Meet Mike Ponder
We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Ponder and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Mike, what do you attribute your success to?
Mine is to stay Humble, have integrity, and always be gratefully to your god, family, fans and colleges.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others is the fact that I am a country music artist that is a disabled Veteran. I am blind in my right eye and clinically Deaf. My journey to Nashville was to go back to school and graduate in sound engineering and music production. That is a hard thing to do when you have to wear earring aids. I graduate in Dec 2023 from Joe West Apprenticeship Academy!
I grew up in the music industry. My mother and father traveled all over the us in the 70’s and 80’s performing! So to be around the big names artist was just like hanging out with fellow musicians. At 18 I joined the Military and was only able to play music on weekends or when I had time off. In 2009 I was officially retired due to injuries sustained while on active duty. For the next 6 years I was a police office in Maine where I also played music on the weekends and had a very successful group called Steel Rail Express. In 2011 I moved back to Parris island where I started my on Sre Jams LLC which was a company that provides music lessons to active duty marines and sailors on MCAS beaufort Airstation and MCRD Parris Island South Carolina. I also was a full time Artist and was able to employ a staff of 9 people full time for over 7 years.
It was not EASY! I was dealing with Major Depression, PTSD from my military injuries and also the fact of being blind in one eye and deaf!
In 2020 I suffered a small stroke and had severe Covid!
At the end of 2020 I enrolled at Zac Brown’s Camp southern ground Warrior wellbeing program and it changed my life! It taught me my personnel strengths and that I could beat my disabilities.
The lessons that I have learned along the way is to never give up! Stay Humble and grateful for everyday!
What I want the world to know about my brand is to,
Do Good, Feel Good and repeat!
Now I am a independent Artist and the Director for Wish for our heroes Nashville Chapter
www. wishforourheroes.org
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Nashville has so much to choose from!
We would start out at The Grand Ole Opry for a night of music and entertainment. The next day we would have Breakfast at Cracker Barrel in music valley then head over to Opry mills mall for a morning of shopping! The we would go visit the Opry land hotel.
After that I would take the downtown
We would start out at the Ryman auditorium for a tour. Then I would take them to the country music museum!
We would finish out the night having dinner on Broadway and listen to so great music!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family for all their support
Operation Encore Veteran’s music project
Zac Brown’s camp Southern ground Veteran’s program
Joe West’s Apprenticeship Academy
Dave Fowler and Kent Wells for showing me the ropes in Nashville Tennessee
and all the fans for there love and support!
Website: www.mikepondermusic.com
Instagram: Mikepondermusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.ponder.94?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Youtube: https://youtu.be/2HO2D8UWq-s?si=1V_brV_vqGNFBNVR
Image Credits
Mark Allee Alleevisuals
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