Brent Woodall & Natchez Trace: Bio
Brent Woodall & Natchez Trace
Formed in 2001 to support Brent’s solo release “Out With The Old” (which contained two #1 hits on the independent charts), the current line up brings a long musical heritage to Natchez Trace. As one promoter recently claimed, “They are the real thing. You won’t be disappointed”. Natchez Trace brings energy, emotion and musicianship to every stage they perform on. Maybe that’s why they have shared and opened stages for people like Trisha Yearwood, Brooks and Dunn, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Joe Diffy to name a few. If it’s Americana, if it’s Roots, if it’s Country, it’s Brent Woodall and Natchez Trace.
Brent Woodall - Song writer, Lead Vocals, percussion, bats clean-up
Winchester, VA
Brent Woodall has a long history in the music industry dating back to 1970 when he was produced by Charlie Daniels at RCA studios In Nashville, Tennessee. In that session Brent also cut one of Charlie’s songs, “Great Big Bunches of Love” where Charlie not only produced but was gracious enough to sit in on guitar.
During the 70’s and 80’s when Brent wasn’t touring the country he made his home base Washington D.C. where he performed at the legendary “Bayou” nightclub in Georgetown.
When he wasn’t the headliner he had the privilege of opening for such groups as Hall and Oates, Aerosmith, Talking Heads, Dire Straits and The Beach Boys. It was a great spot for a young artist to hone his craft.
In the mid 1990’s Brent was a co-founder of Rivers Edge, an acoustic alternative country band out of Winchester, Virginia - heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Their first self-produced CD “Cabin Fever” featured eleven original songs and caught the ear of two-time Grammy Award- winning producer Larry Butler. Larry produced their next project “On The Rivers Edge”. Original music combined with that of Dean Dillon and Larry Butler gave the CD a unique, compelling sound that would later become the hallmark of Brent’s singular style.
The air play from the project helped the group go from garage band to Farm Aid 2000, The Rocky Gap Festival, and The Belle Chere Festival in five short years! During this time Brent met Jackie Miller Combs, mother of Mark Miller lead singer from Sawyer Brown. Mrs. Combs took a liking to Brent’s vocals and gave a copy of his CD to her son. Brent and the rest of the band continued touring, working with the likes of Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, Jessica Andrews, Neal McCoy, and Joe Dee Messina.
Brent was now ready for a new project -- his first solo project. Thinking ahead and using his usual dogged determination he arranged for Nashville producer and publisher Joe Bob Barnhill to take the helm. Choosing material from varied sources and writers the sessions evolved into a rhythm and blues country CD called “Out With The Old”, the title cut courtesy of Mark Miller. (Thanks Mama) From the same CD, in May of 2002, the haunting ballad “Who Cares” was released to CDX Number 292. Airplay on independent radio stations put the song into rotation and Brent was invited to perform at the IFCO Show at FANFAIR 2002 at the “Ryman”.
In November 2001 after six months on the charts, “Who Cares” hit Number 1 on Indieworld Country Radio Charts. The next release from the CD, an original cut “Louisiana Give Back My Heart” hit Number 1 in May 2003 on Inside and Burning Country Charts.
On May 1, 2006 Brent was awarded the prestigious ASCAP Writers Award and invited to showcase his song “Cabin Fever” at “The Kennedy Center” in Washington D.C.
Breaking News! Fall 2007: Brent Woodall’s new hit song “Bright Side Of The Road” released to CDX Volume 422 in May has had over 6000 spins and is still on the Charts.
BRENT WOODALL / DISCOGRAPHY
1996 “Cabin Fever” -- Rivers Edge – Self-Produced
1999 “On The Edge” -- Rivers Edge -- Larry Butler, Producer
2001 “Out With The Old” -- Brent Woodall & Natchez Trace -- Joe Bob Barnhill, Producer
2004 “True Vertigo” -- Brent Woodall & Natchez Trace -- Joe Bob Barnhill, Producer
2007 “On Top Of The Covers” – Brent Woodall – Joe Bob Barnhill, Producer
2007 "Bright Side Of The Road" – Brent Woodall - Joe Bob Barnhill, Producer
KEN JOHNSON - Executive vice president in charge of bass and vocals.
Fairfield, PA
Ken and Brent are like Mick and Keith!
Ken has played bass and sung backing vocal with Brent since they met in Junior High School! That's a long time.That's how long they have been together as friends and musical collaborators. Ken's harmonies with Brent are as close to sibling harmonies as can be and he is one smokin' bassist... no really he is STILL smoking!
These are the bands Brent and Ken worked in together:
The Coming Generation, The Mystics, Sir Brent & the Mystics, Cherry Smash, Rivers Edge and NATCHEZ TRACE. Keep rockin WKJ!
Brent
TIM TANNER - Lead Guitar Extrordinaire, Musical Director and backing vocals
Middletown, MD
YES THAT TIM TANNER!
Tim and Brent were housemates in Washington, DC during the CHERRY SMASH / Bayou hey days! Following Cherry Smash Tim joined the national rockers FACE DANCER
That's a long time ago and Tanner just keeps getting better.
Tim is one of the finest guitarists on the planet! He makes a PRS or a Strat SING!
Don't believe it? Just come see Natchez Trace LIVE!
PS. Tim is a Hell of a chef!
Brent
MIKE (the mouse) TRAMONTE - CFO in charge of keyboards and press kits, among other things..
Arlington, VA
Mike, Tim, Ken and Brent have collectively been together as long as the Pyramids! (You all remember The Pyramids, big band in the 70's.)
Mike intercepts all data and internet traffic. (I guess it comes from living near the CIA in Northern VA for so long.) He helps coordinate and create the Natchez Trace web site and Press kits.
Mike's family owned the world famous BAYOU in Georgetown, DC for many years. He met Brent, Ken and Tim when he stole CHERRY SMASH from the CRAZY HORSE.
Mike plays just the right stuff on Keyboards and is invaluable to the Natchez Trace organization.
Brent
Ron Fetner - Acoustic & electric guitar,mandolin, backing & lead vocals
Seaford, VA
Ron works at his carreer performing songwriting in the Americana tradition. He has been a great friend for hunrdeds of years (since the Bayou days; Ron was a member of Cherry Smash with Brent, Tim, Ken and yes Mike was around as well.)
He's a pro and plays great acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin and performs backing as well as lead vocals. We are excited about the prospect of co-writing with this talented artist!
SUPPORTERS!
Winchester,
Brent would give credit to those players and supporters who make Natchez Trace happen. These people are some of the best of the best.
Someone said "Surround yourself with good people and let them do what they do." That is what these people are all about.
Also a great big shout out "SALUTE" to their spouses, and families for the sacrafice of their time so that this can happen!!!
SPECIAL THANKS!
Natchez Trace also thanks JASON HAKER for web site design and consultation.
Thanks To JIMMY PRESTON for his invaluable guidence in graphic design. Jim is a heck of a musicain in his own right!
Ms. Jackie Combes, Mark and Frank Miller from the SAWYER BROWN ORGINIZATION for the friendship, guidance and great songs they have provided.
Other support:
Jim Stutzman / Jim Stutzman Chevy Cadillac
June Jeffrey / Oak Crest Realty
Sid Rogers / Rolling Hills Farm
Thom Shepherd / Twang Thang Music
Dean Dillon / Sony ATV Publishing
Larry Butler / Larry Butler Music Group
Brice Weddle - THE GO TO GUY!
Brice has worked with us a bus driver, crew, road manager and all around GO TO GUY He NEVER LETS US DOWN
Thanks Brice!
Rick French - Executive chauffer, sound tech
Rick taught Brice everything he knows, at least that's what Rick told us! Rick thinks he's Mark Martin. (I think he'd paint #6 on the bus if he could.) Come to think of it if Viagra would sponsor the band....
but I digress.
Rick is another rock in our foundation.
Brent
Cindy French - Promotion and booking above and beyond.
Cindy French has friends in high places, especially in Nashville, TN
She booked Brent at FARM AID 2000 and has gotten interviews for the TV production Shenandoah Jamboree, and Shenandoah Rising, which Brent co-produced and hosted.
Gotta love it!
Brent