An American Dreamer: The Kent Blazy Story

An American country songwriter born in Lexington, Kentucky, Kent Blazy is a proven hitmaker and proud member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, celebrated for his enduring melodies and straight-from-life lyrics has announced the release of the second single, “American Dreamers,” off the long-awaited album, Where I Am Now.

“American Dreamers,” written solely by Blazy, narrates two six-string strummers from a garage-born rock & roll dream to life on the road, writing songs and chasing the horizon. Fueled by the Byrds, the Beatles, Dylan, and the Eagles, they run full throttle through summer heat and winter cold, crammed in a Chevy van. It’s a heartfelt salute to believers with no backup plan, still chasing the song that can change the world.

The new single showcases the talents of an exceptional team of musicians and engineers who helped bring Kent Blazy’s vision to life. Studio musicians include Steve Allen (guitars), Kevin Murphy (drums), Lee Francis (bass), and Blazy himself on guitars and vocals. Engineering was handled by Chris Utley and James Viega, with mastering by Utley, ensuring the project’s warm, dynamic sound that perfectly complements the heartfelt storytelling throughout.

I sat down with Kent and we discussed everything from his new album, how he sees himself as a songwriter, on through to who was the first person to put a guitar in his hands and even his love for dogs!

Being that Where I Am Now is your 9th studio album, and traces your journey back through your roots and music that shaped your life, how did your creative sound differ here on this new recording as opposed to your previous outputs? - “On the new record, I set out to capture the musical diversity that AM radio offered when I was growing up. You could hear The Beatles, Tammy Wynette, Frank Sinatra, every kind of style that permeated life. There were no categories. The songs on this record range across country, rock, folk, and a little jazz. It also tells the story of what shaped me: the move from Woodstock, N.Y., to Kentucky; the impact of the music and records I listened to; the bands I played in; watching other musicians chase the same dream, some making it, some giving up, and the people who helped me, one way or another, get to where I am now.”

Indeed, what were some of the biggest obstacles along the way to bringing this album to fruition and how did you overcome them? - “The main obstacle was getting the players, engineers, and studio to all find a window to do this. We were ready in late May, yet it didn’t all come together until late July.”

As for the album, I understand that it was recorded at Allentown Recording Studio in Nashville and is being touted as one where it not only honors your musical journey thus far, but one you have also admitted might just be your favorite project to date, so can you please explain just why you feel this way; within the context of how it came together, both thematically and musically? - “It was almost the same as the last record: I wasn’t planning on making a record, and these songs started coming out. I think “Music Meant Something” and “The America I Grew Up In” came first. The next was “Where I Am Now,” so I had the bookends of the record. From there, I filled in the years in between.”

Indeed, a lot of words and terns have already been used to describe your music over the years, but how would you yourself sum up your sound on this new album ... and in just five (5) words? - “All Over the Board.”

Who was the very first person to put a guitar in your hand, what was the first song you were taught, and to this day which is the one song you still cannot completely master perfectly on the guitar (and why)? - “My parents got me a guitar for Christmas. The picture is on the cover of Have Guitar, Will Travel. I think the first song I could really play, and sing was “Green, Green Grass of Home,” written by Nashville writer Curly Putman, which became a huge pop hit for Tom Jones. I had sprained my ankle playing basketball and was on crutches, so I was on the couch a lot with nothing to do but learn guitar. There are so many songs I haven’t mastered (lol). I was mainly an electric-guitar-playing singer in my younger days, yet once I moved to Nashville I concentrated on songwriting, mainly on an acoustic guitar.”

Please tell us (in a couple of sentences or less) a little more about what these tracks noted below mean to you and how they came to be:

One Any Given Day - “This is a song of gratitude for every day I have in this life and an acknowledgment that the clock is ticking, better do what I want to while I can.”

A Breeze - “This is a tribute to the amazing woman who puts up with a kind-of-crazy creative writer/musician. She makes life flow so easily for me and reels in the string when my kite gets too far out.”

Music Meant Something - “I’m so glad I grew up in the age of vinyl, the amazing covers, the info on the back about who did what. It was an experience. We spent our hard-earned money to buy one record, and we had to get to a record store somehow. We sat and listened to the whole record, with and without friends there to share the excitement. Streaming has changed all of that.”

Gone Side of Goodbye - “This is the story of a friend who I thought had the perfect marriage and what she went through in the aftermath. The good part is I ended up marrying her!”

And was Where I Am Now always going to be the albums name or was there another that nearly won the race come the time to take your hands off the project? - “Once Upon a Rhyme,” I love that song, and it bounced back and forth, yet it’s all part of “Where I Am Now,” so it became the first cut on the record instead.”

Being that we’re not called Exclusive Magazine for nothing, is there a hidden message, a secret notation or an easter egg to be found amongst all the tracks assembled for this recording? - “I don’t think I’m that smart (lol). I think the not-so-hidden message is: life is an adventure; the good and the perceived bad are all part of it. It’s about learning to be grateful for all of it and being open to where that might unexpectedly take you.”

Noting the amount of exceptional studio musicians on the album I’m wondering who you were the most excited about joining the project? - “Lee Francis is an amazing bass player and session leader. When I think I have songs for a record, I call him; he comes over, and I play him the songs. If he says I have a record, we call the other guys, work out arrangements, and then go in and record. We cut ten songs in six hours this time—that’s how exceptional they are.”

What are some of the last albums (CD, vinyl, cassette, et al) you physically purchased (vintage and/or new releases) and which one have you already gone back to listen to more and why? - “Jason Isbell and Rodney Crowell, two of my favorite songwriters—are always inspirational. Steve Allen, my guitar player, was in the power-pop band 20/20 and released a new record this year. I bought it on vinyl. I go back and listen to Jason’s records because my car still has a CD player, imagine that!”

What would you like all the readers of this interview to know about the new album and what to expect? - “The crowds who’ve heard the songs from the new record really resonate with what the songs are saying to them, and that’s always what I hope for.”

And yes, we ask everyone we interview this very same question (as we are putting together a kid’s book). We here at Exclusive Magazine love Penguins and so we were wondering if you had any love for them and/or had a story of one (soft toy, zoo, chocolate bar, relative, etc.) that you could share with us? - “I’m a dog lover and have always had them. We had two, and I was looking for a Berne doodle, and I “conjured” him up in April. His name was Arthur when I got him, but within three days I realized he was a Kramer. He’s a 55-lb, 2½-year-old big baby, always happy and always making me smile and laugh. He thinks he’s a 15-lb lap dog and loves to snuggle.”

And finally, we asked Kent to kindly provide a never-before-seen photograph of himself. One that perfectly personified their readiness for the world to hear his new musical endeavor. And kindly, this is what he sent (along with a description).