Carol Chase, Lynyrd Skynyrd Backup Vocalist Is Ready to Sing Again

Carol Chase is a backup vocalist for Lynyrd Skynrd and has been a band member since 1996. In addition to touring with this legendary group, Carol is a singer-songwriter and also records her own material. 

I can’t remember a time when Lynyrd Skynyrd wasn’t one of my favorite bands. The first concert I attended was Charlie Daniel’s Volunteer Jam V in January of 1979. I remember hearing Lynyrd Skyrnd playing, then realized that it was after their horrific 1977 plane crash and obviously before reuniting with Johnny Van Zant in 1987. My memory didn’t fail me! After researching the issue, I discovered that the band’s surviving members performed “Free Bird” onstage with the Charlie Daniel’s band. What a historic occasion to witness. I wish I remembered more of the concert!

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In early December of 2020, I recorded a Southern Americana podcast episode with Rendy Lovelady, the Gulf Coast Jam producer. Like everyone in the entertainment industry, large concert venues closed because of the 2020 pandemic. I haven’t seen Lynyrd Skynyrd perform in years and can’t wait to see them as the main act on June 4, the opening night of Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Backup vocalists rarely receive their fair share of the performing credit, so I wanted to reach and interview one of North Dakota’s most famous natives, Carol Chase. We sat down on April 1 at one of my favorite venues, the original Puckett’s Grocery in Leiper’s Fork, TN, to record an episode. One reason our episode was so much fun is that Carol hadn’t been to Leiper’s Fork, and I love showing newcomers around the area.

Songwriter Carol Chase

Carol is one of the most genuine entertainers I’ve encountered. She’s incredibly talented and so down-to-earth. Like many single moms, Carol’s career path hasn’t always been easy. Although everyone obviously wants to talk about her touring life with Lynyrd Skynyrd (me included), I also wanted to focus on her songwriting and recording career. I bet you didn’t know that Carol penned a number one country hit while living in Los Angeles for Susie Allanson. Please don’t feel bad because neither did I.

Carol has written or co-written songs for artists such as Martina McBride, Ronnie Milsap, Pam Tillis, and Rickey Van Shelton. Like everyone else, Carol is looking forward to performing in front of live audiences and is soon get her chance as the band hits the road in late May. 

I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast as much as I enjoyed interviewing Carol. And like music fans everywhere, I can’t wait to see her and the rest of the band perform at the Gulf Coast Jam on Friday, June 4. 

By the way, her latest project, Back to the Well, is available on her website at carolchasemusic.com. I hope you give it a listen soon.