I was raised on country music. I haven't always been proud of the fact that I love it because I am a rock drummer by heart, but I have never lost my love for its message. Country music, for the most part, speaks about how country folks really are. The simple things in life are really what make life worth living. You never hear a rock song, rap song, or disco track sing about the thrill of watching your kids run around in the yard sprinkler for the first time, the sound of the wind through the live Oak trees, or holding your girls hand for the first time. I grew up in Southwest Louisiana and when I look back now we had a pretty simple life. The best times of my life are spelled out in many of the songs that I get to sing.
My first singing act was in a karaoke bar in Lake Charles. Other than that, my first band singing act was here in St. Croix. An old friend of mine JJ Rocks was the person that convinced me to give it a shot. He was doing a solo act at the "Loco Gecko" in Sunny Isle one night and I stopped in for a drink. He asked me to come up and sing a song with him. A few months later, he called and asked if I wanted to play with him in a country band. At our first practice, he said, "Ok, you sing one..." I said, "Me, I can't do that..." I figured that there were only a handful of singing drummers for a reason. He was a good teacher and before long, we formed the band "Contriband". From there, I sang lead in a alternative rock band called "Beer Run". Those were some of my fondest times on stage. We played everything from Greenday, Alice in Chains to Pink Floyd and I remember waking up the next morning with no voice. Man, what a blast....
I will leave you now with two things.......something you are sure to know and something that may suprise you.
"Put me behind my drum kit, and I will say, sing or do just about anything. But, I am scared to death to sing in front of a crowd without my drums in front of me. Go figure"
Lots of love and stuff.
Kent
