Drew Bentley

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Drew’s bio

Drew Bentley first began playing the guitar at age 9 and has now been playing for over 40 years. After taking private lessons and playing in local high school garage bands, Drew went on study the guitar at CCAC. Drew taught his first guitar lesson at the age of 18, while studying music at the college. Only a few years later, after studying jazz guitar at Duquesne university, Drew was able to make performing and guitar instruction his full-time occupation.

Drew has been busy with his performing and recording career. Drew has performed with dozens of bands in hundreds of venues in multiple states. He currently plays with: his own original project, under his own name, along with the Drew Bentley Power Trio, Angel Blue and The Prophets blues band, JD Strum, an original project, City Heat wedding and variety band, Dreamscape wedding and variety band, DaPhunk disco dance band and as a solo artist playing rock/blues/ jazz acoustic and variety of cover music.

As a solo artist, Drew’s music has been played on WDVE and QWIK ROCK 105.9, including the “Professor’s Corner” album review. “Bold Horizon” has been reviewed nationally and covered, in the press, locally as well.

With JD Strum, Drew performed on the 102.5 WDVE morning show, the WBXQ 94.5 Backyard Rocker, the Acoustic Hour On WCCS, WLER 97.7 and IUP radio along with a host of other radio stations. Drew has, as an original act and other, opened for Sister Hazel, Brent Michaels, Carbon Leaf, Low Millions, Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, Molly Hatchet and played second stage for Dave Matthews Band, Kansas and Deep Purple. Drew has been a member of many other notable bands including the Businessmen. In 2005, 2006 and 2009, Drew won Guitar Center’s “King Of The Blues” contest for store 802 along with a number of other song writing and performing competitions.

Along with performing and recording, eight years into full time private guitar instruction, Drew established and still operates, Bentley and Romito Professional Music Lessons LLC. DBA Irwin School Of Music and PT School Of Music. Drew has held the position of guitar instructor at CCAC Boyce Campus and was the guitar instructor for Camp Jam Pittsburgh for 2011 and 2102. While operating B&R Music Lessons, Drew has been active in the community sponsoring the Penn Middle School guitar club, teaching group classes for P.T.A.R.C., being a career day speaker at Franklin Regional and hosting an open stage for the studio. Drew has studied the guitar with Joe Negri, Bill Purse, Mark Koch, Ken Karsh, John Maione, Marty Reidell and Jim Held.

Drew’s recording discography includes; JD Strum’s 2004 LP “Just Another Story” co written/produced by Drew, “A Prelude To The Upcoming Debut Solo Album, 2011 EP written and produced and his latest project and most ambitious projects to date, “Bold Horizon” 2019 LP, a collection of 10 original, instrumental rock/jazz/blues ensemble pieces also written and produced by Drew.

Drew operates a YouTube guitar lesson channel called “Learn Guitar With Drew” and is busy creating guitar lesson courses for sale on line.

Looking ahead, Drew intends to continue to write and record albums, perform his original music, perform in a multitude of bands and projects, continue to grow his lesson studios, create YouTube lesson content, teach privately, teach online, make lesson courses, do clinics and seminars and take his career as far as it will take him.

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Bold Horizon

The instrumental guitar album that I have always wanted to make.

I set out to make my first solo album with some distinct things in mind. Those of you, who know me well, know that I can be, maybe, a bit intense. I wanted to do an instrumental album, like the ones that I’ve always love listening to. “Passion and Warfare”, “Avia Musicom”, “Blow By Blow”, “High Tension Wires”, to name a few. I have wanted to do this type of record dating back to hearing “Rising Force” for the first time, having been blown away by it, and all of the records that I’ve mentioned. I wanted to infuse a number of musical styles, to use a number of different guitars and pedals and amp combinations. I hoped to capture the best sounds that I could and put my heart into it. I wanted to write interesting arrangements for the pieces, to focus on composition and melody and use the guitar to sing. I can certainly say that I gave it my all. The spirit of the music is meant to be uplifting, encouraging and hopefully will give a little joy to a troubled world. Bold Horizon is dedicated to those who want to embrace a spirit of adventure.

set out to make my first solo album with some distinct things in mind. Those of you, who know me well, know that I can be, maybe, a bit intense. I wanted to do an instrumental album, like the ones that I’ve always love listening to. “Passion and Warfare”, “Avia Musicom”, “Blow By Blow”, “High Tension Wires”, to name a few. I have wanted to do this type of record dating back to hearing “Rising Force” for the first time, having been blown away by it, and all of the records that I’ve mentioned. I wanted to infuse a number of musical styles, to use a number of different guitars and pedals and amp combinations. I hoped to capture the best sounds that I could and put my heart into it. I wanted to write interesting arrangements for the pieces, to focus on composition and melody and use the guitar to sing. I can certainly say that I gave it my all. The spirit of the music is meant to be uplifting, encouraging and hopefully will give a little joy to a troubled world. Bold Horizon is dedicated to those who want to embrace a spirit of adventure.

Listen To Bold Horizon