The Band / Biographies

The Hickory Wind band provides a “not your normal country” americana sound delivered with fun loving energy.  Featuring the vocals of Cheryll Kent, Hickory Wind brings  a unique vocal and musical quality to the stage.

With over 150 songs in our repertoire, from country, folk, country rock, gospel and classic roots favorites, we can finely craft a performance that will satisfy discriminating audiences.  Performances range from a duo, a trio or the full band.

Hickory Breeze is a performing duo or trio featuring Fred & Cheryll Kent often accompanied by Dan Partain on banjo and guitar, available for more intimate settings or parties.

Band Biographies

Fred Kent has played bass for Cheryll since the rebirth of the bluegrass group Sunny Monday, as well as performing as vocalist.  After a childhood introduction to music through accordion lessons and choir, then high school glee club, Fred played tenor drum and glockenspiel in military marching bands.  Cheryll introduced Fred to the guitar in the 1970’s and through a series of events ended up with a bass guitar at which point Cheryll found her bass player.  His inspiration in style came from the Emery Gordy groove in the Hot Band behind Emmylou Harris.  Fred has performed some of the lead vocals and has written many of the original songs recorded by Hickory Wind over the years.  Fred and Cheryll Kent have been married for over 40 years, and have five daughters.

Dan Partain is a master banjo player and vocalist, whose “high & lonesome” tenor adds an authenticity to our Americana sound.  Dan cut his musical teeth on the banjo during his college days and after stint in the Army, soon joined the “Slab Creek Boys” bluegrass band.  He picked up rhythm guitar in the late 1980’s playing in several other bluegrass groups.   He returned to the banjo through the late 1990’s most notably with “Sierra Blue.”  When Hickory Wind went into the studio, Dan was called upon for rhythm guitar work and banjo and he soon joined the live performances with the band.  Dan alternates his banjo and now electric guitar in both rhythm and lead work,  adds distinctively tasty harmonies and occasionally lead vocals.

Jamie Faw has been a respected drummer with El Dorado county bands for decades. He is a well-known local DJ and active at Shingle Springs Community Center watermarking the “Second Saturday” concert series.  Jamie built “Ravenwood the Studio” a fine, state of the art and affordable recording studio supporting the local music scene.  In addition to his fine “in the pocket” drumming, Jamie adds tasty harmonies to the performances as well as an occasional lead vocal.