Born in a Barn: From Macclenny to Hollywood: Dylan Gerard has ‘The Voice’

Rob Nicholson May 31, 2023 Local Musicians, Music, Music News, Musician Interviews

Words By Rob Nicholson

Macclenny’s own Dylan Gerard is “always trying to write his next favorite song.” Drawing on inspiration from artists like Otis Redding, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash, and bands including The Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd, creating a mix between country and rock and Americana. His first single, “Simple Things,” was very well received in Nashville and reached No. 37 on the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart. Gerard followed that song up with his newest single, released last month, “Young Again.”

It’s no surprise to people who know Gerard that he is a songwriter due to his family. Both of his parents were performers in their younger days. Also, growing up in Macclenny didn’t hurt when it came to enjoying country music.

If you like watching NBC’s “The Voice,” you may already be familiar with Gerard. The singer-songwriter appeared on Season 13 and says that he is thankful for the relationships he built while on the show, as well as the advice he received from both Kelly Clarkson and his coach, Adam Levine. He will always remember his blind audition on the show when his nerves were instantly calmed after two coaches turned their chairs. In addition to his time on “The Voice,” Dylan has many other memories that influenced and motivated his music career. One is singing to his sister while she was in a coma. He was moved by the healing power that music had in his sister’s medical recovery, and this incident propelled him to pursue his career in music.

Today, Dylan resides in Riverside and travels back and forth to Nashville working with his record label SSM Nashville. Dylan stopped by the Folio HQ to play live acoustic versions of “Simple and “Young Again” and debuted a brand new single, “Big World Smaller.” We also talked about how things are blowing up with his career and where his future is going. Learn more about Gerard at dylangerard.com

Watch the full interview with Dylan Gerard here.

About Rob Nicholson

Rob started his media career in the late 80’s working in the Press Office at the Georgia House of Representatives. From there, Rob segued in to Radio at The Voice of Georgia State University, WRAS Album 88.5 in Atlanta. In the early 90’s Rob was picked up by the Radio 2000 Group and became Program Director and later Vice President of Programming USA. In the late 90’s, while running 3 music-driven radio stations in Springfield, Missouri, Rob had the opportunity to put together and launch, Southwest Missouri’s Regional Periodical, 417 Magazine. A publication that is still in circulation today. After selling his interests in Radio 2000 in the early 2000’s, Rob returned to his hometown of Jacksonville Beach, Florida to be near family. For 10 years he worked with the Clear Channel Radio Stations: Planet Radio and KISS-FM. In 2010, Rob took a hiatus from radio and went in to concert promotion and event planning, while also running the now 30 year old Beaches Hospitality Network – the organization that is well known for bringing the Superbowl, 2004 to the beaches area. When presented with the opportunity to work with Folio Weekly Magazine, Rob said, “there was no way I could resist an opportunity to work with the local, independent news magazine in the city I’m from. I can’t wait to get to work every morning”. Rob currently resides in North Jax Beach with his brother, Rich and dog, Tonka.

september, 2023

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