South Greensburg's Pratt a florist by day, country singer by night

Gary Pratt of South Greensburg is a busy man. By day, he's making floral arrangements at his Greensburg business, Le Jardin Florals. At night, he's out playing country music. He plays solo, in a duo with childhood friend Dawn Jones Forsha (also known as Dawn Noelle) and with the band Moonshine Steel. An early dream to make it in Nashville didn't quite pan out, but he says he's found his niche in two types of creative work, in the support of family and friends and in a group of loyal fans. You can hear his original songs on Froggy 95 and on SiriusXM Highway channel's “On the Horizon,” a program that spotlights new songs and emerging artists.

Question: Tell us about your time in Nashville.

Answer: It was quite a while ago. I'd go down for two weeks, come home for two weeks, every month. My boss was very lenient with me. But everyone down there is doing the same thing, and everyone plays for free, so it's very hard to make it there.

Q: Where did you play?

A: The Bluebird Cafe, a place called Douglas Corner, shows at the Tennessee State Fair, the Country Music Association fan appreciation festival.

Q: What was it like to leave Nashville behind?

A: I always had the goal to make it in music, but it's getting a little bit late for me in years now. It would be nice to make it, and you never know, miracles happen. But I'm still writing, I'm still out there playing some big places, some small places. I'm opening up for some national acts. I'm happy doing what I'm doing. If this is as far as I get, I still feel blessed.

Q: How did you get hooked on music?

A: Since I was little, I would sing at the top of my lungs in the car with Mom and Dad. I've had bands since high school. Dawn and I grew up together in Slickville. In high school, our parents had to take us to the places we'd play on weekends. We'd have to go outside during the breaks, because those were the rules back then.

Q: Were you singing country in the car?

A: I didn't listen to country much as a teenager, but I just thought my voice was more suited to it. It's feeling music — you can feel country music, because there's so much emotion in it.

Q: Describe your songwriting process.

A: I like taking a negative situation and making a positive out of it.

Q: Where do you find inspiration?

A: A lot comes from what I'm feeling and from listening to other people. At a picnic, I heard a lady say, “That sounds like whiskey to me,” so I wrote a song called “That Sounds Like Whiskey to Me.” Other things come from personal experience, like my song “Don't Walk There in My Shadow.” I was telling my nephew, “Don't walk in my shadow or your pap's shadow; you have bigger shoes to fill.” Each generation should do bigger and better things.

Q: Do you have a favorite place to play?

A: I love playing the Palace Theatre in Greensburg and the Lamp Theater in Irwin. I've opened at the Palace for Ronnie Milsap, Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan. I also love doing T.G.I.S. there every year. The Waterworks in South Greensburg is a nice place, too.

Q: What's the biggest stage you've played?

A: Probably the Rocky Gap Music Festival (in Cumberland, Md.) and the CMA fan festival in Nashville.

Q: Tell us about your groupies, the Kick It Up Dancers.

A: People say “groupies,” but they've all become my friends. They follow me everywhere I go, they're wonderful dancers and they add so much to the show. I love them!

Q: How did the floral business come about?

A: I was a recreational therapist for 20 years. A company I worked for changed hands and my job ended. It was devastating at the time, but I wanted out of it anyway. A year later, in 1999, I was delivering flowers for Eleanor McMahon who owned Twigs in town. She was sort of a mentor, and then I opened my own shop in 2000.

Q: How did you go from delivering to designing?

A: At Twigs, I started out delivering, and then they asked me to design and taught me about that. I used to do architectural drafting, and I've always done some interior design. I can look at something and know whether it looks good. It's sort of natural to me. I want to make each design a work of art.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5750 or smcmarlin@tribweb.com.