Swon Brothers celebrate success on ‘The Voice’
MUSKOGEE — After hearing the third proclamation in their honor, receiving the key to the city and accepting a surprise “Rising Star” award from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, Colton Swon couldn’t keep from shaking his head, and his brother Zach couldn’t stop smiling.
After advancing into the Top 5 on the hit reality show “The Voice,” the musical duo The Swon Brothers returned, camera crew in tow, to their hometown of Muskogee Thursday for a whirlwind homecoming celebration.
“It’s so great to be home and playing. This is crazy, crazy, crazy, what’s going on,” said Colton, 24, Thursday night from the stage of the packed Muskogee Civic Center. “We just want to say thank you so much, we love all of you. This is so surreal.”
“We’re gonna show our gratitude the best way we know how,” added Zach, 28, as the brothers and their band kicked off an hourlong free concert with a rollicking rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”
As at least one homemade sign declared Thursday, the Swon siblings are already “Swinners” in their home state, regardless of how they fare in “The Voice” semifinals, airing live at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday on NBC.
‘Rising Stars’
Throughout the show’s third season, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in Muskogee has been hosting weekly “Swatch parties,” adopting the siblings’ playful habit of combining their last name with words. The hall is a natural venue for the parties, since the brothers used to work there.
About 100 friends and family members gathered inside Thursday afternoon to help surprise the singer/ guitarists with the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame “Rising Star” award.
The shocked delight was apparent on the brothers’ faces as Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame President Jim Blair pulled the trophy out of a box, recalling that he presented the same prize 10 years ago to Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton, the duo’s coach on “The Voice.”
“Well, uh, dang it. We both said in the beginning of this whole process that no matter what, we were not gonna get caught all teary-eyed on the show,” Colton said, swiping away tears. “You’ve blessed us beyond measure. You really have.”
The Swon siblings laughed in disbelief when video messages of congratulations from Oklahoma Music Hall of Famers Vince Gill and Roy Clark played.
“I’m gonna have to get a mantel. I need somewhere to put this. And I think it’s gonna look really good and cool,” Zach said.
“And I’m gonna tell all of you ‘Voice’ producers that I’m still not crying on camera. It hasn’t happened since July; it’s not gonna happen now.”
Hometown crowd
About 4,000 screaming fans lined up outside the civic center to show their support and attend a free concert.
About 500 fans had to be turned away since the civic center only seats 3,500, said Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Executive Director Jermaine Mondaine.
Mondaine joined them onstage to play a soulful saxophone solo on the duo’s original song “Other Than You.”
Little girls stood on chairs, grandmas clapped along, and practically the whole crowd belted the familiar lyrics when the duo performed the Merle Haggard classic, “Okie from Muskogee.”
Mayor Bob Coburn formally presented them with the key to the city, Muskogee County Commissioner Gene Wallace officially declared June 9-13 Swon Brothers Week, and State Rep. Jerry McPeak read a proclamation signed by the governor deeming them “the greatest talent in America.”
Shelton even made an appearance via video to congratulate them on their “Rising Star” award.