Cody McCarver will perform tonight on the Chevy Stage as part of Faith and Family Night at Riverbend.If you go
* What: Cody McCarver* When: 5 p.m.* Where: Chevrolet Stage
Cody McCarver's message might have straightened up, but his delivery is still outlaw.
The man who spent 10 years in country band Confederate Railroad and later with outlaw country artists like David Allan Coe, Johnny Paycheck and Merle Haggard, has found religion and now performs as a Christian country artist.
He hasn't changed his sound, however, he says.
"I call it 'outlaw gospel.'"
He's even trademarked the phrase and started a record label called Outlaw Country Records. And he has a specific crowd in mind when it comes to who might like his music. Think camouflage clothing and TV shows about people who make duck calls.
"Musically it sounds outlaw, but lyrically it's all about faith and family," he says. "If you're a fan of what I call 'Duck Dynasty' Christianity, you'll like this music."
McCarver says he's been sober since finding religion three years ago and now, instead of playing in bars, he's playing in prisons and churches - even biker churches.
"I didn't know there was such a thing," he says. "It's music for redneck Christians, if there is such a thing you're talking to one of them, actually."
McCarver grew up and lives in Dunlap, Tenn. His father was put in prison for a murder he committed on his son's birthday (Aug. 14, 1968) then died after being locked up for 15 years.
After that, McCarver started playing music in bars and eventually ended up playing bass for Lynn Anderson, singer of the 1970 worldwide hit "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden."
He later spent 12 years touring with Confederate Railroad, traveling the world playing songs like "Queen of Memphis," "Trashy Women" and "She Took It Like a Man."
With the encouragement of Railroad frontman Danny Shirley, McCarver launched a solo music career and an acting career. He's starred in four films, including "Billy the Kid" and "Cole Younger and The Black Train."
He'll be filming a new movie, another Western, with Christian Slater in a few weeks, and he hopes to film part of a new video for a song called "No Such Thing as Miracles" in Chattanooga this month. He also has finished work on his new album, "#Hallelujah."
The big event in his life was stepping off the Confederate Railroad tour bus back in July 2013 and deciding he was not getting back on until "I figure this out."
"I got off and started going back to church and I gave my life to God and decided to do it his way. It's a whole lot more fun and enjoyable."
Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.