By Stacey Abell
Burlington Beacon
David Kroll always seems to be one step ahead.
At least that was a recurring theme in conversations between friends and family members of the Burlington-based musician and songwriter during an invitation-only listening party on April 4, 2022.
While others are making plans, he's already in the future with everyone trying to catch up in his wake. Nothing, however, could have adequately prepared him for two major life events that would knock him off his feet.
In his new recordings, his
first since 2017 and the only of songs he’s written completely independently,
Kroll explores the central theme of love that runs through it all.
Larger Than Life
“The last time I saw him, I had no idea it would be the last time I saw him.”
The words hung heavy in the air as Kroll recalled his best friend, Tracy “Tray” McCampbell. The dimly lit confines of The Washington filled with a cacophony of voices as friends and family from near and far gathered to celebrate McCampbell’s life and the song written in his honor.
Known as “Tray Mac” to his countless friends, McCampbell passed away on July 8, 2020, after having been diagnosed with cancer a year and a half earlier. He was 34 years old.
“If you asked any of the guys, they would all say Tray was their best friend,” Stacy McCampbell, Tray’s mother, said with a smile. Tray had a genius for friendship. After moving away from Burlington, he often had to keep his trips back to his hometown under the radar to avoid being pulled in multiple directions. From an early age, he had a personality and presence that was beyond his years. As Stacy said, he was “larger than life.”
Tray’s death took even those closest to him by surprise because they didn’t fully understand the severity of his condition or how much he was suffering.
“He protected us from that because he loved us so much,” said Candice Ives, Tray’s sister. Along with his wife, Mandy, Tray often shielded his loved ones from the difficult news and instead focused on the possibilities.
After Tray died, Kroll knew he had to do something to keep his friend’s memory alive. He was the first of Tray’s loved ones to get a tattoo, a stylized design surrounding the name “Tray Mac” emblazoned on his right inner wrist.
But it wasn’t enough for the friend who had been by his side since childhood and had poured so much love into the world. In a statement he wrote after Tray’s death, Kroll said, “If we are put on this earth to experience love, Tray experienced love that equaled a thousand lifetimes over in just 34 years.”
Tray Mac
Kroll describes “Tray Mac” as his favorite of the three songs he recently recorded, but the songwriting process was a struggle. The first verse came easily, but everything after seemed bent on going down a dark path.
He knew that wasn’t what Tray would have wanted.
“Some people in this world are just songworthy. And he was. I knew it had to be good. I didn’t want to do him wrong,” Kroll said.
On his journey to complete the song, Kroll sat down for a reading with a psychic, hoping to have some sort of connection with Tray. Despite his skepticism, he found the extra push he needed in the message delivered to him: “You’re overthinking it. Finish the damn song!”
The puzzle finally came together with a little help from friends Bob Huppenbauer, Lamar Timmons, Jon Ludens, Derrick Taylor, and Zach Boyd.
The group keeps Tray’s memory alive by sharing stories of their exploits, adventures, and humorous anecdotes. The five of them recorded some of their memories as voice memos; those recordings are woven together at the end of the extended version of the song.
Sitting across the table from Kroll, Stacy’s support for his latest songwriting endeavor is evident. “We just love David,” she said. She does admit that this moment is bittersweet for her: “When I heard the guys on the extended version, that’s when the tears started flowing.”
Timmons’ segment elicited peals of laughter from those in attendance as he recounted his tendency toward clumsiness in his youth. Tray once told him, “My mom said there are two types of people, Lamar – liabilities and assets. And you are a liability.”
Others spoke of Tray’s leadership, his intelligence, and his infectious laugh. But most of all, they recalled how he loved fearlessly.
And, true to Kroll’s intention, the lyrics are humorous and sweet but never maudlin.
Kroll related to the audience that everyone in the recording studio was “bawling their eyes out” when the voice memos were added. Many expressed they felt like they knew Tray after listening to the song.
And that’s Kroll’s fondest wish.
“I hope that when you hear the song, you’ll get to know Tray,” he said. “And if you weren’t lucky enough to know him, you’ll wish you had.”
True to Himself
Tray showed his friendship by supporting Kroll through a deeply personal revelation. At the age of 34, Kroll came out to his family and friends. Opening up about his identity as a gay man was not an overnight journey.
“If you would’ve told me that I would go back to Nashville and sing songs about being gay, I would’ve said, ‘No way in hell!’”
Kroll described how his previous songwriting experiences involved writing hundreds of songs for other people, turning them in to a team, and receiving feedback.
“They would tell me if they (the songs) suck or not,” Kroll said with a chuckle.
But times have changed. And Kroll said, “I have a lot to say.”
Kroll characterized this phase in his life as a time in which he can be true to himself and is “comfortable in his skin.” He views his talent as a tool he can use to ease the way for other people who might be in the same situation.
Much to his amazement, his family, friends, and the Burlington community received him with open arms. And now, he wants everyone to feel as welcome.
“Whatever platform I have, I want to use it. If there’s anyone struggling, you’re represented,” Kroll said. “You’re not the only person in the world feeling like this.”
To that end, Kroll is releasing two new songs toward the beginning of June, which coincides with the start of Pride month.
“Child of the Sun” is an earnest, wistful recounting of a man searching for love. It was written during a period of transition for Kroll – he was leaving an old life behind and looking to forge a new identity. In Kroll’s words, “It was written about someone I was hoping to find one day.”
The second of the two songs, “When I Found You,” is the next chapter in that story. As Kroll says, “I found that someone.”
Kroll’s voice became choked with emotion as he speaks about his partner, Devin Rohr. “The stars lined up for Dev and I to meet,” Kroll said.
At the end of each verse, Kroll’s voice soars upward into a tender falsetto which breaks way into a joyous chorus celebrating newfound love.
And the joy with which Kroll sings is also about finding room in his heart to love himself: “When I stopped trying to be the man everyone wanted me to be…When I found you, I found me.”
Love Lives On
Most of those gathered at the listening party have been with Kroll for the long haul, since his days as a local boy with a voice and a dream.
“It’s good to see him getting back to his writing, writing things that mean a lot to him,” said David’s mother, Diane Kroll, beaming with pride. “It’s going to be good to hear.”
Alaina Paxton and Lori Ray of Dallas City met Kroll before he went to Nashville the first time and have logged miles on the road following his band to various locales throughout the country. “He’s written a lot of songs with other people. We just love the songs and we’re excited to hear new music,” Ray said.
Cindy Nichting of Salem has been all over the country to see Kroll perform and is excited to see him back in the studio and happy with where he’s at in life. “We didn’t know if that was going to happen,” she said.
Although he’s no longer in the Nashville scene, Kroll has a newfound love for his craft inspired by his hard-won creative freedom. He admitted that when he left Music City, he thought he might never write songs again. But now, he says, “I don’t think that’s true.”
“I lived in fear until the age of 34, and to let go of that fear was life-changing,” Kroll said. “When you sit down to write a song and you start getting real, it gets a lot easier.”
Kroll has lived long enough to have regrets, but he tries not to dwell on them. Instead, he focuses on being grateful for a life he didn’t think was possible.
In his own way, Kroll is doing his part to live up to the words he wrote in tribute to Tray: “I believe the reason we are here on this earth is simple. It’s to experience love. To spread, share, and receive love.”
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“Tray Mac” will be released on all music streaming platforms May 1 in honor of Tray’s birthday.
“When I Found You” and “Child of the Sun” will be released on June 1 and June 3, respectively.
David Kroll will be performing at Friday Fest, April 22 at 5:30 p.m. at The Depot. Follow @KrollPatrol on Facebook and @davidkrollmusic on Instagram for more information.