Pee Dee band performs at exclusive Gram Parsons tribute in Nashville

Florence-based alternative country/southern rock group James Scott Bullard & The Late Night Sweethearts recently had the honor of participating in Gram InterNational V in Nashville.

The event, created by the Gram InterNational organization, was Nov. 2 at Nashville listening room the Douglas Corner Café. James Scott Bullard, a Mullins native, was personally invited by organizers to participate in the annual tribute to Gram Parsons, who is widely considered the “father of alternative country music.”

This was the third time participating for Bullard, who previously performed at the event in 2008 and 2009. However, this was the first event for the latest lineup of The Late Night Sweethearts: Jeff Springs (pedal steel), Tyler Roberts (lead guitar), Kevin Singleton (bass) and Mike Dowling (drums.) Also performing with the group was Rebecca Morning-Phipps, recent winner of the Artsville Songwriting Contest. Morning-Phipps sang several duets with Bullard, provided backup vocals and played acoustic guitar. The show was a special honor for Bullard, who has been the recipient of many awards, included the coveted Gram Parsons Cosmic American Legacy Award.

The group plans to record their versions of the Gram Parsons’ classics “Juanita,” “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” and “A Song For You” for a special limited edition EP to be released in February on Florence-based Americana record label, Yonder Music, to which Bullard is signed. Morning-Phipps will again join the Sweethearts for this recording project, titled “21 Grams.” The EP will be for sale on Bullard’s website www.jamesscottbullard.com, as well as iTunes, CD Baby and other popular digital sites.

Gram InterNational began in 2008 as an annual event in Nashville in support of the Petition to Induct Gram Parsons Into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Lack of recognition for the legendary artist is a controversial topic among alternative country music fans, and support for his induction into the official Country Music Hall of Fame has been swelling in recent years. The first Gram InterNational was held on the 35th anniversary of Parsons’ death in 2008, and in 2011, six GIN events were held in three countries. For more information about Parsons, or to sign the the petition, visit http://graminternational.wordpress.com/.