Trey Hensley

artist bio:

Trey Hensley, despite his young age, has already forged his own style. What started seven years ago as a kid singing traditional bluegrass has become the mature-beyond-its-years sound of an 18-year old country performer and vocalist who has already found his voice. While you’ll hear some of his idols and influences around the edges, more than anything, when you hear him sing, you’ll hear Trey Hensley.

With a guitar in his hands, his talent expands beyond the reason of his years. This guitar aficionado will blow your mind. His own style of picking–whether on his Telecaster or acoustic–bears the influence of some of his guitar heroes. You’ll hear traces of Merle Haggard’s Roy Nichols; genre-smashing super-picker James Burton; country stylists, Marty Stuart, Buck Owens and Ricky Skaggs; and bluegrass royalty Doc Watson and Tony Rice.

He has befriended Kings, Queens and Earls: Johnny, June and Scruggs. He’s picked with Tom T. Hall, The Oak Ridge Boys, Steve Wariner, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs and many others. He first stepped into the Grand Ole Opry’s spotlight in 2002, performing on the hallowed Ryman stage at the age of only eleven years old; even before that he appeared onstage at the Carter Fold, the birthplace of country music.

Hensley’s latest release and first country project, titled “Looking At My Future,” finds him with guitars firmly in hand and surrounded by some of the finest studio musicians in Nashville. It features five songs written or co-written by him, including the island-inspired “I Wish I Was There,” the Brad Paisley influenced “Bare Wires,” the tearjerker ballad “I’d Do It For You,” the patriotic “Some Things You Need to Know,” as well as the title cut. Another new song, “More than Roses,” written by Bobby Starnes and Barry Ricks has the sound of a soon-to-be traditional classic.

Additionally, Trey has recorded covers of the great Johnny Rodriguez song “Riding My Thumb to Mexico” and the Elvis Presley/Jerry Reed rocker, “Guitar Man.” The Carl Jackson ballad “I’m Beside Myself” shows Trey’s easy vocal styling, while his sparse and beautiful take on Randy Travis’s “Promises” evokes memories of a young Travis. Merle Haggard’s “Ramblin’ Fever” receives an update while remaining true to the original feel of the country hit, while the Billy Yates tune “Roxanne’s Bayou” closes the CD with just the right amount of hot licks and humorous lyrics.

Listening to Trey on CD is certainly enjoyable, but seeing him stand on stage in front of you, hearing his voice and watching his fingers will surely make you a fan. And just when you think you can’t like him more, you’ll realize that the humility in this young man is every bit as impressive as his talent. It won’t take long to recognize that he’s simply happiest when he’s playing his music.