Award-Winning Honky Tonk Artist Justin Trevino
More than four decades after Justin Trevino picked up a guitar for the first time at age seven, Justin Trevino continues to live up to his name - not only his reputation for musical excellence, but also his first name, chosen by his father. Trevino's dad, Joaquin, was a hardcore country music fan. He named his son after his favorite songwriter and singer, Justin Tubb.
Perhaps his name alone sealed his fate that day in 1973 when he entered the world via Brownsville, Texas. But Justin also had heaping helpings of both "nature" and "nurture" on his side. Besides being born with the capacity for singing and songwriting, Justin received plenty of nurturing from his parents. Even as a young boy, Justin was immersed in country music. His folks didn't believe in hiring babysitters, so when they went to the honky tonks, they had Justin in tow.
"My earliest memory of being in the beer joints is probably five years old. I think I was going into them before that." Trevino, blind since birth, says no one really worried about such a young boy being in a bar. "In my case, it probably had as much to do with not being able to see. When I was in those places, I was with my dad at all times. I wasn't up running around. I was the kind to stay put, drink my soda water and talk to whoever wanted to talk - especially if they wanted to talk about country music. The old-timers, they were kind of amazed that a kid was that interested in old country music." Justin could hardly be otherwise. He was steeped in the music at home, too.
"My dad was a big collector of country music albums. He had several hundred by the time I was born. Some of my earliest - and best - memories are of sitting around home while he played those records for me. And, even though he didn't really have a voice for singing, Dad's idea of a lullaby was to sing me a country song. We never went anywhere without country music, either. The glove box in our car was always stuffed full of his favorites on 8-track.
"You know how young kids repeat what they hear, even before they're old enough to understand the words they're saying? Well, my mom told me about an incident I was too young to remember that just goes to show how much of an impression my dad's passion for country music had already made on me. When I was three years old, Mom took me to the grocery. As I was sitting in the cart waiting for her to check out, I started singing the words of an old Johnny Cash song, 'Delia's Gone.' So, there I am, barely more than a toddler, belting out 'Delia, oh, Delia, Delia all my life...If I hadn't have shot poor Delia, I'd have had her for my wife...Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone...First time I shot her, I shot her in the side...' Well, by the time I got around to shooting poor Delia for the second time, the clerk was in shock. She turned to my mom and said, 'Ma'am, does he not know any nursery rhymes?'"
It wasn't long, though, before the young Trevino did begin to fully understand and appreciate country music on his own. By age 5 or 6, he'd already begun pestering his folks to buy him a guitar. When he was 7, they honored his request and arranged for him to take lessons. After three years of guitar lessons, he'd already become so proficient that he could learn and play new music "by ear." Singing began as a by-product. As Justin learned and played guitar chords, singing along was simply a way for him to give those chords a purpose. Although he is well respected today as a bass guitarist, most of Justin's followers are drawn to his singing - which he has developed without a single vocal lesson.
EARLY CAREER
Trevino grew up while artists like Curtis Potter, Darrell McCall and Justin Tubb were still commonly heard on the air, and he shared their appreciation for the country shuffle. His favorite - the big one - was Texas legend Johnny Bush.
Justin recalled, "The first time I heard him sing, I said to myself, 'My God, there's a singer for ya. When I was 10, I set out to collect all of his records and they were all out of print. It took me a few years, but I got them."
By the time he was 13, Trevino had formed his own band, Sunset Country. The group played honky tonks in and around Austin, most notably a monthly gig at Henry's Bar & Grill in North Austin.
Four years later, he landed the gig he wanted most: leading the Sunday afternoon jam session at Harry Weiss' Red Eye Saloon, which was inside San Antonio's Eisenhauer Road Flea Market. He knew that his idol, Johnny Bush, sometimes came to sit in. One day after Weiss heard Trevino singing "Whiskey River," Bush's signature song, he remarked how much the young man sounded like Bush and promised to introduce the two of them. Weiss made good on that promise a couple of weeks later.
"I'm up there singing that afternoon and Johnny gets up on the stage and announces, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I'm a little under the weather. I've got a real bad cold, I'm kinda hoarse, and I can't sing. I've been told that this young man knows all my songs. What I'm gonna do is sit here and play lead guitar, and he's gonna sing my songs. So, you can look at me and listen to him.'"
Trevino started with "Undo the Right." By the time he finished 45 minutes later, he and Johnny were fast friends. Johnny considered Justin to be like a son to him, and he was quick to tell people, "Justin was my biggest fan until I heard him sing. Then I became his!"
In the early 90s, while continuing to perform with his own band, Justin also played bass for Don Walser, Cornell Hurd and, later, also with Darrell McCall. In 1994, while still continuing to do shows on his own and with the other bands, Justin began a 11-year run as a "Bandolero" in Johnny Bush's band. He played bass and sang harmony throughout the 11 years; but nearly from the beginning, he also opened the shows with 45 minutes as lead vocalist before Johnny came on stage.
In Texas country music circles, it's a huge source of pride for musicians to be able to say they've been a Bandolero. They all have their reasons. For Justin, though, it wasn't just about the thrill of playing with a Texas legend who was also his idol, mentor and good friend.
"John was always so good to the band, but what I liked most was being the 'weak link' on stage. I got to know the guys in the band by following John's shows as well as occasionally sitting in on bass for the Bandoleros or other bands the guys played with. They were all such incredible musicians - the best, bar none, of those doing real country music at the time. They took their craft seriously but were always willing to share knowledge and give feedback. I constantly learned and grew as a musician from them. You have no idea how much of an education it was!"
RECORDING LAUNCH
Johnny Bush wasn't Justin's only musical benefactor. Although he sometimes sat in on bass for Don Walser, Trevino was never an official member of Don's band. Nonetheless, Walser took Trevino under his wing. He prompted Justin to record a demo so he could pitch it to his new label. Walser's band helped with the recording. Walser's record label didn't pick up Trevino's recordings, but Justin released the album himself two years later, in 1998. The title track from that album, "Texas Honky Tonk," is still considered by many to be his signature song...and it is certainly one of the most requested at Justin's performances.
Since releasing Texas Honky Tonk in 1998, Justin has recorded and produced 15 more albums.
As if singing, songwriting and playing bass weren't enough to feed Justin's all-consuming passion for true country music, in 1997, he began recording in his home studio in Martindale, Texas. After having two of his own albums under his belt, he began recording and producing for other artists who were interested in making traditional country records. It wasn't long before his friend, Tracy Pitcox, approached Justin about engineering and producing albums for Pitcox's newly formed record label, Heart of Texas Records. Although Tracy and the artists on his label are still chief clients for Justin, he also engineers and produces albums for quality traditional country musicians who are independent or on other labels. Justin runs his recording and production business from a building constructed on the Heart of Texas Music Association campus in Brady, Texas. Brady has been home to Justin and Sissy (Elizabeth), his wife, since 2008.
HEROES AND FRIENDS
Although Justin has been honored with numerous high-profile appearances and awards as producer and vocalist, he says there are two things much more rewarding to him in his career nowadays.
First, it's the ongoing opportunity to be on stage with his heroes and friends.
"Even though I enjoy singing and doing shows with my own band, I love the opportunities I have, especially through Heart of Texas, to get on stage with talents like the late Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall and Tony Booth. They were my heroes when I began my career and they were/are great friends today.
"Similarly, it was a special joy to be able to help Amber Digby when she was first starting out. Now I get to experience in a unique way how she has matured as a singer and polished her performance and band. It's a great feeling to have such a wonderful friendship that began with our shared passion for real country music, but it's even more of a treat to experience and share in Amber's accomplishments there on stage as her duet partner.
"It's hard to explain, but another reason I like being on stage as the "band" rather than "front man" is because it gives me a chance to do the harmony vocals. It's a different kind of challenge to match a lead singer's cadence, articulation, pitch and delivery style. Most vocalists change these up for live performances versus how they do it in studio, so you can't really prep for some of the nuances simply by listening to their CDs. I enjoy learning their styles and being kept on my toes to match their delivery on any given night."
DISCOGRAPHY
Since recording, producing and releasing his first album, Texas Honky Tonk, on his own in 1998, Justin Trevino has released another 15 albums. The albums reflect more than his signature vocals. They showcase his versatility and talent as songwriter, bass player, sound engineer and producer - as well as his passion for traditional country music. His latest album, “One Tear At A Time (The Acoustic Sessions)” was released in July 26, 2024. Since 2004, Justin has been recording on the Heart of Texas Records label.
Click on this link to view discography: https://www.justintrevino.com/audio
PRESENT AND FUTURE
Whether leading his own band or playing bass and singing harmony with another band, Justin maintains a full schedule of live performances. You'll continue to find him in any number of Texas dance halls, as well as being the returning favorite at festivals and special events stateside and in Europe. He always enjoyed hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree during occasional trips to Nashville. He accommodates numerous requests to perform at private events as well.
Although he prefers to be a quiet force behind the scenes, Justin also invests in "paying it forward," working closely with select young, talented artists who are also passionate about real country music.
"We all know that Nashville has kinda taken a left turn. For a lot of reasons, our 'brand' of true Texas country music isn't likely to become as mainstream as it was when my heroes were making a name in the dance halls and on the airwaves. Even so, there are still people who want to hear the real deal, and there are some younger musicians who are passionate enough that they won't sell out, even though they know they're swimming upstream.
"A career as a musician, no matter what genre, can be a tough row to hoe. To choose to do what you feel is right rather than what is most popular is even tougher. I get it. I can't spread myself too thin, but when I meet a person who is both talented and driven enough to deliver great traditional country music despite the odds, heck, yeah, I'm going to help."
As to his plans for the future, Justin will keep on singing, playing, recording, fostering and supporting true Texas country music. "This music is my life. I'm going to keep on doing what I can to breathe more life into it. It's who I am, and it's what I do.”
AWARDS:
Academy of Western Artists: Trevino was recognized for his work as a Pure Country Record Producer and received the Song of the Year award.
Terry Award: This award was given to Trevino for producer of the year.
CMA of Texas Artist of the Year: Trevino was named the CMA of Texas Artist of the Year in 2019.
Ameripolitan Male Western Swing Vocalist of the Year in 2019.
Cowtown Society of Western Swing Hall of Fame: Trevino was presented with this award in 2024.
An interview with StarVista Music on the release of Justin Trevino’s first acoustic album, “One Tear At A Time.”
Classic Country Artist Justin Trevino Releases His First Acoustic Album
“One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions)” Available on July 26, 2024
Brady, TX (July 26, 2024) -- Award-winning honky tonk artist Justin Trevino will release “One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions)” on July 26, available for streaming via StarVista Music and on CD via Heart of Texas Records. His first acoustic collection, the album features all-new recordings of 15 songs he has loved performing throughout his career, along with four new songs and a bonus track, the album’s only one recorded with a full band.
Listen to “One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions)” HERE:
“I’ve been such a fan of songwriters all my life and am always struck by how people go to great lengths to write really incredible songs,” Trevino explains. “So, when it came time to record this album, I picked ones that I thought were lyrically strong and would shine through in an acoustic setting. I hope that people will really take in these lyrics and appreciate the craftmanship that went into them.”
“One Tear at a Time” includes “She Knows My Weaknesses” by Kent Finlay, “one of the prettiest love songs I’ve ever heard and I just knew an acoustic treatment would work for it,” three songs by Trevino and three by Bill Anderson (“Right About Now,” “I Don’t Have Any Place to Go” and the bonus track, “I Think I’ll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep”). “I had cut that song 21 years ago but never released it,” Trevino recalls. “But when I went into the studio to make the acoustic version, I quickly realized that I really wanted to put the original one out, even though it was with a full band.” Anderson also gave Trevino a new song, “Right About Now,” reflecting the spirit of the album.
Trevino also recorded “What if the Tables Were Turned,” which he originally wrote for one of his heroes, Curtis Potter. “He passed away before he got to cut the song, so I did my level best to honor him and sing it like he would have.” “Jealously Insane” is a tribute to another key figure in Trevino’s life, the late Johnny Bush. “He wrote ‘Jealously Insane’ years ago, but it originally only had a verse and chorus. In recent years, he had written a second verse but never got to record it before he passed in 2020. I’m probably the only person besides him that knows those new lyrics and felt it was my duty to preserve this for him and not let them get lost to the sands of time. Being able to record this new verse is incredibly special to me.”
The collection also features a bluegrass song, “Windy City” with Dana Cupp on banjo, and the original demo version of the title track, “One Tear at a Time.” “I wrote that with Guyanne McCall back in 2005 and at the time I was so into it when I cut the demo that Guyanne said, ‘my goodness, you are singing your tail off.’ I still love that version, so rather than redo it, I added the original recording to the new album.”
“This will probably be the only album that I do with this acoustic treatment and is a real bucket list project for me,” he explains, “and I filled it with my go-to songs, the ones I’d play if somebody just put a guitar in my hands and said ‘go for it,’ like I’m just sitting in a circle with friends and picking.” “My heart will always belong to honky tonk, but ‘One Tear at a Time’ was made with a different kind of energy so that the lyrics get all the attention.”
A country music old soul since childhood, Trevino’s near-encyclopedic knowledge of classic country artists, songwriters and their music has shaped his career and inspired his fresh take on traditional sounds. Prophetically named after Justin Tubb, his father’s favorite songwriter, Justin recalls, “My parents used to take me with them to honky tonks so by the time I was five or six, I knew I wanted to be a singer for a living. I started taking guitar lessons when I was 7 and at 12 or 13, my dad and I were out looking for gigs. When you’re a teenager, you don’t really think that you’re an ‘old soul,’ but I knew the music I was making was not the music that my friends dug.” Since then, Trevino has released 16 albums, is a highly sought-after producer, received awards for Pure Country Record Producer and Song of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists, a Terry Award for producer of the year and has been named the CMA of Texas Artist of the Year. In 2019, he was named Ameripolitan Male Western Swing Vocalist of the Year in 2024 was presented the Cowtown Society of Western Swing Hall of Fame award.
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“One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions)” Track Listing:
1. One Tear At A Time
2. If You'll Hold The Ladder
3. Healing Hands of Time
4. As Long As There's A Sunday
5. Calm Before The Storm
6. Cowpoke
7. Rainbow In Daddy's Eyes
8. Jealously Insane
9. Right About Now
10. What If The Tables Were Turned
11. My Joy
12. She Knows My Weakness
13. Windy City
14. Pride Goes Before A Fall
15. Rainbow Colored Words
16. I Don't Have Any Place To Go
17. Closer To The Vine
18. Cheating Was Good While It Lasted (With Erin Caldwell)
19. I Still Can't Believe You're Gone
20. I Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself To Sleep
Musicians:
Acoustic Rhythm/Electric Bass Guitars-Justin Trevino, Steel Guitar-Jim Loessberg, Lead Guitar-Charley Walton, Fiddle/Harmony Vocals-Grace Partridge, Upright Bass-Howard Douthey, Banjo-Dana Cupp, Mandolin-Randy Lindley
Bonus Track: Dicky Overby (steel), Bobby Flores (fiddle), Smiley Reynolds (drums), Debra Hurd (piano), DeeJee Overbey (harmony vocals) and Justin Trevino (electric bass)
