Passion for music takes local musician to the Grammys

Ted Pewitt’s passion for music is woven into the fabric of his life. Both of his older brothers are musicians, and there was always a guitar around when he was growing up.

The Mountain Brook native began playing guitar as a teenager, but it wasn’t until he was pushing 40 that he seriously took up the bass guitar.

“The minute I picked it up, I fell in love with it. I play every day, rain or shine,” he said. His love of music eclipsed any other interest in his life.

Pewitt has played with a couple guitar duos and played at church for a while, but when he switched to playing bass, the “band” idea started getting serious. He teamed up with guys he’d known all his life and formed The Love Handles. The group had a blast playing neighborhood gigs.

Later he formed a blues trio with Lanford McCaulley and John Mark Dorough that they called Spoonful.

“We liked the idea of an old school power trio like Band of Gypsys, ZZ Top, and Cream,” Pewitt said. They perform every weekend playing Clapton, Allman Brothers, Santana, Robert Cray and other power groups. “We call it music from the Crossroads.” Pewitt also writes original songs, but he has yet to perform them because he said they don’t fit his band’s genre.

He got a rare chance under the big lights a few years ago when his music teacher and dear friend Oteil Burbridge, who has been the bassist for the Allman Brothers Band for the last 17 years, allowed Pewitt to play bass on “One Way Out” before 10,000 people at the Wanee Music Festival.

 “Considering I’m just a bar band kind of guy, finding myself on stage with the Allman Brothers in front of 10,000 people was a bit of a shock... How many people can say they have played with their most favorite band in the world?” After this performance, he became a part of the Allman family.

Fast forward to this year: The Allman Brothers Band was presented with a Life Time Achievement Award at the 2012 Grammy Awards in February. Being an “Allman Cousin,” Pewitt found himself invited to go with them to the Grammys.

Pewitt said it was really special to spend time with Duane Allman’s daughter, Berry Oakley’s widow and the rest of the Allman Brothers family. “At one point my wife and I found ourselves in a conversation with Glenn Campbell and Weird Al Yankovic. That was surreal.”

 “I was literally in a buffet line with Tony Bennett, Booker T. Jones and the parents of Amy Weinhouse’s and shared a table with Jerry Douglas and Deana Carter. Sadly, Whitney Houston passed away just a couple of blocks away while we were there.”

Still, Pewitt’s favorite part of the experience was not all the celebrities. His dear friend Oteil was the recipient of two Grammys that night. “He’s worked so hard for so many years. It was beautiful to see him recognized as one of the best in the world at following his heart. Nothing tops that,” said Pewitt.

Even though he is 45 years old, his wife of 21 years, Catherine still lets him live out his rock ‘n roll fantasy, he said. “We have three children who all have a deep appreciation for the arts. I try to teach them that there is artistic expression in everything they do and to not miss the opportunity to share your muse with the world,” he said.

 By day, Pewitt is a Certified Financial Planner and Portfolio Manager with Anderson Pewitt & Assoc.