By CURTIS ROCKWELL

PASCAGOULA — Fresh off of a nation-wide tour with his old friends Hootie and the Blowfish, Edwin McCain will be making his first ever appearance in Pascagoula in late January.

The Greenville, South Carolina native that was once called a “street corner prophet” by the USA Today, an “aching tenor” by Slate Magazine, and a “great American romantic” by the New York Times will headline “An Evening with Edwin McCain” at The Grand Magnolia Ballroom on Thursday, Jan. 23rd. Tickets are already on sale at www,grandmagmusic.com

This will mark just his second show since opening for his old friend Darrius Rucker and his band along with Collective Soul on the nostalgia-packed summer tour “Summer Camp with Trucks” as the trek included 48 dates across the United State and into Canada. McCain continues to ride a career wave created by recording two of the biggest love songs in the history of music (I’ll Be) (“I Could Not Ask For More) as he continues touring the world singing and spinning stories.

At 54, he’s able to look ahead with excitement while also looking back with gratitude. “The best part is the friendships,” he said. “I say this all the time; the currency in this life is truly the friendships. All the other stuff comes and goes.”

After beginning his career opening for fellow South Carolina natives Hootie and the Blowfish as well as a burgeoning young artist named The Dave Matthews Band, McCain burst upon the world-wide music scene with the mega hit “I’ll Be” that spent 10 weeks in the Top 10 in the late 1990’s.

” It was honest, so there is a connection to something real,” McCain said, in a recent interview. “The songs that connect have that in as pure a form as you can have it. I was in my early 20s when I wrote it, and I wasn’t very careful with people. That song was me admitting that and hoping I’ll grow out of it. But songs change over time.”

“I never understood why people begrudgingly play their big hits, or are resentful toward the hits. It would be like having a winning lottery ticket and walking by it and saying, “Stupid lottery ticket!” It’s a gift. I’ve played it for thousands of people, but still, all these years later, anywhere in the country, I can get 500 people to come, and that, for me musically, is the top of the mountain.”

And McCain is still making new music, as he just released “Lucky” his first album of new material in 15 years. Produced by Lee Brice, Lucky features classic Edwin McCain songwriting and soulful performances, as well as guest vocal appearances by Brice, Matt Ramsey of Old Dominion, and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

Over the years, McCain has also found time to produce and starring in a TV series (Flippin’ Ships on Animal Planet).

With his legion of fans still clamoring for more, Edwin McCain is back at full throttle. Not that Edwin’s music ever slows down. “American Idol” and “The Voice” contestants turn to Edwin’s ballads every year to help them win over judges and fans. Millions more have been turned on by pop icons Justin Bieber and Charlie Puth who have both covered Edwin’s songs .And look for a TV appearance or two by the artist himself very soon, in addition to his first ever appearance in Pascagoula.