Remember, you don’t have to love Country and Western to dig T-Bone Rey, but it helps!

When I was a little kid, I thought everybody could sing and wanted to be an entertainer or musician. I thought, if they were good enough, they’d be on TV and radio. My family all sang, and my dad played constantly, and always had a band.

When I was twelve, my dad hired me to play in his outfit as a drummer. It was incredible! I played most weekends in Western Minnesota. While doing so, I ran into a couple of kids in my class who played guitars. Soon, we started practicing in our parents’ basements, and before we knew it, we had enough material to play dances around the area, too.

I really worked at drumming and learned the importance of versatility in the different styles of music, as it was meant to be played. Right after I got my drivers’ license I was asked to audition for a traveling show out of my hometown of Alexandria, MN. It was a two-, or three-month fill-in opportunity, so we all figured I could manage high school at the same time. Things went better than expected, and I was asked to join the show full-time and finish high school while traveling with the aid of one of the singers, a music teacher.

My career was set.

The shows, opportunities, and bands all changed many times over the years, and my passion for the stage never diminished. I got off the road eventually and worked in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for years in many situations. I stopped full-time entertainment and played weekends while raising a family, and eventually even stopped that for a while.

Then, when my dad died, I ran across his songbook he used on gigs and thought I’d grab a guitar and at least sing some stuff around the house for my own entertainment. I also recognized that fewer people really entertained the audience anymore at clubs and venues. Well, one thing led to another, and before you know it, I had a nicer guitar, a PA, some lights and a few gigs. The T-Bone Rey Show was born. I carry that songbook on every gig to remind me of my roots.

Complete with stage costuming and authentic sound, the audience enjoys a Nashville Show, or a Texas Beer Hall dance, all without leaving town. Classic Country and Western American favorites performed the way they were meant to be heard. Original music in the Americana flavor. This solo acoustic show is a down home favorite, and remember, you don’t have to love Country and Western to dig T-Bone, but it helps!