H8 Sunday, July 24, 2016 |
com
Real Good Man
Massillon native Shawn Fichter plays drums during a performance with Tim McGraw.
By Dan Kane
McGraws drummer a Massillon native
Repository entertainment editor
Shawn Fichter attended
many a raucous Massillon-
McKinley football games
at what was then Fawcett
Stadium while growing up
in Massillon.
On Aug. 5, Fichter will
return to what is now Tom
Benson Hall of Fame Sta-
dium, but this time he wont
be sitting in the stands.
Fichter is the drummer
for country superstar Tim
McGraw, who is headlin-
ing that nights Concert
for Legends as part of the
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Enshrinement Festival.
Being a big football fan,
its really cool to get that
gig, and it will be great
to see a lot of friends and
family there, Fichter said
recently, calling from his
Nashville home.
I took my kids to the (Pro
Football) Hall of Fame about
five years ago, he said. I
went to a bunch of the (HOF
festival) parades as a kid. I
remember the football play-
ers going by.
A member of McGraws
touring band since 2012,
Fichter offered a preview of
the upcoming Canton show.
Tims definitely high
energy, he said. Hes
really connected to the
crowd and he loves to, at
Tackle this cool treat during a break
from the Hall of Fame Festivities!
The Repository | CantonRep.
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME ENSHRINEMENT FESTIVAL
Shawn Fichter will perform with the country music superstar in Canton on Aug. 5
Tim McGraw performs in 2015, in Austin, Texas, with Shawn Fichter at the drum kit behind him.
times, get out there in the
crowd. He plays a lot of
his hits from years ago and
we do a few brand-new
songs and more recent hits.
Theres not much down
time, not much stopping.
He keeps it moving.
Among the biggest songs
in the shows are Live Like
You Were Dying.
From his vantage point on
the drum riser, Fichter said,
I can see the crowd well.
Our Own Hall of Famer
TURTLE
SUNDAE
330-454-6611
3200 W. Tuscarawas St.
www.heggynutshop.com
I can see Tim and whats
going on with him and the
other guys in the band.
Its great being in front of
people with a lot of energy.
That makes it fun.
Previously in Northeast
Ohio, Fichter played with
McGraw at Blossom Music
Center and, in 2012, at what
was then Cleveland Browns
Stadium.
Asked what it is like to
work for the 49-year-old
(Hot
Fudge,
Caramel
& Pecan)
Canton, OH 44708
6406930724
McGraw, Fichter said,
Tim is really great. He fan, he said. Ive met a
really respects everyone
and just treats us really
good. He and Faith (Hill,
McGraws wife) are both
really good family people,
very down-to-earth.
McGraws Pro Football
Hall of Fame Enshrinement
Festival concert coincides rock and country bands. In
with the enshrinement of his 1991, a songwriter friend of Reach Dan at 330-580-8306
close friend, Green Bay Pack-
ers quarterback Brett Favre,
ITS
!
O D
GO
For The Environment &
Your Wallet!
Recycle!
Best Prices Cash Payment
Container Service
www.pscmetals.com
AP PHOTOS JACK PLUNKETT
along and see what it was
like, he recalled. I was
looking to move somewhere
for music, and I ended up
liking it.
In addition to touring in
McGraws band, Fichter
also has toured with Peter
Frampton and Trisha Year-
wood, and done extensive
studio work in Nashville.
Fichter lives in Nashville
with his wife of 20 years,
Roberta, herself a former
TIM MCGRAW Massillonian. They have
two sons, Dylan, 14, and
Michael, 12.
ALBUM: Tim McGraw and Asked if the boys have
the Dancehall Doctors seen their dad in concert,
SONG: Real Good Man Fichter said, Weve played
the Nashville stadium and
Nashville arena a few times
into the Hall. I just met Brett
and theyve been to those
about two months ago for the shows. Theyre also coming
first time, Fichter said. Heto Canton to see that show,
stopped at one of the shows. too, and see all their cousins
Its pretty thrilling to get to
and family.
to talk to him. While playing the coun-
Tim is a great athlete trys largest venues to big
himself and a big sports crowds is certainly excit-
ing, it also must be draining
few different football and sometimes.
baseball players through the Some days that happens.
years through him. Youre jet-lagged or tired
A 1988 Washington High from the traveling, Fichter
School graduate, Fichter said. But when the people
played in the symphonic and are so into it, you naturally
jazz bands at school while get ready to go out and do
playing weekend gigs with it.
his was moving to Nashville or dan.kane@cantonrep.com
and I decided I would tag On Twitter: @dkaneREP
We Are
A One Stop,
Full Service
Scrap Metal
Company
Aluminum Cans
Scrap Iron
Steel
Autos
Appliances
Non-Ferrous Metals
3101 Varley Ave. SW
Canton
330-484-7610
Mon. - Fri. 7-3, Sat. 7-11
6406960724