A coustic country musician Colin Hassell, 18, knows a thing or two about the power of music.
Hassell, a 2011 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, has used his musical talent in the most unlikely of ways during his high school career: to raise money for charity and to buy canned goods for his school’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. By playing gigs in local restaurants and through other fundraising means, Hassell has raised enough money to donate more than 45,000 food items over the course of his involvement with the food drive at CBA.
An aspiring engineer, Hassell has come up with a variety of ways to integrate his passions for music and charity. He started small, first showcasing his simple country melodies and bright Southern drawl with a solo cover of Luke Bryan’s hit song “Country Man” at a charity talent show back in his freshman year of high school.
“Many of my friends attended, probably to see if I could sing or not, but they were actually surprised that I could sing,” said Hassell, jokingly.
Although Hassell would continue to play at the talent show throughout his time at CBA, he took his project to the next level during the summer of his junior year when the then-17-year-old began to actively seek out local venues for live acoustic performances.
One place that was welcoming for the Aberdeen resident was the Brass Rail Grill in Matawan, where Hassell could be found playing every Wednesday or Thursday night throughout the summer. When the summer ended, Hassell took his project to new heights when he organized a charity show at the restaurant.
“Each year my school has a food drive, in which I was heavily involved,” Hassell said, “so I was pretty busy with collecting food items throughout the fall. From being involved with the SADD [Students Against Destructive Decisions] charity talent show at school, I learned early on how music can bring people together for a great cause. When I started to play at the Brass Rail, I thought that organizing a charity show would be a creative way to combine my two passions.”
Using the money he collected through the show and a variety of other fundraising methods, Hassell was able to collect personal and corporate donations totaling $5,470 to the tune of 16,180 items of food. Over his four years at CBA, Hassell has raised over $10,000 to purchase more than 45,000 food items.
Known to his friends as “Cowboy Colin” for his interest in horseback riding and country music, Hassell began riding at the age of 11 and soon began to ride competitively with the horse Kid Rock. So it was no surprise when he continued his interest in horses and riding by working at Baymar Farms in Marlboro during his summer breaks, a job that he said “has taught me a lot about real life and hard work.”
“What’s great about the farm is the community that surrounds it,” he said. “When I had one of my first shows at the Brass Rail, I remember how [Baymar Farms owners] Jim and Ellie Smith got all the families [associated with Baymar] to come out to see me. It was truly something special.”
Hassell said his parents, Andrea and Baldwin, are very supportive of his music, offering advice and attending his performances.
“Country is what I grew up listening to,” he said. “I remember when we went to Colorado for vacation and how my dad would always put on the country radio stations. Although I did not realize it then, this was the start of country music for me.”
Hassell prides himself on his unique style, which lends itself to a musical spectrum ranging from classics such as “Me and Julio” and “Folsom Prison Blues” to modern hits such as “Use Somebody” and “I’m Yours.”
“I listen to a lot of random music,” said Hassell in reference to his style. “My motto is if I find a song I enjoy and I am able to play it on guitar, I’ll perform it.”
His musical influences include the Zac Brown Band, James Taylor and Brad Paisley.
Despite his eclectic taste in music, Hassell’s true heart lies in country music.
“Country music is about life. There is always something in a country song that you can relate to. When an artist gets a song right, you can tell,” he said.
When it comes to songwriting, Hassell prefers to let the guitar lead. “I always view myself as a guitarist first, then a vocalist,” said Hassell, smiling as he holds his Taylor Guitar. “When I write songs, I try to let the guitar speak. Usually I’ll come up with a melody or a riff that I like and shape lyrics around it. This method takes a long time, and I often have random licks that never even get lyrics put to them, but when I do finish a song, I feel that it is so much more rewarding.”
He has written two original songs titled “Somewhere Other Than Here,” an intimate reminiscence of a man on the move, and “Changes,” a blithe social commentary. He also has written a multitude of his own acoustic melodies.
With a full summer of music ahead, Hassell is looking forward to the many musical projects ahead of him, especially reconnecting with fellow CBA graduates and faculty when he plays at the CBAFamily Barbecue on June 11.
Hassell plans to resume work on his “Song a Week” project in which he releases a weekly cover song on his YouTube channel. In addition to the CBA Family Barbecue, Hassell has scheduled a series of upcoming performances, including the Norwood Inn in Avon-by-the-Sea on June 15 and the Brass Rail Grill on July 9.
For more information about Hassell’s upcoming shows, visit his fan page at www.facebook.com/chAcousticMusic or contact him at [email protected].
In the fall, Hassell will be attending Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., where he is enrolled in a five-year, dual-degree program in engineering and management. Although things will undoubtedly change for Hassell, one thing is for sure: he will be taking his guitar with him.
Andrew Marlin is a 2011 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy. He was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Academy Torch. He will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.