Byron Adams was born and raised in a small town about 35 miles from Athens, GA. His earliest live music memories are of his grandfather singing and playing guitar in a front-yard picking circle. While the gospel and country melodies swirled in the air, and the pickers rocked on stumps, Adams, a young boy, played in the woods.

He didn’t begin his own musical endeavors until he was 14. His parents bought him a cheap electric guitar and a small practice amp. He was asked to join some high schoo...