Kashus Culpepper, a 28-year-old southern crooner from Alabama, has released his first full-length project 'Act I' and its follow-up 'Act I: Summer Nights,' earning high-profile endorsements from music icons including Elton John, John Mayer, and Samuel L. Jackson. John described Culpepper's sound as 'if Bill Withers made country music.'
From Navy Service to Musical Discovery
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Culpepper taught himself to play guitar while stationed in Roda, Spain, serving in the U.S. Navy. Far from his Alabama home, he began performing at bonfire parties for fellow servicemen and women. After his deployment ended, he returned to the U.S. and played cover songs in clubs and bars along Mississippi's Gulf Coast.
“By 2023, I felt like I had played every casino from New Orleans to Mobile and I was making pretty decent money,” Culpepper said in an interview. He performed covers of Ray LaMontagne, the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding, and Amy Winehouse, but eventually questioned his musical direction.
Finding His Own Sound
“I wondered if that was my ceiling, and if that was it. Is this all I’m going to do with my musical career?” he said. While working as a fireman and EMT in Alabama and playing bar gigs, he began writing original material. Growing up singing in church and influenced by a diverse range of artists, Culpepper aimed to replicate the soulful feel of Otis Redding and Willie Nelson in his own songs.
A cover of Tyler Childers' 'Messed Up Kid' posted on social media caught the attention of Nashville label Big Loud Records, home to Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Stephen Wilson Jr., and Lauren Alaina, leading to a record deal.
Debut Album and Critical Acclaim
Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama—a legendary studio for artists like the Allman Brothers, Aretha Franklin, and Wilson Pickett—'Act I' blends blues rock, rootsy country, and soulful hooks. The album includes tracks like 'Southern Man,' 'Broken Wing Bird' featuring Sierra Ferrell, and 'That’s the Feeling.' 'Act I: Summer Nights' features a cover of Glen Campbell's 'Southern Nights' and yacht-rock-infused songs like 'Let Me Show You Love.'
Culpepper has earned raves from Elton John, John Mayer, and Samuel L. Jackson. “It’s surreal,” Culpepper said of the praise. “I never thought I’d be on a phone call with Elton or get that kind of praise from John Mayer.” He described his goal for the debut as creating “a cinematic experience” with songs that best represent him as an artist.
Rising Career and Touring
After opening for Eric Church in February 2025, Culpepper is touring with Jelly Roll and Thomas Rhett this summer. He has also received his first nomination for the Americana Honours & Awards Emerging Act of the Year. Despite the accolades, Culpepper remains humble: “I don’t think about it too much because I don’t want to get too big-headed. But it’s cool to get those endorsements from people that you truly love and admire.”
Culpepper continues to connect with his Navy buddies who supported him from the start. “They still come to my shows and they still freak out,” he said with a smile. “But they gave me all the confidence when I was starting out.”
'Act I' and 'Act I: Summer Nights' are available on all streaming platforms.
