Country star returns home

Most people work to establish a music career while they hold regular jobs but the journey as a rising country music star took a different path for Menifee County Native Brad Alford.

Born into a family that was musically inclined, Brad knew he wanted to follow his dream to become a country singer and songwriter.

Brads father, Jim Alford was a gifted guitar player and singer.

“My dad had a television show that aired in the evenings and was sponsored by Paul Miller Ford. My step-mom was June Rawlings and she had a show too that was called Town Talk and it aired in the mornings. I can remember how my parents would host parties and one night Festus from Gunsmoke was there and I was surprised to learn that he was a very talented singer and a super nice guy,” Brad said.

Although his grandfather and his brother could also pick a guitar neither of them wanted to pursue a career in music, but Brad said he has always known what he wanted to do with his life.

“I actually had a band when I was still in high school and the first gig we played was at the Owingsville Lions Club,” Brad said. “After I graduated from high school I new that I wanted to head to Nashville and become a country singer.”

Brads music career started to take shape after he started the band, Brad and the Saddletramp.

After he won first place in the Jim Beam National Talent Search contest in 1995, Brad gained national recognition and was featured in Billboard magazine and Country Music Weekly.

As Brad began to showcase his talent, it wasn’t long before the music industry began to take notice.

In 1996 Brad’s new CD “Some Things were Meant to Be” was released on Vision Records, produced by Exile singer/ guitarist J.P. Pennington. The release of the CD opened doors for Brad as a headliner for artists all over the United States.

Guests appearances on several television and radio shows helped propel Brads career even further along.

As a traveling musician Brad and his band would often run into other famous musicians.

“Several years ago we were the opening act for a famous country singer in Lexington. I remember I had gotten a pair of red, long-handled, underwear as a gag gift for Christmas and happened to be wearing them that night. I went out to the hallway of our hotel to get something to drink and my buddies decided it would be funny to lock me out,” Brad recalled. “Well, there I stood beating on the door when I saw this lady wearing a baseball cap pulled down over her eyes. I looked up when she said, “Howdy pardner, looks like you’re having a good time.” Low and behold the lady was none other than Miss Tanya Tucker,” Brad said with a laugh. “So we invited her in and she stayed and visited with us for a while.”

Brad has met and played music alongside several famous musicians including Gary Allen, Lynard Skynard, and Blake Shelton just to name a few.

With years of touring under his belt Brad decided to use his popularity and business knowledge to launch the Cadillac Ranch, a night club which featured national acts and high quality entertainment.

Cadillac Ranch quickly became one of the most popular and successful night clubs in the country.

Sometime around 2014 Brad suffered a mild heart attack and had to slow his music career down.

“I was on stage singing one night and I felt fine. After I finished my song, I stepped out back to get some fresh air and all of a sudden I wasnt feeling well,” Brad explained. “My wife rushed me to the hospital where they discovered I had had a mild heart attack. So, with that news I knew I needed to take life a little slower.”

Brad moved back to Kentucky with his wife and three kids and is currently working as a car salesman at Ducthes in Owingsville but continues to play music at local club in Mt. Sterling.