By Maggie Blackwell

For the Salisbury Post

Rockie Lynne grew up in a strict, fundamentalist Baptist church. There was no music in his home and no TV, until much later.

When he was young, he went to a church yard sale with his mom and pleaded for the used phonograph bundled with two LPs. She sprung for the 75 cents, and he proudly carried his purchase home. The LPs featured Kiss and Jimi Hendrix.

“I listened to them over and over in my closet. I knew if my dad heard them, he would take them away,” Lynne recalled

In the seventh grade, he mowed yards and saved money for a JC Penney guitar. The next summer, it was an amplifier. He listened to his records and worked out how to play his guitar.

Now, he’s played at the Grand Old Opry and had his songs aired on national TV.

He’s touring 10 states this summer, playing as well as recognizing families who have lost service members. His nonprofit organization, Tribute to the Troops, provides college scholarships to the children of fallen soldiers. It has sent 58 kids to college so far, and he’s pretty happy about that.

Lynne will headline the Salisbury Symphony’s “Bury Home Companion” on Saturday.

“I make a set list for every concert, but my band refers to it as the ‘list of lies,’” he laughs. “One member of the band said, ‘Well, this is a list of what we are not going to play.’”

Lynne said when he used to travel with other musicians, the headliner would often stay in the bus until the performance.

“I’m the polar opposite. I like to stand at the door and greet people as they come in. I’m so thankful they’d come out to see me, and if I can get a flavor from them, it will drive what we play.”

Lynne served in the Army just after high school.

“I’d love to say I served for patriotic reasons. That’s not really the story” he said. “I became more patriotic as I got older. My parents had a third- and fifth-grade education. The military was my way out of poverty. The military changed my life in ways I am still trying to repay. Lots of NCOs pointed me in the right direction and gave me drive.”

After his stint in the Army, he used money from the GI Bill and his savings to attend guitar school in Hollywood.

On his trip to Salisbury, Lynne will meet with the mother of a soldier who gave his life for his country. Then he’ll head to the Meroney Theater and play songs from a list that bears no resemblance to what he’s doing.

You can see Rockie Lynne perform from his newest album at “A ‘Bury Home Companion,” a fundraiser for the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra. Performances are at the Meroney Theater at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Purchase tickets at www.salisburysymphony.org.

Lynne is also headlining the Jesse’s Ride and Run benefit for PTSD awareness at Organ Lutheran Church on Sept. 22.