Steel Rail Express
Music For Our Ears

story by KATE PARDEE     photos by CHARLOTTE BERKELEY-STANGE

     The best way to learn about the music scene in Beaufort is from someone who has been living it for over 40 years. That someone is Mike Ponder. Beaufort Lifestyle had the ideal opportunity recently to sit down with him and receive a firsthand education – from his earliest introduction to music to his current band Steel Rail Express gigs in town.

Mike was born in rural, mountainous Hot Springs, NC. With his home located right next to the Appalachian Trail, Mike fondly remembers boyhood days of swimming in the river, fishing, and hunting. More telling though for Mike’s future music story, however, is how he began his inspiring education and journey into the world of music introduced to him by his parents.

Mike’s mother, Jan Ponder, and father Wayne Ponder were both talented musicians. They started a band called JL and the Country Squires, which become well-known for its hit song “Living in the Present and Loving in the Past.” Mike’s parents sang back-up harmonies while touring with vocalist Lavonne English, and band members Roger Sigmon and Calvin Philbeck. Mike recalls an early childhood memory when, at age six, he was “sitting on the house stoop listening to them practice and getting into trouble noisily trying to imitate their play.” The music switch had turned on.

Mike first began playing the drums. Soon Roger and Calvin were patiently teaching him his first guitar chords while his parents trained him in the art of musical harmonies. Soon he was touring with the family band weekends and after school, playing churches and festivals. Mike felt a natural ability with this new comfortable role in music and, more importantly, with the close connection playing with his family on the road.

As the years progressed, Mike was still playing with the family band, JL, and the Country Squires. When he turned, 18 decided to enlist in the Marine Reserves. He moved to Beaufort for base camp in 1991, and then after attending Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC transferred to the Navy to become a paramedic and Corpsman. He was part of the FMF Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force), but in the service, their familiar name was “Docs.” Mike enjoyed this supportive and active role with overseas stints in Italy and Panama and was recognized for his service by being awarded two Presidential Medals. He always had music in his life, but now was able to play along with his fellow talented servicemen. Soon Mike married and had his two boys, Jarrod and Jeremiah, both born at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. During this particular time in 2001, he remembered his early beginnings fondly in music “and thought perhaps one of his children might be that next little boy on the stoop.” So began the inception and branding of his original band Steel Rail Express.

Mike actively pursued this quest while enlisting a lot of Beaufort’s local musicians for support. He explained, “That it was always tugging at my heart to start the musical group Steel Rail Express.” Its genre would include old Country music, Top 40 beach and Funk, Motown, and even a little Allman Brothers. “Everything but Heavy Metal and always family-oriented,” he explained. He began playing the Beaufort Water Festival while still on active duty and played five nights a week from Bluffton to downtown. Mike then retired from the Navy in 2006 as a Naval Petty Officer and moved to Liberty, Maine, with his family.

In Maine, Mike attended the State Police Academy and went on to serve in the Police Reserves. There he revived his band Steel Rail Express and again began working with local musicians. He continued to flourish and garnered a considerable following. In 2010 Mike became the Maine finalist in the national Colgate Country Showdown and was invited to play in the finals in St. Louis. Although Mike did not win, he now could put his name beside and in the same talent pool as the famous musical performers Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley, who both went on to win the Showdown individually. This Colgate Country Showdown honor solidified the reputation of Steel Rail Express.

When Mike’s marriage ended in 2011, he decided to move back to Beaufort and continue his musical career with his band. With committed performances at the Beaufort Water Festival, where he would open for Josh Turner, he only had to decide how many band members he would need and for what venue they would play. His son Jarrod lived with Mike, and assisted the band technically, while Jeremiah remained in Maine, hoping to pursue music in college. Mike was content to see that his sons might be following in his footsteps, as Steel Rail Express played on to great success. The band was recognized publicly for their talent and musical artistry by being voted “Best Beaufort Band” by local publications such as Island News and Eat, Stay, Play Beaufort.

Mike then shared something essential to him, both as a musician and a resident. “Beaufort has a huge musical nightlife.” He feels that this identity is not getting out enough, and it is so important for people to know, especially the families of the young Marines and others visiting here. “There are five places that provide music on Bay Street on various evenings, and some have live music six nights a week.” The music culture in Beaufort is a close-knit one with many musicians playing alongside one another, and finding ways to support each other even on their off nights by attending each other’s shows. In Beaufort, there is no lack of musical talent for both the residents and visitors to enjoy, and Mike firmly believes this should be a huge draw to bring people into the community.

We asked Mike what famous musician would be his fantasy to accompany and play with him in Beaufort. Mike pauses for a moment before he answers and says, “I have just one important request to add before I answer that.” “I would like my fellow and local musicians to join me, such as Chris Jones and Sweet Grass Angels, to name just two so they could play along with us.” Oh, and that that person would be Vince Gill.” After recently attending a concert of Gil’s at the Charleston Coliseum, Mike respectfully conveys, “He is so down to earth, and ever since I went to college at the UNC Greensboro campus, he has been a big role model for me.”

Mike resides in Ladys Island, where he raises his son Jeremiah as a single father and makes time for some other interests besides music. He proudly told me that he gives time to Beaufort Charities, is active in the Beaufort Baptist Church, loves putting on concerts for kindergartners and introduces them to the magic of music, and he also holds a black belt in karate.

Mike’s music motto, often used in a positive way for Steel Rail Express: “Do Good, Feel Good, Repeat.” These words are beautifully designed and printed on his van. From his talented music to his service in the Marines and Navy, all while giving back to the community, these are words that Mike Ponder truly lives by.