Luke Deuce (middle) plays the guitar when he was growing up with his dad (Dan’l) and his older sister (Emily).
Courtesy photo
PICKENS — There is some stuff in life that you just can’t teach. It’s way beyond a classroom or a simple Google search on your cell phone.
Luke Deuce is just 18 years old and has a humble upbringing from Pickens. He started playing the guitar in third grade and started performing when he was around 10 years old. He still remembers watching reruns growing up of The Johnny Cash Show that has inspired him as a country-western singer and songwriter.
“He (Cash) is my favorite,” said Deuce. “He’d always end his show with a gospel song whether the producers liked it or not.”
Luke has released two albums.
In the past year, he co-wrote and released 18 singles. Plus, he’s written 73 songs this past year.
If that’s not enough, he’s performed in 185 shows this year.
“Right now, I go back and forth to Nashville once a month and write with a guy named Keith Stegall. Keith is the CMA Producer of the Decade, and I write with Brian Maher … he got Taylor Swift started and was big in helping Justin Moore get started.”
Continued Luke, “I really got into writing music about a year and a half ago. It’s my passion. It’s what I want to do.”
Luke’s had the opportunity to perform alongside big-time artists like Shenandoah, Little Texas, Mac Arnold and the Steep Canyon Rangers.
A couple weeks ago, he sang after the Clemson-Georgia Tech football game at the Esso Club (the tailgate home of the Clemson Tigers).
Then last Friday night, Luke performed in downtown Greenville at the Fireforge Crafted Beer Restaurant. Jimmy Orr, from Traveler’s Rest, sat in the front row with his wife and was on Cloud 9.
“We’ve been all over the country and very few times do I come to a place, hear somebody play and realize that this person has a great talent,” said the 65-year-old Orr. “I told my wife this kid could be the next Randy Travis. He could be! He’s got some humility to him and he’s humble.”
Orr said he’s seen other country-western singers make it big. He used to run a country-western store about 30 years ago in Winston, Salem North Carolina when Garth Brooks was making a name for himself.
“My mom met him (Brooks) and he started off really small, too, in places like this and a lot of people never thought he would make it,” said Orr. “They make it because of who they are in places like this. You get blown away and you’re like this guy is really good. It hits ya! In life, it doesn’t happen every day and – when it does – you are like that’s pretty cool.”
Another fan in the audience, Tim Serpette from Inman, has heard Luke perform four times.
“We like Luke Deuce because he plays more traditional country music – what we consider true country music,” said Serpette. “The kid is a darn good singer. Hopefully, he’s on the radio later.”
Luke’s music pays homage to country legends like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Randy Travis, Travis Tritt and his favorite (Johnny Cash).
Not to be overlooked is the strong support and bond Luke has had with his dad, Dan’l. The first album Luke wrote of “What If I Tried” is in honor of his dad who has encouraged him to put forth his best effort.
And that he has.
Luke’s journey in country music so far has been with plenty of prayer, hard work and his dad’s encouraging words.
“There’s always a balance for any parent,” said Dan’l, about his son. “I’ve even gone to my dad … am I pushing too hard or not hard enough? What’s the right thing for your kid? Are you ruining him? Are you ruining him by not pushing? He’s always had this incredible talent, so we’ve tried to find that balance as a parent and tried to encourage the good behavior and discourage the bad ones. Knowing that he’s been given this special talent has been inspiring for me.”
Did you know? Luke Deuce is the youngest to ever play at the Bowery in Myrtle Beach (the home of the “Alabama” band) – at age 17.
Up next: You can see Luke play on Friday night at 9:30 p.m when he plays at Wendell’s Dipping Branch in Anderson.