Pooler musician wins Georgia Music Award

Musician Jared Wade didn't go with his friend to the Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta to watch the second annual Georgia Music Awards live.

"I honestly didn't expect to win so I just stayed at home in Nashville and worked," Wade said.

Much to his surprise, the Pooler native won the Male Country Artist of the Year award at the ceremony on June 8.

According to the Georgia Music Awards website, the awards are "designed like a People's Choice Award show (where) fans and supporters will decide who wins the awards."

"My buddy Lee called me from the awards show and told me that they were about to announce the winner and that if I won he would accept the award for me and tell everyone I was too drunk to show up," Wade said. "I just laughed at him and went on to my gig and told him to text me the winner's name.

"The next thing I know he texts me that I won and I thought, 'Are you kidding me?' By no means did I ever expect this."

Wade's humble nature and appreciation to his fans seems to come naturally for this graduate of Savannah Christian Academy.

"I was born and raised in Savannah," Wade explained. "I moved to Nashville in April and it's been a big adjustment for me.

"I'm used to having a big space and now I live in a small apartment downtown and I walk to work (playing music) at the local bars every day. I play about six to seven times each week."

Wade describes his music as mix of soul, country and a little rock. He also takes songwriting very seriously and hopes to make his mark as a songwriter, too.

"United Artists said they want to cut one of my songs I wrote," Wade explained. "I would love that. But they don't tell you who will sing it or any of that stuff so I really don't know where it will end up."

Wade released his debut album in February on country music superstar Tracy Lawrence's independent label. The title single "Drunk on Sunshine" is the force behind his sudden popularity.

"I guess I have a lot more fans that I thought," Wade said.

He said he owes the success of "Drunk on Sunshine" to local radio stations. His song has received a lot of air time on Savannah station BOB 106.9 and Atlanta's The Bull 94.9.

"When I put out my album, BOB reached out to me and they have really helped spread the word on this album," Wade said. "I owe them a lot."

Wade got to show his Savannah fans his appreciation with his June 15 show at Saddle Bags.

"I'm not good at wording things, so I don't know what to say to everyone who voted for me," Wade said before the show. "But I will do something special at the show to say thanks to everyone for supporting me."