-Funding for this program is provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

For more than 45 years, and with the support of its generous donors, the ETV Endowment has supported programming that highlights South Carolina's rich culture and history and is proud to sponsor "Southern Songwriters with Patrick Davis."

-Columbia.

The heart of South Carolina.

History, outdoor adventure, and more.

You can make a travel plan at ExperienceColumbiaSC.com.

-Additional funding provided by... ...and these individuals.

[ Insects chirping ] -The South, mysterious and old, a muse to poets, storytellers, and songwriters, myself included.

There's a beauty in the music that runs through this land, through its rivers and mountains, through its people and towns -- like this one.

Columbia, South Carolina.

Columbia is a big city, but it's still got a small-town heart filled with history, stories, and its share of music.

My name is Patrick Davis.

I'm a singer and a songwriter.

I love traveling, I love storytelling, I love playing music with my friends, and I love the South.

Welcome to "Southern Songwriters" with me, Patrick Davis.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] It is so good to be here tonight in Columbia, South Carolina.

I am, uh -- I'm honored to be here at Allen University, and I am also honored to be here with my dear friends up here on stage tonight.

I would like for you all to please welcome my friend Mr. Drew Holcomb right here.

[ Cheers and applause ] My friend Mr. David Ryan Harris.

[ Cheers and applause ] And a legend down there.

Mr. Shawn Mullins.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪ I'm doing 72 in a 65 ♪ ♪ On I-24 in a four-wheel drive ♪ ♪ Got a 10 o'clock on 18th Avenue ♪ ♪ There's a 30% chance of rain all weekend ♪ ♪ The high today is gonna be 83 ♪ ♪ They're playing "Highway 20 Ride" on 102 ♪ ♪ Point five ♪ ♪ An 18-wheeler by my side ♪ ♪ Numbers all around ♪ ♪ Flying back, up, and down ♪ ♪ Some as slow as Christmas coming ♪ ♪ Some like the speed of sound ♪ ♪ And we all wonder what they mean ♪ ♪ The highs, the lows, the in-betweens ♪ ♪ But most of them mean absolutely nothing ♪ ♪ But some of them mean everything ♪ ♪ Well, I met her at 9:15 on my buddy's back porch ♪ ♪ Shooting bottle rockets on July 4th ♪ ♪ We were both 19, and she was a perfect 10 ♪ ♪ Yes, and three years later, 'neath a million stars ♪ ♪ In my F-150 on her granddad's farm ♪ ♪ Slipped a half-carat diamond ♪ ♪ On the third finger of her left hand ♪ ♪ And that's to be her one and only man ♪ ♪ Numbers all around ♪ ♪ Flying back, up, and down ♪ ♪ Some as slow as Christmas coming ♪ ♪ Some like the speed of sound ♪ ♪ And we all wonder what they mean ♪ ♪ The highs, the lows, the in-betweens ♪ ♪ But most of them mean absolutely nothing ♪ ♪ But some of them mean everything ♪ ♪ Yes, they do ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, John 3:16, the Fab Four ♪ ♪ The 50-yard line, the 13th floor ♪ ♪ Nine Eleven, the Dirty Dozen ♪ ♪ And we're all waitin' on the second comin' ♪ ♪ Numbers ♪ ♪♪ ♪ So many numbers ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And we all wonder what they mean ♪ ♪ The highs, the lows, the in-betweens ♪ ♪ But most of them mean absolutely nothing ♪ ♪ Yes, most of them mean absolutely nothing ♪ ♪ But some of them mean everything ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Everything ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ohh, numbers ♪ ♪ Numbers, numbers ♪ ♪ So many numb... ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm doing 72 in a 65 ♪ ♪ On I-24 in a four-wheel drive ♪ ♪ Got a 10 o'clock on 18th Avenue ♪ ♪ And there's a 30% chance of rain all week ♪ ♪ And the high today is gonna be 83 ♪ ♪ They're playing "Highway 20 Ride" on 102 ♪ ♪ Point five ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

-It's fun, man.

-Yeah.

Not so bad.

-You throw a good party.

-Yeah.

We were at Halls and eating a little bit before.

And somebody walked up to Drew and said, "Are you Drew Holcomb?!"

-That was me!

-Yeah.

He's here.

-[ Laughter ] -He came to the show.

-He came to the show.

He goes, "What are you doing in Columbia?!"

-That's amazing.

You skipped your dessert and you made it over here.

-Well done.

Well done.

-One of my favorite things about, uh -- about writing songs is that you -- As a songwriter, you write a song and you think you know what it's about, but then you don't get to be the decider of that once you put it out into the world.

And, uh, this is an old song, but right after it came out, my manager called me and he said, um, "Hey, got some fun but kind of weird news."

And to preface this, this song is about the one that got away.

It's kind of a heartbreak song about the one that got away from the youth, you know?

He said, "Dick's Sporting Goods wants to make a Christmas commercial out of it."

[ Laughter ] And I was like, "What?

That doesn't make any sense."

He said, "Well, it's -- I think you'll understand when you see what they're working on."

I said, "Alright.

Great."

"And they're gonna pay you some money to do it."

I was like, "Oh.

Even better."

At the time, my daughter was one years old -- one year old -- and, uh, they send me the first cut of the commercial, and it's this dad gives his daughter a basketball goal in their cul-de-sac for Christmas, and the snow's coming down.

And she's all excited.

She's, like, 7 or 8.

And then it sort of fast-forwards through the years of her playing with her dad, then playing with her friends, and then he's taking out the trash and she's playing with her boyfriend, and she's, like, 16.

And then the last scene has this line of the song "I wish I'd held her, I wish I'd held her longer."

And it's the dad standing with the mom in the driveway while the daughter drives away to college.

And I'm like, "Golly!

I gotta get a basketball goal!"

[ Laughter ] But I just love that about music.

You don't -- You don't get to be in charge as the writer or the -- or the artist about what a song means to somebody and where it hits them.

And, uh, you know, ever since I wrote this song, since that commercial -- That commercial changed how I think about the song.

And now I think about it a lot of times when I think about my daughter, who's now 11, growing up too fast.

But, um, that's not what the song was about in the first place, but, you know, that's the magic of it all, so... ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ She was a good companion ♪ ♪ Eyes like the Grand Canyon ♪ ♪ She was an American beauty ♪ ♪ She was a long goodbye ♪ ♪ She was the best alibi ♪ ♪ She was an American beauty ♪ ♪ With her Wayfarers on in the summer sun ♪ ♪ Her kiss felt like a loaded gun ♪ ♪ Wish I had held her longer ♪ ♪ I wish I had held her long ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ A gorgeous vagabond ♪ ♪ She was sweet, but she was strong ♪ ♪ She was an American beauty ♪ ♪ She was déjà vu ♪ ♪ She was a catch-22 ♪ ♪ She was an American beauty ♪ ♪ Her blue eyes shine in the summer sun ♪ ♪ Her touch felt like a loaded gun ♪ ♪ Wish I had held her longer ♪ ♪ I wish I had held her long ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm ♪ ♪ Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm ♪ ♪ Hmm-hmm ♪ ♪ Goodbye came like the morning sun ♪ ♪ She fired shots from a loaded gun ♪ ♪ Wish I had held her longer ♪ ♪ I wish I had held her long ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ She was a good companion ♪ ♪ Eyes like the Grand Canyon ♪ ♪ She was an American beauty ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Indistinct conversations ] -I wrote this song.

This song's called "Average Joe."

I'm like sort of a visual songwriter.

I like to, like, picture the curtains open and what's happening.

And you -- I want you to be able to picture the people that are in the song.

And, so, the guy in this song, he dated a person, and then he broke up with the person, and then he found out who the person is with now, and he came to the conclusion that the new person is, amongst other things, the most boring human being on the planet, which, for me, is worse than, like, being mean or, like, a jerk.

Like, you know, at least have some panache about it.

And so he's come to this conclusion, and all of his friends -- Because your friends are supposed to support you in those sorts of things.

They're like, "Yeah, that new guy is super basic and boring."

And they never point out to the narrator that he is, in fact, pretty basic and boring 'cause he's been hiding out in his ex-girlfriend's bushes, uh, on a fairly regular basis.

Uh, I know that sounds oddly specific.

[ Laughter ] Uh...

But, uh -- [ Chuckles ] I assure you, uh -- The song is called "Average Joe."

My name is David.

So it's clearly not about me.

But, uh, yeah.

So that's -- that's what's going on in this song.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I just don't get it ♪ ♪ What does she see in him?

♪ ♪ They're nothing like we were ♪ ♪ Damn, he's so small-town ♪ ♪ She's such a city girl ♪ ♪ I'm absolutely sure ♪ ♪ He's not the one for her ♪ ♪ But still he gets to kiss the queen ♪ ♪ While I'm down here on my own ♪ ♪ Sits next to her like her king ♪ ♪ I'm in the shadows ♪ ♪ He's bland, he's ordinary ♪ ♪ He's such a bore, but everybody knows ♪ ♪ When the curtains close ♪ ♪ He'll be kissing his queen ♪ ♪ I'll just walk home all alone ♪ ♪ 'Cause if he's her new everything ♪ ♪ That makes me the Average Joe ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I thought we were the real thing ♪ ♪ Just one wedding ring short ♪ ♪ Of a once-in-a-lifetime love ♪ ♪ But now that it's over ♪ ♪ I just don't understand ♪ ♪ How she thinks they compare to us ♪ ♪ He'll never be good enough ♪ ♪ But still he gets to kiss the queen ♪ ♪ While I'm down here on my own ♪ ♪ Sits next to her like her king ♪ ♪ I'm in the shadows ♪ ♪ He's bland, he's ordinary ♪ ♪ He's such bore, but everybody knows ♪ ♪ When the curtains close ♪ ♪ He'll be kissing his queen ♪ ♪ I'll just walk home all alone ♪ ♪ 'Cause if he's her new everything ♪ ♪ That makes me the Average Joe ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I'm a punch line ♪ ♪ I'm a story that everyone knows ♪ ♪ Of how even the invincible ♪ ♪ Can become an Average Joe ♪ ♪ No more kissing the queen ♪ ♪ I'll never sit on the throne ♪ ♪ Right next to her like her king ♪ ♪ I'm in the shadows ♪ ♪ He's bland, he's ordinary ♪ ♪ He's such bore, but everybody knows ♪ ♪ When the curtains cl-o-o-o-ose ♪ ♪ He'll be kissing his queen ♪ ♪ I'll just walk home all alone ♪ ♪ 'Cause if he's her new everything ♪ ♪ That makes me the Average Joe ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Love it.

Thank you.

♪♪ -Hey, Shawn.

-How you doing, buddy?

-I'm good, buddy.

I'm good.

Thank you for being here tonight, my brother.

-Man, I'm loving this.

This has been so much fun.

And, uh, I love everybody being here and just hanging out and enjoying it.

And, uh, man, someone told me you were a prepper.

Is that true?

Like, a prepper?

Like, hardcore?

-What does that even mean?

[ Laughter ] -Oh, I just wondered if that was true.

-A prepper?

-Like, if you were into it.

Like, you know, like, you know, landmines in your yard.

-I plan for the end of the world?

-Yeah.

-Man.

No.

I have a tough time planning tomorrow, like, you know, so... [ Laughter ] -Well, I kind of became one during COVID a little bit.

Uh, just the first part of it.

You know?

Like, when everything was scary at first.

Everything got really weird.

And the grocery stores and all that...

I, uh -- Yeah, yeah.

I dug a big hole in the backyard and, uh... put my wife in there and, uh... [ Laughter ] Then I got in there, too.

And, uh, anyway, uh...

This tune -- Now, this tune typically has a word in it, and I'm not gonna be able to use that word, okay?

We're on -- We're on television, and it's a family show.

But, uh, you'll know what the word is, I guess.

Just don't think about it.

And, uh...

But I'm not gonna say it.

And, uh... [ Guitar strumming ] My guitar is just out of tune enough.

I like it.

♪♪ ♪ Well, you can ♪ ♪ Read it in the paper ♪ ♪ Watch it on the news ♪ ♪ Everybody's got the pre-apocalyptic blues ♪ ♪ You better be ready ♪ ♪ When the ship goes down ♪ [ Laughter ] ♪ Well, you better head on down to Costco ♪ ♪ Get you a bucket full of rice and beans ♪ ♪ A year's supply of 2-ply for your composting latrine ♪ ♪ So you'll be ready ♪ ♪ When the ship goes down ♪ ♪ Now, don't hesitate, don't procrastinate ♪ ♪ Or you'll all be running scared ♪ ♪ There ain't no second chances for the bravery-impaired ♪ ♪ 'Cause you know there's a couple of commies ♪ ♪ Hidin' underneath your bed ♪ ♪ And the zombies gonna eat up all the brains in your head ♪ ♪ I got a Rambo knife with a compass on it ♪ ♪ And a ballistic bug-out bag ♪ ♪ I got a AK-47, 'bout a hundred extra mags ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be ready ♪ ♪ When the ship goes down ♪ Go on, David.

[ Guitar solo ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, COVID and corona ♪ ♪ It's a terrible disease ♪ ♪ You say you ain't worried ♪ ♪ And I say, "Honky, please" ♪ ♪ You better be ready ♪ ♪ When the ship goes down ♪ ♪ By my Jacuzzi, there's an Uzi and an RPG ♪ ♪ Got a Stinger missile mounted on my wife's SUV ♪ ♪ They won't get to me, no matter who they are ♪ ♪ I got land mines buried all over my yard ♪ ♪ 'Cause I read it in the papers, y'all ♪ ♪ I watched it on the news ♪ ♪ And now I got the cryptic pre-apocalyptic blues ♪ ♪ I'm gonna be ready ♪ ♪ When the ship goes down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Will you be ready ♪ ♪ When ♪ ♪ The ship g-o-o-o-oes ♪ ♪ D-o-o-o-own?

♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh-ooh ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

-So, what word was it?

-I'm a graduate of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, but I had no idea that Allen University, located in the heart of the capital city, is home to such a beautiful and significant venue.

So before the show, Allen's president, Dr. Ernest McNealey, was gracious enough to give me a tour and history lesson of Allen's Chappelle Auditorium.

When was this originally built?

-1922.

And the renovation happened when they had a dedication in '16.

You know, it's almost like a time warp.

They took the original tiles down from the ceiling and refurbished them.

And the acoustics are absolutely marvelous in the building.

-They are.

Chappelle has hosted speakers and performers like Dr. Martin Luther King, Brooke Benton, Langston Hughes, and even the one and only Muhammad Ali.

Chappelle is also actually named after comedian Dave Chappelle's great-grandfather, who played an important role in the history of Allen University.

-Chappelle's great-grandfather was a bishop of the church and the president of the university.

-Allen is one of South Carolina's eight historically black colleges and universities, and since its founding in 1870, it has continuously been an inspiring piece of Columbia's story.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Family, singing in the kitchen ♪ ♪ Family, running through the yard ♪ ♪ Family, going on vacation ♪ ♪ Family, on the credit card ♪ ♪ Family, all in this together ♪ ♪ Family, we're taking a chance ♪ ♪ Family, like birds of a feather ♪ ♪ Family, kick off your shoes and dance, hey!

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Family, on the way to the city ♪ ♪ Family, laughing in the rain ♪ ♪ Family, it ain't always pretty ♪ ♪ Family can drive you insane ♪ ♪ Family, got the keys to the kingdom ♪ ♪ Family, take it à la carte ♪ ♪ Family, all four seasons ♪ ♪ Family, well, bless your heart, hey!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ You don't choose 'em, you can't lose 'em ♪ ♪ We all have a song to sing ♪ ♪ Some are crazy, some are amazing ♪ ♪ All got a little bit of everything, hey!

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Alright.

So...

When I was about 10 years old.

It was about noon on Christmas Day.

And I had this uncle -- rest in peace -- who we hadn't seen in a long time, and he was about 6'5", 170 pounds.

Looked like a giraffe.

[ Laughter ] And about noon -- I hadn't seen him in 3 or 4 years.

He comes barreling down the driveway of our house in this old, beat-up car, cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

And then he pulls out this huge bag of Christmas presents.

Comes in like he's Santa Claus himself, you know?

And my siblings and I immediately forgot about the fact that we hadn't seen him in three years.

We open up these presents, and it's all these brand-new toys.

And we're like, you know, "What a great uncle," you know?

Well, then he goes back on the back porch to have another cigarette.

And what I didn't know was, at the time, that, uh, he owed my dad, his brother, about $10,000.

[ Laughter ] Which was a lot of money in 1990, you know?

So my dad goes -- -A lot of money now.

-It's a lot of money now, but it was a lot of money in the '90s.

You know?

You could get a whole car back then for 10 grand.

[ Laughter ] So, uh, my dad goes out there, and he goes, "What do you think you're doing showing up on Christmas Day?

You hadn't seen my kids in three years.

Buying them a bunch of Christmas presents."

Takes a drag on his cigarette and said, "I didn't buy your kids anything.

I stole all that stuff."

[ Laughter ] ♪♪ He had, uh, broken in to Toys"R"Us in Little Rock, Arkansas, the night before.

[ Laughter ] You can't choose 'em, you can't lose him, you know?

[ Laughter ] Alright, y'all, it's just one word.

I wanna hear you.

Come on.

One, two, three, four.

-♪ Family ♪ -What was that?

-♪ Family ♪ -Yeah, come on, now.

-♪ Family ♪ ♪ Family ♪ -Keep it goin'!

-♪ Family ♪ -♪ Sons and daughters ♪ -♪ Family ♪ -♪ Like a photograph ♪ -♪ Family ♪ -♪ Baptized in the water ♪ -♪ Family ♪ -♪ Put me on the map ♪ -♪ Family ♪ -♪ All in this together ♪ -♪ Family ♪ -♪ We're taking a chance ♪ -♪ Family ♪ -♪ Like birds of a feather ♪ ♪ Family, kick off your shoes and dance, hey!

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Hey!

♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

-Drew Holcomb!

-[ Cheers and applause ] -Love that.

-So, I am a, uh -- I'm a mama's boy.

So I wrote this song for her.

And because God is alive, she was able to open the mp3 and, uh, listen to it.

[ Laughter ] Uh, and she loved the song.

Whenever she was like -- She would come to the shows.

If I tried to sing the song, I'd have to, like, close my eyes and think about things that my mom did to piss me off, or else I would start crying.

And she would say, "So, will you sing that song at my funeral?"

And I was like, "You are a crazy person."

It's like, "No."

Well, as fate would have it, uh, in 2020, my mom passed away, and, uh, I had gotten a call from her -- her doctor, and he was like, "You should come home."

And so I, like, got on the first flight I could get out, and so I got to Atlanta.

And, you know, I'm the oldest son.

And I realize everybody's looking at me to, like, do all the stuff, and I'm like, "I don't know how to do any of this stuff.

Like, I don't know anything about any of this stuff."

Uh, the one thing that my mom did tell me she wanted me to do was to play this song.

And, uh, I'm telling a lot of -- a lot of the story because, um, Shawn is involved.

So, I got to Atlanta and I didn't have a guitar, and I needed to call somebody to get a guitar.

And Shawn brought me a guitar, and I've thanked you, but I just want to thank you again right here in person.

[ Cheers and applause ] So, um, feeling a little -- a little, um, vulnerable in this space, but I'm gonna play this song for my mom.

It's called "Still Be Loving You."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ She rocked me back and forth until I quit crying ♪ ♪ Then she looked into that baby face of mine ♪ ♪ And in an angel's voice, she sang this lullaby ♪ ♪ Until my slumber carried me into the night ♪ ♪ "I'm grateful for these moments with you, child ♪ ♪ I know God only let me borrow you a while ♪ ♪ And that one day soon you'll up and crawl away ♪ ♪ It's in your nature ♪ ♪ It's just how we are made ♪ ♪ And I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be ♪ ♪ Loving you" ♪ ♪ She wished for us a normal family life ♪ ♪ But the four of us became my brother, she, and I ♪ ♪ Times were hard for us, somehow we got by ♪ ♪ She was fearless through her tears and sacrifice ♪ ♪ I grew up much faster than she might have liked ♪ ♪ But when she knew that she had taught me wrong from right ♪ ♪ She said, "Go on, I know you need to move away ♪ ♪ 'Cause childhood is manhood slightly delayed ♪ ♪ And I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be ♪ ♪ Loving you ♪ ♪ So I left home to try and find my way ♪ ♪ Like a blind man feeling his way through a maze ♪ ♪ To love and lose, befriend, but dare not betray ♪ ♪ 'Cause the things she taught inform how I behave ♪ ♪ And in my darkest hours when I am afraid ♪ ♪ Or I'm not sure that I can make it in L.A. ♪ ♪ I remember the one promise that she made ♪ ♪ "If the whole world shuts you down, it'll be okay, David ♪ ♪ 'Cause I will still be loving you" ♪ ♪ I will still be loving you ♪ ♪ I will still be loving you, ohh-ohh-ohh ♪ ♪ I will still be ♪ ♪ Loving you ♪ ♪ So, now that I'm a man, I realize ♪ ♪ What a gift it's been to have you in my life ♪ ♪ Your spirit is young although your body is tired ♪ ♪ And soon, for good, you'll have to close your ♪ ♪ Ey-e-e-e-e-es ♪ ♪ With the years wrapped around your body like a weight ♪ ♪ Well, Mom, I guess that, too, is just how we are made ♪ ♪ So when the angels come to carry you away ♪ ♪ May they whisper in your ear my serenade ♪ ♪ I will ♪ ♪ Still ♪ ♪ Still ♪ ♪ Still be loving you ♪ ♪ I'll still be loving you ♪ ♪ I'll still be loving you ♪ ♪ I'll still be ♪ ♪ Loving ♪ ♪ Y-o-o-o-o-ou ♪ ♪ Loving ♪ ♪ Y-o-o-o-o-ou ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -[ Chuckles ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I've lost count of the times I've given up on you ♪ ♪ But you make such a beautiful wreck, you do ♪ ♪ Yeah, there's a tavern on the corner called The Milky Way ♪ ♪ And you look so at home there, it makes me afraid ♪ ♪ And at the dark end of this bar ♪ ♪ What a beautiful wreck you are ♪ ♪ When you go too far ♪ ♪ A beautiful wreck you are, baby ♪ ♪ Now, all the plans that you had from seven years ago ♪ ♪ Like all the promises you've made ♪ ♪ I've watched 'em come and go ♪ ♪ You put your keys in the car, but it would not drive ♪ ♪ With your hands on the wheel, lookin' barely alive ♪ ♪ Yeah, hey!

♪ ♪ I'm still sitting here waiting on the passenger's side ♪ ♪ For you to make up your mind ♪ ♪ For you to make up your mind ♪ ♪ At the dark end of this bar ♪ ♪ What a beautiful wreck you are, yeah ♪ ♪ When you go too far ♪ ♪ A beautiful wreck you are ♪ ♪ What a beautiful, such a beautiful ♪ ♪ Beautiful wreck you are ♪ ♪ What a beautiful, such a beautiful ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Wreck... ♪ -Columbia has always had a thriving music scene, but when it comes to local success stories, there's none bigger than my old friends Sone, Dean, Mark, and Darius -- or, as most of the world knows them, Hootie and the Blowfish.

Since their humble beginnings as a college band at the University of South Carolina, these boys have won Grammys, toured the world, and sold over 25 million albums.

And they're still going strong.

What was it like when you went from being a college band in Columbia, though, to becoming, like, one of the biggest, if not the biggest band in the world?

-It was shocking at first.

[ Laughs ] We were trying to take our club show to this giant stage.

We all have that memory of, like -- We decided to put a bar on the stage 'cause that was the closest thing we could get to what we do.

-Yeah.

-Yeah, but, like, nothing really changed in Columbia.

We still went to the same places when we were home and did the same things.

-While backstage, I ran into another old friend -- legendary South Carolina singer-songwriter Mr. Edwin McCain.

I asked Edwin when he first realized that Hootie had hit it big.

-I know the exact moment.

We used to have this little box truck we rode in.

And we were coming back on the ferry from Nantucket, and we tuned in a Boston radio station and heard "Hold my Hand."

I was like, "They did it.

They did it.

They're on the radio in Boston."

They broke it wide open for all of us.

-And when I think Columbia, South Carolina, music, I mean, there's -- there's -- got to think Hootie.

-[ Stammers ] There's no -- There's nothing -- There's no other thing to think.

Right?

-Hootie has paved the way for so many other dreamers, including myself.

So thanks, boys.

Keep on rockin'.

♪♪ ♪ Well, it's good to see you, my old friend ♪ ♪ I ain't seen your face since way back when ♪ ♪ You and I, we used to run this town ♪ ♪ We were young and dumb, on our way ♪ ♪ We drank all night, smoked all day ♪ ♪ Never let a little hangover slow us down, no ♪ ♪ And where does it go?

♪ ♪ When you ain't paying attention ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ When you swear you know that it's all right there ♪ ♪ That endless supply of milk and honey ♪ ♪ Time, love, Friday night money ♪ ♪ I wonder, yeah ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Well, remember that perfect ten I had?

♪ ♪ Cute as they come, she drove me mad ♪ ♪ We both knew that we'd always be together ♪ ♪ Well, last I heard, she was in L.A. ♪ ♪ A house on the beach, kid on the way ♪ ♪ I tell myself she left me for the weather ♪ ♪ But where does it go?

♪ ♪ When you ain't paying attention ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ When you swear you know that it's all right there ♪ ♪ That endless supply of milk and honey ♪ ♪ Time and love, Friday night money ♪ ♪ I wonder, yeah ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Yes, I do, yes, I do ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ It's been good to see you, my old friends ♪ ♪ I hope we don't wait this long again ♪ ♪ But we both know how years can slip away ♪ ♪ So here's to the future, here's to the past ♪ ♪ Here's to the tequila in David Ryan's glass ♪ ♪ Here's to you and me seeing another day ♪ ♪ And where does it go?

♪ ♪ When you ain't paying attention ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ When you swear you know that it's all right there ♪ ♪ That endless supply of milk and honey ♪ ♪ Time, love, Friday night money ♪ ♪ I wonder, yeah ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ That endless supply of milk and honey ♪ ♪ Time, love, Friday night money ♪ ♪ I wonder ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ You know I wonder, yeah ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Mm-hmm ♪ ♪ Ooh, I wonder ♪ ♪ Yes, I do ♪ ♪ Oh, that endless supply of milk and honey ♪ ♪ All that time, all that love ♪ ♪ And all of my Friday night money ♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ ♪ Where does it go?

♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you!

-Uh, you know who hasn't -- who hasn't been thanked tonight and introduced -- is you.

Y'all give it up for Patrick Davis, will ya?

[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

I will say this.

I really do appreciate that.

The guys that are up here for these shows, the girls and the guys, um, their schedules are absolutely insane because they're always touring and they're always on the road doing so many things.

And for these folks to show up here and do this, it means the world to me.

But I hope you guys realize just how special it is for Drew and David Ryan and for Shawn to show up and do this tonight.

So, please -- I thank you all for loving on me, but please give them all the love you can.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ The ones that make you feel alright ♪ ♪ The kind you want to stay up with all night ♪ ♪ You got to find your people ♪ ♪ The ones that make you feel whole ♪ ♪ That won't leave your side when you lose control ♪ ♪ The ones that don't let you lose your soul ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ The ones that get the joke ♪ ♪ Who understand what you're saying 'fore a word is spoke ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ That put the needle in the groove ♪ ♪ When you're together, you got nothing to prove ♪ ♪ When you're together, you got nothing to lose ♪ ♪ In a world full of strangers, you don't know who to trust ♪ ♪ All you see is danger, trying to find what you lost ♪ ♪ You can't go it alone, everybody needs help ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people then you'll find yourself ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ I forgot the words to my own song.

♪♪ [ Humming melody ] I need to get my phone out or something.

-Woman: "Call your bluff"!

-What'd you say?

-"Call your bluff"!

-Thank you very much.

From the audience.

♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ That'll call your bluff ♪ My people over there.

♪ Who'll ride along when the road is rough ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ The ones that you feel equal ♪ ♪ They pick you up and don't put you down ♪ ♪ Help you find your way in the lost-and-found ♪ ♪ In a world full of strangers, you don't know who to trust ♪ ♪ All you see is danger, trying to find what you lost ♪ ♪ You can't go it alone, everybody needs help ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people, then you'll find yourself ♪ ♪ The ones that understand you ♪ ♪ The ones that lend a hand to you ♪ ♪ The ones that don't demand anything from y-o-o-ou ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ The ones that make you feel alright ♪ ♪ That tell you the truth then wish you well ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people, then you'll find yourself ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people, then you'll find yourself ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people ♪ ♪ You gotta find your people... ♪ -If you're ever in Columbia on the weekend, then you should definitely check out the Soda City Market.

It happens every Saturday right on Main Street.

It has over 100 vendors with food, music, local goods, and then just steps away is the Columbia Museum of Art.

I stopped in to see the exhibit of African American Life in Columbia, which was filled with important stories, including the story of Sarah Mae Flemming.

Dr. Bobby Donaldson talked with me about Miss Flemming and how she paved the way for Rosa Parks and desegregation in transportation.

-And so this is 17 months before Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama.

20-year-old woman named Sarah Mae Flemming who challenged bus segregation in 1954.

So, '54 is also the Brown v. Board decision and Briggs v. Elliott.

And that ruling is what Sarah Mae Flemming's lawyers used in their challenge to segregation on buses.

So they argued that if the Supreme Court outlawed segregation in public schools, then we also believe that should apply in other venues, including transportation.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

And then I saw Thurgood Marshall was also a part of this.

-He was one of her attorneys.

Yes, indeed.

-Which is pretty incredible.

-So, Miss Flemming was not looking for history.

She was looking for work.

She was looking to go to work.

So, she was a 20-year-old student, young woman here in Columbia, who was not deeply involved in civil-rights activities or civil-rights organizations.

We still don't know her whole story.

So, for whatever reason that day, she sat in a seat which she knew was not reserved for Black passengers, but she sat there.

We also don't know what motivated her to tell what occurred on that bus.

We know from newspaper accounts there were many instances of brutality and violence against Black people.

But, that day, she reported it.

-So, I stopped at this photo over here because this was my, uh, teacher in college over here, Dr.

Sellers.

-So, Cleveland Sellers is from Denmark, South Carolina, who becomes a very noted civil-rights activist in the early to mid-'60s.

-Dr.

Sellers was, by far, my favorite professor in college, and I did my thesis with him.

Sarah Mae Flemming is one of Columbia's unsung heroes, but thanks to dedicated individuals like Dr. Donaldson and places like the Columbia Museum of Art, important figures like Sarah Mae Flemming are shared, remembered, and honored.

♪♪ -♪ They made their promises and then they walked away ♪ ♪ Fair-weathered friends, be gone, be gone ♪ ♪ My strength I find in you ♪ ♪ The one who loves and can't be moved ♪ ♪ In your arms, I found new goal to soldier on ♪ ♪ You are my prayer in times of trouble ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll be your answer when you call me ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll shelter you ♪ ♪ Shelter m-e-e-e-e ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Wake up and keep dreaming you were born to fly ♪ ♪ When your heart is heavy like a stone ♪ ♪ I'll lift your burdens high ♪ ♪ So we can cross the water deep and wide ♪ ♪ Lay beside me now and rest your weary bones ♪ ♪ You are my prayer in times of trouble ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll be your answer when you call me ♪ ♪ I'll shelter y-o-o-o-ou ♪ ♪ Show me how in action ♪ ♪ Speech louder than a ♪ ♪ W-o-o-o-o-ord ♪ ♪ You are my prayer in times of trouble ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll be your answer ♪ ♪ Your answer when you call me ♪ ♪ I'm gonna shelter you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You are my prayer in times of trouble ♪ ♪ Ooh-hoo, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ I'll be your answer when you call me ♪ ♪ I'll shelter you ♪ ♪ Shelter m-e-e-e-e-e ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, God.

-David Ryan Harris.

So, now, down here -- I just praised all these guys.

And I want to say that my -- I don't know -- 20-year-old self could not imagine sitting on the stage with this gentleman right here.

Um, he's been a legend not just around here, but all over, for a long, long time.

It's just incredible to think that you're here tonight, and I really appreciate you saying yes to this.

So, Shawn Mullins, I love you for doing this, man.

-Glad to be here.

-Thank you so much.

-Grateful.

Thank you, brother.

Thank y'all.

Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪ Well, she grew up with the children of the stars ♪ ♪ In the Hollywood hills and the boulevards ♪ ♪ Her parents threw big parties ♪ ♪ Your know everyone was there ♪ ♪ They hung out with folks like Dennis Hopper and Bob Seger ♪ ♪ And Sonny and Cher ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Oooh-ooh ♪ -♪ She feels safe now in this bar on Fairfax ♪ ♪ And from the stage, I can tell ♪ ♪ That she can't let go and she can't relax ♪ ♪ And just before she hangs her head to cry ♪ ♪ I sing to her a lullaby ♪ ♪ I sing everything's ♪ ♪ Gonna be alright ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ And everything's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪♪ ♪ She still lives with her mom outside the city ♪ ♪ Down that street about a half a mile ♪ ♪ And all her friends tell her that she's so pretty ♪ ♪ But she'd be a whole lot prettier, you know ♪ ♪ If she'd smile once in a while ♪ ♪ But you know ♪ ♪ Even her smile, it looks just like a frown ♪ ♪ And she's seen her share of devils in this angel town ♪ ♪ And everything's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Everything's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ So rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ Keep it goin'!

♪ Everything's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Ohh, rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Everything's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Rock-a-bye ♪ ♪ Say bye ♪ ♪ Bye ♪ Thank y'all.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Mr. Shawn Mullins, David Ryan Harris, Drew Holcomb.

Thank you, guys, so much.

Chappelle Auditorium.

Allen University.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Funding for this program is provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

For more than 45 years, and with the support of its generous donors, the ETV Endowment has supported programming that highlights South Carolina's rich culture and history and is proud to sponsor "Southern Songwriters with Patrick Davis."

-Columbia.

The heart of South Carolina.

History, outdoor adventure, and more.

You can make a travel plan at ExperienceColumbiaSC.com.

-Additional funding provided by... ...and these individuals.