A Rich Journey for Tenino Musician

Editor’s Note: Tenino hometown boy Adam Craig is a successful country music star. He returns to Quarry City with concerts Friday and Saturday at the Tenino City Park. Craig spent some time with the The Chronicle  talking about his hometown, his career and what it takes to succeed.

Question: How did Tenino become your hometown?

Answer: I believe I'm the third or fourth generation of my family born and raised here in Tenino.

Q: What are your earliest memories of Tenino?

A: Earliest memories — riding four wheelers with my sister around the farm. 

Q: How has coming from a small rural town such as Tenino influenced you as a person and a performer?

A: The influence from a small town has been — I always earned what I got. When I moved to Nashville I didn't know anyone. I didn't have any shortcuts. I didn't have handouts. Every aspect along the way was fought for and earned. That's the same mentality I had in Tenino. Playing baseball and football we had to prove folks wrong all the time. The support of this town is unreal. We're all fighters. 

Q: Why are your Tenino shows called the Four Square Mile Festival?

A: Four Square Miles was a song that I wrote a few years ago about being from Tenino. My mom, sister and I went to an Oregon Trail Days concert and started kicking ideas around about how great it would be to start our own thing. Four Square was born. Now we are on our fourth year and thank God it keeps growing.  

Q: Why do you continue to return to Tenino?

A: I come back because I love this place, the people here, family, friends — everything about it. When I moved to Nashville back in ’04, eight days into moving there I was robbed. All my guitars and other possessions were stolen. So my hometown had a freaking fundraiser and sent me the money. What other town would do that? This town has a heartbeat. It's where I was born. It's where I'll die. 

Q: Your festival raises funds. Can you describe what Tenino charities you have supported, plan to support this year, and why?

A: The Adam Craig Foundation's mission is to support groups, organizations and leagues that have a positive impact on the lives of children. Since our first festival in 2012, we've donated over $20,000 back into the local community. We've bought iPad's and Neo2's for Parkside Elementary, donated $8,000 to the Tenino Quarry Pool Fund, bought 30 guitars for Tenino Elementary School's music program — now every fifth-grader will have the opportunity to learn to play the guitar during their twice weekly music class — we donated money to Tenino Middle School's Outdoor Education Camp at Cispus, we purchased marching band uniforms for the Tenino High School marching band, we donated money to Tenino Youth Football and paid the fee so that every kid that wanted to play could, regardless of their financial situation. We also donated to Tenino Youth Soccer to help purchase new equipment and scholarships for kids that couldn't otherwise afford to play. We have a few requests for this year including girls fastpitch and music equipment for the Tenino School District. 

Q: Any memories of swimming in the quarry pool?

A: Yeah. There's memories of the quarry. Most of them were sneaking to the top and jumping off though. Ha. Probably keep that between us.

 Q: Did you ever participate in the Tenino Oregon Trail Days parade? If so, please describe. Any other Trail Days festival activities that you took part in?

A: When my sister and I were kids we rode our quads in the parade. We had matching shirts. I remember how cool I felt riding down mainstreet. Rebel, rebel.  

Q: What would make for a dream weekend in southeast Thurston County?

A: My dream weekend is this weekend. Being home with my family. On the farm. Bonfires and my mom’s cowboy dinners. 

Q: What was your big break in the music industry?

A: My big break came as a songwriter back in ’09. I had a song that I wrote — ‘Church Pew or Bar Stool’ — in 2005 that just sat on a shelf. Luckily the song got pitched to Jason Aldean and it went on to sell 3 million records. Crazy that now Jason and I are label mates. 

Q: Tell us about your current tour.

A: Well I signed my record deal in July with Broken Bow Records so right now it's all about cutting a record. I actually sang all of Monday and Tuesday (last week) on it. Can't wait to get it finished up. We've done a few things with Miranda Lambert this summer and continue to look forward to festival season.

Q: What is the biggest crowd you have played for?

A: Probably singing on ESPN before a NASCAR race. Televised dates are always nerve racking. But live would have to be playing with my buddy Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan down in Panama City Beach. I believe there were 120,000 college kids. Crazy.

Q: Any keys to success you could share with budding musicians?

A: Keys to success. Hmmmm. I would say be nice. Be a good person. Work your ass off. And maybe the most important: Don't. Ever. Give. Up. I know how cliché it sounds that dreams come true. But they do. Be tunnel visioned and don't let anything steer you off course. A buddy of mine wrote a great motivational piece that simply said "does it make the boat go faster?” It's so easy to get caught up on things we want instead of need. If we let ourselves get weighed down the boat slows down. Lighten the load, stay focused, throw the distractions out of the boat and pin it.