This Coastie and musician won the chance of a lifetime

U.S. Coast Guardsman Bobby "Blackhat" Walters is the epitome of "cool cat."

He's a Coastal Virginia Bluesman and an award-winning recording artist, harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, producer, comedian, and actor. He's also the winner of the 2017 Mission: Music competition that found incredible musicians from the military community, sent them to Nashville for a professional video shoot at the iconic Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studios, then introduced them America, who voted for which artist would take the stage at Base*FEST Powered by USAA. 

Walters' blues and contagious laughter carried him all over the country and right up to that stage, along with headliners Thompson Square and DNCE.

"You know, when you're going up onto that stage, and the first thing you worry about is 'please don't let me trip,'" he laughed. "But then I gathered everyone around me together and I said, 'Okay guys, rule number one: have fun.'"

Also read: The votes are in – this Coastie is the MISSION: MUSIC winner

For many veterans, who put their creative careers on hold when they join the military, building an artistic life can be challenging. Opportunities like Mission: Music give talented service members a helpful boost as a way of thanking them for that service. Nationwide coverage and the chance to play at an event with major headliners can be a game-changer.

Walters called the experience one of the highlights of his musical career.

"They say you get the rockstar treatment, well, we got the 'blues star' treatment!"

Follow Walters' journey from the U.S. Coast Guard to the blues, to competing in Mission: Music and receiving that victory call, all the way to the stage at Naval Air Station Pensacola and his meeting with Thompson Square in the video below:

(Bobby Blackhat slays at Base*FEST Powered by USAA)