Country music drives Homer Hart
As finance manager for a local auto dealership, Homer Hart spends his days working with customers wanting to buy a car or truck.
But when he’s not crunching the numbers, the Knoxville native puts on a cowboy hat, grabs his guitar and heads for a stage to sing and play country music that always “comes from the heart.”
Hart will perform at the balloon festival Friday the 26th at 7 p.m.
“I’ve been singing as long as I can remember,” said Hart, who’s 32. “I drove my parents crazy with all the singing from the time I was 5 years old.”
An uncle gave the youngster a guitar when Hart was 11 and showed him how to play.
“I picked it up immediately and have had a love for playing and singing ever since.”
Breaking into show business is tough, Hart admits. In 2004 he began playing in local clubs and restaurants, where an audience might be counted on the fingers of one hand.
“It was kind of frustrating starting out. In fact, sometimes the only people there were the other musicians and their girlfriends.”
As his fan base grew and more people turned out for his shows, Hart still waited for a break. In 2005 he got it when a friend took him to Nashville to attend the Country Music Television awards show.
“We had the opportunity to meet and network with some of the biggest names in country music at the time, including Jason Aldean and members of the band “The Three Kings,” who play all the music on Aldean’s albums.
“It was a pivotal moment,” Hart said. “I got to jam with them, and they said they liked what they heard and offered to help me record a CD at Big records in Nashville.” The CD, self-titled “Homer Hart,” should be out in 2009.
Since then, music has become much more than just playing and singing.
“It’s become my way of life and my passion,” the Highland Christian Academy alumnus said.
Hart’s current singles include “Whiskey and Your Memory,” “Baby Don’t Move” and “Old Me,” available online.
Says popular WIVK radio DJ Jack Ryan, “We put one of Homer’s songs on WIVK at night to get the listeners’ response and the phones blew up! Our audience loved it.
“He has a unique sound not found in country music. And our programming staff agreed and picked him as one of our top seven up-and-coming East Tennessee artists. I'm just not sure how much longer we’ll be able to keep him here in Knoxville. It may not be long before Nashville comes knocking at his door.”
Of course, every country music singer aspires to perform the Grand Ole Opry, and Hart is no different. Even if he never makes it to the “big time,” he says he’ll continue to play and sing.
“I have always played and performed for the fun and enjoyment of the music and the message it brings,” he said. “If you’re in the business just for the money, you need to get out.
“My dad, who passed away in 2002, and uncle always told me that if I surround myself with good people, everything else will work out. I’ve tried to live my life according to those words. It’s a really good feeling when someone believes in your dream as much as you do.”
As for a country music “hook,” Hart isn’t sure he needs one. Yes, he wears the familiar hat, plays guitar and wears cowboy boots.
“I’ve definitely got a lot of Hart,” he jokes.
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