FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – Search teams found the body of country singer Craig Strickland in the woods of Kaw Lake in Oklahoma on Monday morning.
Strickland, a singer for the band Backroad Anthem, was found lying in the woods in the shape of a cross on his back, according to the band’s Facebook page.
For nearly a decade, Adam Putman has worked with musicians, like Strickland, in Northwest Arkansas.
As the production manager at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, he became close with Strickland.
“Craig is very, very, high energy. In an intoxicating way,” Putman said.
Putman said Strickland’s stage presence was incomparable to anyone else he had ever heard play in the region.
“He was one in a million. Absolutely, one in four million,” Putman said. “He has got a great stage presence. He was meant to do that. [Backroad Anthem was] the most stage ready, tour ready, band I had ever seen come out of this area.”
Putman said, when he heard his friend was missing, it was hard to believe Strickland was in that situation.
“[I thought] well, it is Craig. He is fine,” Putman said. “But, as the days went on, obviously it became harder to hope for that.”
Authorities said they found Strickland on a hill, near the edge of the lake at which he was hunting.
Although Putman was saddened to learn of the passing of his friend, he said Strickland died doing one of the four things he loved.
“Craig’s faith in God would go hand-in-hand with his love for his wife, his love for music, and his love for hunting,” Putman said.
Putman said he is trying to remember his friend for the things he loved, and their time together.
“It has been a really hard week. But, I am glad he is coming home,” Putman said.