigs that are taking him from Las Vegas to Ohio to Nashville and West Virginia.
You'll not hear a peep of complaint from the Sissonville native who has been working on his country music career since he graduated from Sissonville High School in 1995.
"I've been pounding the roads," Tucker acknowledges.
And it's finally paid off. Soon, Tucker will get to unpack his bags and stay a while in Las Vegas, where he has been booked for a one-year contract at the Golden Nugget Casino as part of a Country Superstars Tribute Show. Tucker does a Tim McGraw tribute.
In fact, his show opened Tuesday night, and Tucker credits managers there with allowing him to work out contractual obligations he already had, including Friday night's stop in Charleston to polish off the summer Live on the Levee series.
"Oct. 22 is my last show in my current tour, then I will settle in Vegas and spend more time out there," Tucker said.
If there is an example of playing to your strengths, Tucker is it.
He's been traveling the country and beyond singing for years and came this close to record deals with Sony and RCA, before he was told, "You sound too much like Tim McGraw."
"I lot of people saw that as a negative. I saw it as a positive." Tucker said. "I always knew in the back of my head that this situation would come up and I would have the opportunity to do a Tim McGraw tribute show.
"They found me, and that makes it even better."
That last part is sort of the icing on the cupcake for a guy who is used to doing his own bookings and promotions - and enlisting family members such as sister-in-law Leslie Tucker to shoot promotional photos, for example.
"I used to work with one or two agencies, but to be honest, nobody wants it more than you want it," he said. "I'm not scared to make phone calls. No one's going to outwork me."
This time, however, the phone call came to him.
Besides the opportunity to know he's got that one-year contract, Tucker is looking forward to settling in for a while, and taking advantage of some of the perks entertainers enjoy. In this case, it's full privileges of the casino where he works, down to the salons and food service.
Meantime, he'll also get to work with some of the best country tribute artists around - folks who portray Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McIntyre, Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. The casino has developed billboards to promote the show and even plastered ads on trucks that will drive around Las Vegas.
"This is the only country-themed show out there that is purely country," Tucker said.
His family, including parents Mary and Gary Tucker and brother Jeff, already are planning a trip out to see them. Tucker can't say enough about how supportive they've all been.
His girlfriend, Dawn Walbrown, just passed her nursing boards and plans to move to Las Vegas, where she can work as a traveling nurse.
"She's been my rock," Tucker said.
He also has high praise for his "day job" employer, FedEx, which has offered him a flexible schedule as his music career develops.
"I'm still on their payroll," he said.
Friday's show at the Levee will offer a taste of his Vegas show, along with some classic rock and other hits. He'll be backed by his current band, Sonny Williams on drums, Jake Hill on keyboards, Doug Littlejohn on bass guitar, Joe Riley on lead guitar and Olivia McPeek on fiddle.
Contact writer Monica Orosz at mon...@dailymail.com or 304-348-4830.
If you go
- What: Live on the Levee
- When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
- Where: Haddad Riverfront Park
