Biography

He’s a throwback to the guitar-toting country troubadours of yesteryear and at the same time a product of the rock and roll era, certainly the only performer of his kind in the greater Chicagoland area.

For the last decade, he’s sub-billed himself as The Voice That Remembers. It’s an apropos title, for Rose remembers plenty.

Rose’s musical odyssey has twisted and turned through the folk era, Chicago’s late ‘60s/early ‘70s rock scene, a short stint in teenaged country star Tanya Tucker’s road band, a spot playing saxophone in a vintage soul combo, and a lengthy tenure crooning pop standards with a society orchestra. But he’s best suited for where he’s at right now: singing his own wonderfully crafted material as only he can, usually in a solo setting.

One Riot, One Ranger, Rose’s 2005 full-length CD debut, presented him in a solo setting. On All That American Night, he’s backed by a sizzling band. Instead of recording near home, Rose and producer Chris Casello journeyed to Nashville’s Fry Pharmacy Recording with studio vets Jimmy Johnson on bass and John McTigue on drums. Casello doubled as the primary guitarist.

Kent’s musical concept is anything but old-fashioned. His influences on this all-original album are unabashedly vintage—Buddy Holly, Hank Williams, maybe a little Roy Orbison. But his writing is fresh and vibrant, his voice ringing and vital.