Have you ever met that person you just knew was destined for bigger and better things? When you do meet one of those people, you just instantly know it. Certain people just have a greatness about them. Their voice can captivate you when they talk, they look at you and you know they are speaking right to you, and you know they will leave an impact on you for years to come. Those genuine people are hard to find. It's an instant mutual respect. Most singer/songwriters strive years to get that kind of connection with people, while others have it from the get go. One such individual who grabbed my attention that way, was John David Kent.
To the average listener John David Kent seemingly appeared out of nowhere overnight, but that's hardly the case. Spending almost his entire life in and around music, JDK has had his hand in the music cookie jar all along. Finding success in the 90's with his band Radish or doing one-offs and traveling as a drummer for the Lemonheads, John toured the US and Europe. Having experienced many aspects of the industry along that journey, John then turned to the production side of things, running a record label and producing. During that time, using his life experiences as influences, John was writing, not his usual style, but leaning more toward the Americana sound. John, on the advice of a colleague, decided to put his hat back into the performance ring, and took a gig to showcase those songs. Finding an almost seemingly instant connection with his new band-mates, JDK found that fire again.
Continuing to play shows and cutting a demo with five of his new songs, My Girl, began getting airplay, and the next thing you know, it's taking off like wildfire.
Riding high on the success of the single and national attention from the video, John took it to the studio to cut the debut album self-titled John David Kent, which was released in May of 2011. The album was a a success, producing a sound that is undefinable, and crosses many genres. JDK began booking shows on a regular basis, and was back in the thick of things.
Having a health scare toward the end of 2011, John David Kent was taken back with every singers worst fear, polyps on his vocal cords. Faced with a difficult decision, JDK consulted with several specialists, and decided to go ahead with a procedure in early 2012. With a strong support circle and with the help of a vocal therapist, the road to recovery was seamless.
Recovered and refreshed, John picked up right where he left off, touring and loving every minute of it. With new music in the works, JDK is continuing to build a fan base with each performance, and gaining ground with every step along the way. I'll leave you guys with this peek at some of the new stuff, and don't worry, even though the Samsonesque hair is gone, JDK still has the genuine music sty-lings that can only be found somewhere between a tour bus and a dirt road.
With people always saying they are searching for the genuine article, maybe the desire for the pursuit causes them to overlook genuine people along the way. Take some time to get know new people, get off of the social networks, and go network socially. Visit you local dive, dancehall or roadhouse, listen to some genuinely good music, and just enjoy the bliss that can only be felt once you slow it down. This is Texas Red Dirt Roads.
For more on John David Kent visit: John David Kent
If you don't have a copy of his album, vist shop.txrdr.com , we got it, and tons of other music that you'll love.
Adiós,
Aaron Bentley
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