ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Greg Hall will perform at Mangos on the Island, 27075 Marina Road in Orange Beach, on Thursday, June 5, at 9 p.m.

The comedian-singer-songwriter’s interests and talents were shaped and refined growing up in a musical family in west Texas.

“There was always a guitar around and music everywhere,” he said. “I was playing John Denver at church camp by the eighth grade.”

Hall played football at a small college for a year never considering music as a career. That changed while playing a friend’s acoustic guitar in the cafeteria. He was approached by a drama professor to write the score for a Garcia Lorca play that happened to be competing in the American College Theatre Festival.

“I was just this smart, under-achieving stoner kid who didn’t have a clue.”

The score Hall wrote won an award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Composition from the Kennedy Center

He dropped out of college soon after and began a decade-long musical journey through 30 states and Europe, eventually landing in Nashville.

“Being friends with, writing with, and being around the best songwriters in the world this long does humble you, and teaches you to grow as a writer,” he said.

Hall has shared stages with everyone from the Fabulous Thunderbirds and Shelby Lynne, to Vern Gosden and Keith Urban.

He has co-written songs with members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, top 10 writers of rock, and No. 1 country writers.

To date Hall has recorded six CDs, and he joked on Thursday that “I’ve sold at least three dozen copies.”

Hall candidly admits that he has struggled with demons, fearing his own potential for commercial success and celebrity.

“I tell you, for a while there I was burning more bridges than a team of Navy SEALS,” he laughs.

“It was like I was researching a book called Developing Unsuccessful Communication Skills Through Anger, Ego and Entitlement Issues.”

No matter the effect of those demons, however, Hall has worked diligently, put in the time, and become a singer/songwriter/guitarist capable of withstanding the long haul.

“Honestly, I should’ve had season tickets between Kurt Cobain and John Belushi 20 times.”

A near fatal car crash, changed his way of thinking. A picture of the destroyed El Dorado graces the cover of his new album, “Better Than I’ve Ever Been.”

Hall said, “Justice is when we get what we deserve. Mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve, and grace is when we get what we don’t deserve. To say I got blessed is an understatement.”

Always a quick wit, Hall ventured into standup comedy a few years ago. His humor, writing skills, musical background and stage experience had him headlining comedy clubs before he knew it.

He said, “When you hit a certain age and haven’t become Pink Floyd, it’s time to open up other leaves floating upon the income stream. Last year I even wrote dialogue for a Grammy winner’s resort show. Go figure.”

For more information, call Mangos on the Island at (251) 981-1416.