Craig Strickland is a famous name in country music best known for his involvement with the band, Backroad Anthem. Strickland used to be a frontman for this famous country band. He later went missing during a storm when he along with his friend Chase Morland went on a duck hunting trip.
The lead singer for the band was married to a one-time Miss Arkansas as used to be a very popular man in his community. He definitely had the talent to go along with his personality. Continue reading to know more about his life and the tragic end.
Caption: Craig Strickland of Backroad Anthem entertains the fans late into the night in Arkansas on June 7, 2013.
Source: time.com
Craig Strickland: Early Life and Education
Craig Strickland was born on the 29th of July, in 1989. Strickland began singing at a very early age and was undoubtedly gifted at it. Later, he moved to Toronto with his family when he was only 3.
Caption: Craig with his dog.
Source: variety.com
During his schooling years, Craig was famous for his amazing musical talents. He used to team up with friends at his school and they had their own cover band. In 2007, Strickland formed a new band and named it ‘We are the Take’. He began the band with his friend Erik Alcock and together they were able to record an album with a Grammy-winning producer David Bottrill. However, the band split up in 2010 and the album never took off. As a result, Craig had to settle as a solo artist.
Craig Strickland: Career
A solo career was never going to be a setback for someone with the abilities of Craig. He had a very successful career and was singing with some of the biggest names in the industry. Most of his musical works were featured on campaigns all over the world for Brands like McDonald’s, Muller Yogurt, etc. Craig has also been able to mark his appearance in movies and TV shows like the blockbuster hit Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Lost Girl, Being Erica, etc. Strickland was a man with all the talent in the world and he could have started his own one-man band. He could play the piano, guitar, and the bass trumpet.
In 2012, Craig had a new beginning as he formed the band Backroad Anthem. They started the band in a local church in Arkansas. He was joined by members Toby Freeman, Eric Dysart, Brandon Robold, Josh Bryant, and Issac Senty. The group was able to release their first extended play ‘Small Town Fame’ in 2013. The EP made on the list of iTunes Top Country Music chart in #24.
Craig Strickland: Personal Life and Death
Craig was in a relationship with the beautiful former Miss Arkansas USA, Helen Wisner. They got married in 2014 and the ceremony was a magical one in a presence of their close friends and family. For their honeymoon, they went to Cancun, Mexico. The couple were together for a year and living in Fayetteville before tragedy struck.
The death of the amazing country singer was extremely shocking to the family, friends, and fans. Craig went missing after he went hunting with his friend Chase Morland on the 27th of December in 2015. What’s more disturbing about this whole case is the fact that Morland had tweeted a scenario if he did not make it from the hunt. Strange how things work sometimes.
In case we don't come back, @BackroadCRAIG and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma. 😅 #IntoTheStorm
— Chase Morland (@ChaseMorland) December 27, 2015
After being missing for a few days, a search team began looking for him. They found both Craig and Morland’s bodies on January 4, dead. They were in their hunting uniforms when the search & rescue team found them. By the look of things, Strickland and his friend died from hypothermia.
