Carl Steven Mo Truman Bio

Carl Steven "Mo" Truman’s Bio

Written by Lisa Denise Kerr in 2002

On December 29, 1949, in Clay Country in a rural little town called Widen, West Virginia Mo Truman was born to Joe and Dorla Truman. Mo has one brother named Mike. Mo was a true West Virginia son–his father was a coal miner. Mo joined the U. S. Army after high school from 1969 to 1971 and spent 18 months in Germany. Mo is a divorced father with two children, Steve and Lindsay and has five grandchildren.  Later he worked in the coal mines for 14 years and played music every weekend. When the mines shut down and all Mo knew to do was play his music. His great love for music fed his soul but couldn’t feed his body. In 2002 he was managing Terrace Park East, a 194 unit condo complex in Charleston, West Virginia.

Growing up, Mo was fascinated by country and gospel music. As a child he sang with his family as long as he could remember and gospel music in church. Mo thought he wanted to be a Beatle until Merle Haggard came along and it’s been country music ever since.

Mo’s first serious band was with Steve Mullins and the Southern Sound, a bluegrass band called Driftwood. Later he joined a band called the Cowboy Jazz and he presently still plays with one of the members named Allan Morris. They have a gospel group called the Southern Grace that plays on FM 93.3 Sunday afternoons. Mo played on the West Virginia Belle for almost 3 years as a solo act and a duo with Ellen Grimes.

Mo’s most fascinating stint was with the Southern Mix. They traveled and fronted shows for many stars such as Reba Macintryre, Patty Loveless, Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson and many more.

Mo is known as West Virginia’s Willie Nelson. Mo and Willie Nelson met at the Longhorn Club in Charleston in 1986. Willie Nelson likes to visit local clubs where ever he plays and someone had told Willie that there was a guy who plays at the Longhorn that sounds just like him. So Willie had to go and meet this fellow which happen to be Mo Truman. That evening Mo and Willie actually sang together on the stage of the Longhorn. Since then Mo and Willie have became great friends. Mo has grown to love and appreciate Willie’s music and is often requested to play his songs at special events. Since meeting Willie, he always gets invited to be back stage and on the buses and has a great time.

In October of 2001, Mo played for a benefit for raising funds for West Virginia Flood Victims. This campaign was called " Rebuild America." Mo played as Willie Nelson along with Cher, Elvis and the black Neil Diamond. Everything was donated and all the funds went directly to the flood victims. This event was a great success.

Mo’s  accomplishments in 2002 include a movie produced by Mike Lilly which was made in West Virginia called, "Correct Change." Two songs used in his movie are from Mo Truman’s newest cd called "Like I’ve Never Loved Before." Mo wrote seven of the nine songs produced on this cd. Mo is a true West Virginia Man and this cd not only demonstrates his great love for West Virginia but his great love for God. Mo is West Virginia’s great little secret that will be no more once this cd hits the market. The first song on this cd demonstrates his and fellow dedicated West Virginia’s true love for West Virginia–titled "There’s Nothing Like a West Virginia Springtime."

Since the writing of the above bio, he quit his managing job at Terrace Park East to become a professional singer and guitarist.  Mo has also performed at Tamarack, Mountain Stage, Pigeon Forge, TN at the Memory Theater, Dallas, TX as well as throughout West Virginia's many clubs and lodges such as Pour House.  In March of this year, Mo and played at the Steele Guitar Convention with Russ Hicks in Dallas, TX.

Mo was a lifetime member of the Gospel Group, "Southern Grace.  He played along with Allen Mooris, Lena Mooris, John Peters, Debbie Peters and Charlie Bledsoe.  Mo also played with area bands including Steve Mullins and the Southern Sound, Driftwood, Cowboy Jazz, Southern Grace and Southern Mix.  He also played with Robert Shaffer who is famous for winning two competions for steele guitar playing.

Please contact me at kerrations@yahoo.com or ldk0508@yahoo.com to add any information to his bio.