CAMERON HARTLINE – MY FIRST CAR WILL BE A TOUR BUS

BY VICTORIA STEWART; PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK COOPER

I first met Cameron when he came to The Ghetto Palace to play at one of the jams. It was April of 2014, just a couple of months before his 11th birthday. When he hit the first few notes on his electric guitar, none of the guests that evening were prepared for Cameron’s demonstration of skill. Everyone stopped in their tracks to admire Cameron’s talent, a caliber of its own. Scott Fryer, drummer for the local band Barbed Wire Creek (BWC), commented on Cameron: “Cameron is one of those natural-born talents where playing music comes easy. He has a very good ear, exceptional ability that he continues to develop, and an excellent attitude towards himself and others. You can see when he plays, although in deep concentration, he truly loves playing music. He shows a lot of maturity at such a young age. His first time playing live with a band was with my band. We covered “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, which opens with a recognizable guitar riff. He nailed it like he had been playing it for 20 years! There are many kids who ‘play an instrument,’ but Cameron is already commanding his.”

In 2005, Cameron’s parents, Alicia and Waymon Hartline, relocated to Panama City Beach from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where Cameron was born. Cameron was only 18 months old at the time of the move.

His parents gave Cameron his first guitar when he was 3 years old but they remember that he didn’t really know what to do with it. A year later Waymon received a Stevie Ray Vaughn video as a birthday gift from Alicia. Little Cameron was mesmerized as he heard and watched Stevie Ray Vaughn on the screen. The 4 year old boy was completely engrossed. Alicia remembers, “We knew Cameron was gifted early on and we have always been supportive of him.”

In the early days, Cameron’s father played in bands in North Georgia and Tennessee. Once he stopped playing in bands, he sat his drums up in Cameron’s room and began to teach his son to play at the wee age of 2 years old.

Cameron took formal lessons at Beach Music when he was 7 years old. The instructor told him that by knowing the basics he could teach himself the rest. “Since then, I have been teaching myself,” says Cameron.

His favorite style of music is Classic Rock and Roll, he says. He has plenty of stage experience as he is the lead guitarist with the Surfside Middle School’s rock band, The Hammerhead Band. They perform every two or three months for the school.

Cameron writes his own songs and he says that he has written five songs but still needs to add lyrics to them.

PC Living: When was the first time you played in front of a crowd?

Cameron: I was 8 years old, I played at an open mic night out at the beach. I played “Thunderstruck” and “Back in Black.”

PCL: What is your favorite song to play and why?

C: My favorite song to play is “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. I like to play it because it is a challenging song and has a nice tempo to it.

PCL: What do you want to do with your talent when you graduate high school and college?

C: I want to go to college for music and make a career out of it. I am interested in the business of music and learning more techniques.

PCL: Do you practice every day?

C: I usually practice every day on guitar and drums for about three hours.

PCL: Did you build your foot pedals?

C: I bought this SKV pedal board, but it was too big. My dad and I built a smaller one that is easier to take places.

PCL: Who is your favorite band?

C: My favorite bands are Metallica and AC/DC.

PCL: Is there anything you would like to add?

C: Yes, the best open mic night is at The Ghetto Palace.

One of the first times I saw Cameron play he was wearing an airbrushed shirt that read “My First Car Will Be A Tour Bus”! I, for one, believe it is going to happen!

 

[author image=”https://www.panamacityliving.com/media/2014/07/Victoria-Stewart-e1404931430894.jpg” ]Victoria has lived in Panama City for the past 40 years. She has worked as a Government Contractor for most of her working life. She is an avid fitness enthusiast and runner. Raised in a family who was immersed in music, she plays guitar and is a founding member of Music Matters. Together with husband Crook Stewart III, they host a monthly music jam at their home where musicians come to network. The venue is known as the “The Ghetto Palace” and has become a Music Mecca where local talent comes to play. Following the success of The Ghetto Palace, Victoria and Crook founded “Music Matters” an initiative that brings life and music to downtown Panama City.[/author]