Trabue Gentry's Page

For the latest news on what Trabue is doing with his music, follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrabueGentry

Inspired by the Beatles and the sound of the early 60’s, Trabue started writing music at age twelve. Since then he has penned over 150 musical compositions.

At age thirteen, Trabue began his apprenticeship with King’s Recording Studio. Owner, Don King, recognized Trabue’s musical talent and took him under his wing. King believed in Trabue and worked diligently for many years to promote him during his apprenticeship. Herein, you will find several very early recordings produced by King. Trabue recalls "Don was like a father to me. We developed a close friendship that I honor to this day.".

At age thirteen, Trabue built his first electric guitar in 8th grade shop class. Said Trabue "Well, our teacher said we could make anything we wanted and I wanted an electric guitar so bad that so I opted to make one as my term project. It never occurred to me that I couldn’t so I did.". At the end of the term, Trabue had produce a beautifully designed and perfectly working electric guitar for which he received an A-. The guitar is still in Trabue’s possession.

At age sixteen, Trabue apprenticed for luthier, Peter Hud. Peter was most noted for the fine instruments he made for Andrés Segovia. During his apprenticeship, Trabue learned the art of making fine classical style guitars. He also took lessons from Hud. "He was a hard task master. He stood over me with a wooden ruler and if I didn’t hold the guitar just right he’d smack my knuckles with it. (laughing) I lasted about three weeks. I just didn’t have the discipline.".

Throughout his teens, Trabue continued to write music prolifically, formed the Fungis, his first band, and continued to work for King. He also repaired and even decorated guitars and drum kits (See pictures below). Of the Fungis name, Trabue said "Steve Dawson, my childhood friend, came up with the name. It was a play on words. Get it? Fun Guys and fungi or fungus. (laughing) No one ever got it and if they did they never saw the humor in it. They thought it was gross.".

In 1971 he teamed up with Kevin Sterner and Dennis Neff to form Gentry, Neff and Sterner. Like all musicians, they performed in local venues. With near revulsion Trabue stated "I hated playing out. I much prefer working in the studio. That’s where the magic happens.". And work in the studio, they did. During their union they recorded many of the songs that both Trabue and Kevin wrote. A number of these earlier recordings can be found here on OS.

In 1974 Dennis drifted away from the threesome to work with keyboards, Arvin Pierce. You can currently find Dennis on OurStage. Trabue and Kevin continued on to develop their song writing and work in the studio. "He’s a hell of a song writer and singer." Said Trabue of Kevin. "He’s also the best bass guitarist I’ve ever heard. He’s even better than Chris Squire (Yes). He has a truly unique style that I could pick out anywhere.".

In 1977, at the urging of Bruce Bolin, then marketing Director for Gibson Guitar Company, Trabue and Kevin traveled to Nashville and met with producer, Pete Drake (George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull, Kenny Rogers and many more). Drake’s bio can be found in Wikipedia. Trabue and Kevin played for Pete in his office and after only three songs Pete offered to produce the duo siting that they were reminiscent of "early Bee Gees". The first studio time, album date and tour was set that very day.

Two days after the meeting with Drake, Trabue received a phone call from Kevin that decisively killed the record deal with Drake. In 1979 Trabue and Kevin finally parted ways over yet another issue. Angry and despondent over the lost opportunity with Drake, Trabue sold all of his musical instruments, dismantled his studio and abandoned music altogether. For the remainder of the time until recent, Trabue indulged in his many other artistic talents (see Trabue’s MySpace personal Page).

In 2006, Trabue saw "Fleetwood Mac Live In Boston" on PBS’ Sound Stage. Watching Lindsey Buckingham perform inspired him to have a final fair well for his music. Said Trabue of the show "I was blown away. I mean, just because the Drake thing fell through...well it was stupid. I have all this material that nobody’s heard. I figured if Lindsey, who was like 56 at the time, if he could still do it, then I still have time.".

So, here he is today digitally re-mastering the many songs he wrote, recorded and produced and presently producing new material. But there’s a twist that Trabue didn’t count on. After he joined OS and MySpace he started receiving expressed interest from other artists to work with him. Some of these artists include Alesya Frolova, Mikle Krizanovski, JJHV7 and 3d papabear, Rootsdaniel, Jenny Dwyer and Rob Swanson.

The first artist to contact Trabue was Russian singer Alesya Frolova who proposed a duet remake of "Still I Love You". Next came Russian rock guitarist Mikle Krizanovski. Mikle is currently creating an overlay of his incredible guitar work on an earlier work by Trabue which is due out some time in June 2009. Trabue has also teamed up with Alesya and Victor Sopelcin to collaborate on yet another duet for Alesya".

Many OS listeners have compared Trabue’s music to Marillion, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Triangle Fire, Jim Croce, James Taylor, Bread, Jethro Tull and Michael Gira and Jarboe. In his online comment on MySpace, Mikle Krizanovski had this to say about Trabue’s style "I have long thought - what it is like? But it’s like nothing on earth - you original! This songs style named TRABUE !!!!!!".

Trabue’s intention to simply drag out his old music and dust it off for everyone to hear has evolved into almost an underground following of listeners and artists alike. Trabue hopes that for whatever reason you listen to his music you will find something in it that you can relate to and enjoy. He also hopes that he can be of assistance to new artists needing direction and welcomes their solicitations.