Brian ArmasThe search for Backroad Anthem lead singer Craig Strickland continues, after the front man of the up-and-coming band disappeared Sunday while duck hunting during a winter storm in Oklahoma. On Monday, state troopers recovered the body of his friend Chase Morland, while his wife, former Miss Arkansas Helen Strickland confirmed his boat had been discovered capsized and his dog had been found.

On Tuesday, friends and family planned to gather to pray for his safety. Earlier this year, Craig told ABC Radio how the six members of the band came together through their church.

“We’re from Arkansas and we started, what was it 2012? I guess. Three years ago. We actually all met at a church. We were all leading worship there and stuff,” he recalled. “We just kinda met and we were like, ‘Let’s start a band and make some money on the weekends.’ And then it just blew up and we started singing to girls in colleges. And when you walk up to a sorority house with guitars and smiling, they’re like ‘Hey yeah, ya’ll can come in and play for us!’ 

Backroad Anthem’s career began to take off after they caught the eye of Justin Moore’s manager. “How many songs did we play that show? It was a show in Little Rock and I think we were playing in front of like, seven thousand people. And it was like in Little Rock and it was crazy,” Craig recalled. “I think it was only five songs. We get done playing, and the last song — we have so much energy in our live shows, we try to. We get done and the crowd’s screaming and we’re walking off and somebody grabs my arm and it’s Justin’s manager.”

Since then, the band has gone on to open for fellow Arkansas native Joe Nichols, as well as Eric Paslay. Their debut EP Torn was released digitally last fall. You can download the five-song project via all the usual outlets.

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