PANAMA CITY BEACH — Dennis Rader poked around in the back of his truck.
He was parked at his parents’ house in Panama City Beach, musical equipment tucked away in his vehicle, getting ready for a performance at Arnold High Saturday afternoon.
At 2 p.m. in the school auditorium, Rader will transform into his character “Moonshine.” As a comedy act, it adds another dimension to his musical performance.
The character came from his dad; the whole Rader family performed when Dennis was younger. Rader performed at the old Ocean Opry, which closed in 2005.
His sister, Debbie Rader Clanton, fondly remembers those days. She calls them “always a lot of fun.”
The family had a ball working together, she said, adding they could go without a rehearsal.
She talks to Dennis almost daily, even though they live in separate states; she’s now in Georgia.
Though initially against the idea of a comedy persona, Rader sounds like he’s grown into it. He explains it as “funniness in the moment,“ contrasting it with stand-up comedy. He thinks of the comedy act as being in short bursts.
His son, Wayne Rader, is the straight man. Altogether Dennis has four sons and one daughter, all musically inclined, he said. His middle son is into hip-hop, he notes.
Along with annual free performances in the area, Dennis sings in churches on weekends. His style of music, he explains, ranges from 1950s rock ‘n’ roll to gospel to Bing Crosby-style crooning.
As he sat on the back of his truck, the bay water nearby, Rader slipped into a bit of a Dean Martin-esque singing.
He knows the area well, having moved here when he was 20 years old. Though he now splits his time between here and Nashville, he misses Panama City Beach when he’s away.
Though initially attracted to just drums, Rader picked up a bass guitar when he moved to the beach. And for his performances, Rader said he records tracks from scratch.
“There’s nothing karaoke about it,” said Rader.
Rader’s family and friends in Nashville have played with country legends. He namedropped Lee Greenwood and others as big musical names he or others have rubbed shoulders with.
For this year’s performance, Rader is promoting his new album “Step Into The Water.” He described it as a mix of gospel and Christian country. For him, he said, he would be bored if he wasn’t frequently switching up styles.
Rader sees music as an extension of thinking.
“Music is the greatest way to communicate,” he declares.
For the man his sister said has “the greatest stage presence,” Rader is philosophical and cavalier when asked about his future.
Saying long-term goals are his weakness, Rader feels this life is a temporary home, and speaks of going to Heaven for the days ahead.
He doesn’t look far into the future.
His sister Debbie said Dennis feels the people when he performs, and his future will be continuing to entertain and making people smile.
And as for that nickname, the one he chose, the character he begrudged at first?
“Everybody calls me Moon,” Dennis said.
Want To Go?
- Who: Dennis “Moonshine” Rader
- What: concert
- When: 2 p.m. Saturday
- Where: Arnold High School Auditorium, 550 Alf Coleman Road, Panama City Beach
- Cost: Free. Limited seating. Tickets available at Panama City Beach Senior Center and Tourist Development Council
- Details: 234-8983