By BUTCH DILL / Special to the Reporter

Pelham native Adam Browder is living out his dream of playing guitar for country music star Kip Moore.

Browder was born and raised in Pelham and started playing piano at the age of 6, when he learned to read music. At the age of 11, he picked up his first guitar because “Girls thought it was cooler,” and thus began his journey.

Browder’s dream was to be like Mike Campbell, the guitar player for Tom Petty, and he practiced nonstop. Browder formed a band called Trillium, and at 15, he joined the praise band at Valleydale Baptist and Kingwood Christian, where he developed more skills to become a complete musician.

After high school, Browder moved to Florence to attend the University of North Alabama. It was during his college days that his career took on a new level, as he played at festivals and began to write songs. He always remembered something his mom told him: “If it’s to be it’s up to me.”

Browder began writing for Muscle Shoals Sound where he learned the good and the bad about the music industry. He credits Walt Aldridge and Gary Baker with mentoring him and pointing him in the right direction with his career. “They taught me the ropes of the business,” he said.

Browder remembers one of the highlights of his songwriting days at a workshop where he was introduced to Randy Owen of the group “Alabama.”

“I walked in shook his hand and he said ‘Let me hear the song you just finished.’ So I picked up a guitar and played the song,” Browder said. “I thought, ‘Wow, I’m playing for Randy Owen.”

After a few years of songwriting and playing with another band, “The Shoals,” Browder was introduced to Kip Moore. Moore is best known for his chart-topping hit “Somethin’ ‘bout a Truck.”

Browder moved to Nashville, and they have been touring and playing together for three years now.

Browder recently got a chance to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.

“It was an amazing experience and it was one time in life I felt like I was going to pass out I was so nervous,” he said.