Singer/songwriter KC Cameron to play in park on July 10

Popular country artist KC Cameron will be crooning on stage at the Tombstone Pizza Bandshell on July 10 as part of the Music in the Park summer music series organized by Medford Kiwanis.

KC comes by that authentic country soul honestly as he grew up in the small town of Metamora, Mich., where his family has been raising quarter horses for close to 100 years. He spent his childhood listening to legends like Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire and George Strait, with King George especially a heavy influence on KC’s sound.

“His voice is as effortless and perfect as it comes, he’s a great writer but also brings in legends and heroes like Dean Dillon and John Prine to find the best songs,” KC said. “There’s a reason he has all those number ones.”

KC went to college at Michigan State University where he got his start playing the drums in local bands. He soon began writing songs for himself, eventually performing his own acoustic shows and becoming the front-man for his own band. He joined the army in 2015, an experience that shaped the man, and the songwriter, that he is today.

“Perspective is important. Part of our genre is writing about hard work and struggle. When you travel the world a little bit you realize we’re much more alike than different no matter where you go,” KC said of the way his service influenced his music.

And KC’s sound is entirely his own. A blend of Neo-traditional country and heartland rock, his music blurs the lines of conventional genres while still maintaining his own authenticity. Some would say it shares the flavor of BBQ nachos; a little bit smokey, a little bit Tex-Mex and a little bit soul food with just the right kick. He says a good chunk of that stems from his collaborations with other artists.

“A record will never be as good as when you bring in folks with as much experience as possible. I’m blessed to have them share their wisdom and honest opinions of my writings. It’s only created this progression as we keep putting out projects,” KC said.

He finds inspiration in other artists who push the boundaries of what it means to be a country singer, like Chris Stapleton.

“You say… ‘but he is country.’ Is he? Or is he blues? Rock and roll? R&B?” KC wondered. “No other artist to me shows how genre-bending great music can be. It’s great, that’s all you need to define it as.”

Country has always been KC’s kind of music, hearing the stories of family, hard work and great people within each song. He likes to let his stories find him before putting pen to paper, recalling a quote by record producer Rick Rubin who said that no one writes a song, they just have to write it down when it’s gifted to them.

“I tend to agree. Write about what you know and who you love and you’ll never go wrong,” KC said.

KC debuted his first album, titled ‘Forty,’ in October of 2024. He says that ‘Forty’ is his midway reflection, his opportunity to look back and mull over what he’s learned so far. In looking back KC gives himself the chance to weigh his own truth. The hardest part?

“Admitting your mistakes along with your wins. It’s a halftime evaluation of not only what to be proud of but also who to be now as we charge into the second half. We aren’t slowing down,” he said.

KC has been touring across the midwest and southeast, playing a variety of venues. But there’s something about small, midwest towns that keep him coming back.

“It’s just who I am,” he said. “I can’t imagine being from another place or calling another place home. I’m proud to now live back in Michigan but still see as many places as I can. There’s just a comfort to small town midwest I’ve always loved.”

KC says he doesn’t need anything special to get ready for his performance, just smiling faces to play for and something cold in his hand.

“I hope everyone hears a line they resonate with. I hope they tell their friends they were surprised by something, I hope it inspires them to continue to support independent music and patron the record stores or grab a fresh vinyl they never saw coming,” he said.

Concessions for Music in the Park open at 6 p.m. and KC Cameron will take the stage at 6:30 p.m.