By Gerri Miller
Elmore/Autauga News
Thirteen years have passed since Brandon Jordan picked up a guitar and learned how to play. His hard work has finally paid off because the 26-year-old and his band are on their way to becoming Country/Southern Rock music stars.
In September 2020, Jordan began his journey with his band doing acoustic solo acts. In January 2021, friends Chris Jones Jr. (drummer), Boyd Blackmon (lead guitar), and Fletcher Robinson (bass) joined him to form “Ruckertown Road.”
Robinson owns Evergreen Records and recorded, mixed and mastered the band’s first single “Party Down South” and its second single “Southern Comforts.” Robinson is backup and Vic Crowe is the regular bass player. The band’s latest single was released on September 26.
But those two singles are just the tip of the iceberg. He has written countless other songs that he said are not yet ready yet. “I have 6-7 songs that are finished and ready to be recorded,” he said.
“A lot of them (songs) are about personal experiences, childhood memories and things I’ve seen people go through,” he said. He said ideas for songs come to him at random times. He might be driving home or sitting on the couch when the words and music start flowing.
Ruckertown Road is the name of the road Jordan lives on in Billingsley, Alabama. Jordan grew up in Billingsley and was a football player for Billingsley High School. He is married to Charity Jordan and has two sons and two stepdaughters. He enjoys hunting, fishing and Alabama football. He is a former firefighter who loves going to the gym.
The band started its musical venture practicing in a shed in Jordan’s back yard. Their schedule is now filled with bookings across the River Region. They play everywhere from Big Star Tavern and the Blue Iguana in Prattville to the Thirsty Turtle in Millbrook. On Friday, November 12th, the band will open for Grammy-winning artists The Kentucky Headhunters at Rally at the Crossroads, a three-day biker event to be held in Andalusia.
The Kentucky Headhunters have released eight studio albums, three compilations, and 23 singles, of which the highest-peaking is a cover of the Don Gibson song “Oh Lonesome Me.” The band took that song to number eight on the charts in 1990. In addition, the band has won three Country Music Association awards, an Academy of Country Music award and a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, won in 1990 for Pickin’ on Nashville.
“It is to my knowledge that we will have the privilege of sharing the stage with another big artist that Saturday night!” Jordan said. “I haven’t been told who, so y’all come share the surprise with us!”
The band’s job is made harder by the fact that they all work other full-time jobs during the day. Jordan is in the Army-National Guard and is a federal technician. Crowe is a football coach. Blackmon works for Alfa Insurance.
Jordan said the band will soon make a music video. “We are now weighing our options on which company will be the best to make the video,” Jordan said.
Jordan said country music singer and songwriter Frank Fletcher helped him get started and is his mentor. “He’s like a big brother to me,” he said. “The first time I got on stage was in one of his shows.”
Hailing from Enterprise, Fletcher has opened for multiple national acts including Confederate Railroad, Tyler Farr, and Daryl Worley. Pulling from an eclectic collection of musical influences as well as his experience as an entertainer over the last several decades, his high-energy performances and unique sound are unforgettable.
Over the last several years, Fletcher has toured relentlessly. In 2019, he played over 100 shows despite the pandemic and managed to log 156 in 2020. 2021 is shaping up to be even bigger with the conclusion and release of his latest EP, Country Chrome.
Jordan said the record label SSM Records in Nashville has offered his band a demo deal, but the group hasn’t decided whether or not to take it yet.
“There’s something to be said about staying independent,” he said.
For more information on the band, visit the Facebook page at Brandon Jordan and Ruckertown Road | Facebook . You can reach Jordan by email at brandon.jordan.music20@gmail.com
