On March 6, Calvin “Mac” Mosier went to a cocktail party at Ken and Sybil Carson’s house that he thought was for one of Ken’s associates. Meanwhile, other people at the party thought they were there to celebrate Mosier’s recent win as 2023 Lighting Director of the Year from the Country Music Association’s Touring Awards that were handed out in mid-February.
While that subterfuge was going on, Mosier’s wife, Cameron, and family friend and lobbyist Charleston Laffin snuck some things from Mosier’s house to the Carsons’ house. Finally, Cameron Mosier let the cat out of the bag by turning things over to Laffin.
Acting on behalf of S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster, who was unable to attend, Laffin and S.C. House Rep. Ben Connell presented Mosier with the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor that can be bestowed in South Carolina.
“It was super-cool,” Mosier’s niece, Stephanie Keel, said; she was one of the few in on the secret. “Charleston and I were in the same class at school. He’s my ‘Uncle Mac,’ but he’s everyone’s ‘Uncle Mac,’ and Charleston used to go to his house, which was a like a museum of rock and roll.”
It was Laffin, who has known the Mosier family, including “Uncle Mac” for more than 30 years, who nominated Mosier for the Order of the Palmetto, calling him a “shining example” of a great South Carolinian.
“If you were to say the name Mac Mosier among musicians and music industry professionals, they know exactly who you are talking about,” Laffin wrote in her nomination. “Mac is truly one of the most respected lighting directors and designers not only here in the U.S., but around the world. He has been lighting the stages for [more than] four decades for some of the greatest entertainers of our time: Madonna, Tina Turner, Prince, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, James Taylor and Carole King, Josh Groban, Faith Hill, and Phil Collins to name just a few. He is currently on tour with the incomparable Chris Stapleton and for the last six years has served as lighting director/designer.
“[It] makes sense to me that country music’s No. 1 star would only have the country’s No. 1 lighting director. Mac was recently nominated for Lighting Director of the Year for County Music Association Touring Awards, and on Feb. 12, he took home that award. This year’s award will find itself next to three other Lighting Director of the Year awards Mac has so deservedly won during his illustrious career.”
In her letter, Laffin mentioned that the governor is a “music man” himself — he has been known to pick up a guitar and sing — and, therefore, understands how “impactful and transformative” music can be.
“Mac gives sight to sound…. Mac’s impact and importance is recognized each night when Chris Stapleton steps up to the mic at the beginning of his show and says, “Light ’em up, Mac!’ ” she said.
Keel said she and Laffin started talking about the idea a while back.
“She said even with all the awards Uncle Mac has won, something was missing, so she asked me what I thought about the Order of the Palmetto,” Keel said, adding that Mosier is in good company, including Laffin’s late father, Charley Smith, who was also a lobbyist.
Keel said Connell and outgoing State Sen. Thomas McElveen supported Laffins’ nomination of Mosier to the governor.
In addition to being “tickled to death,” an old saying for the Mosier family and their friends, Keel said her Uncle Mac said that receiving the Order of the Palmetto “meant more to him than any of the other awards he’s ever had.”
