The J-TAC

Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Tyler McCollum Ben Hussey started plying guitar when he was 16 years old.

The local music scene is on the rise and the number of musicians playing around town is drawing larger crowds than ever before. These individuals who strap on their guitars every week are finding more followers of the music than in past years.

Ben Hussey is one individual who has been playing around town since he came to Tarleton in 2004. The 21-year-old from Fort Worth has been playing guitar and writing songs since before the age of 16. Music has been his life and his earliest memories come from listening to AM radio stations taking in as much of The Beatles and Elvis as possible.

"As a kid I remember being amazed at how good The Beatles were. Their songwriting, harmonies, and intricate musicianship are unmatched." said Ben.

His influences have always been musicians and songwriters like Robert Zimmerman, Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earl, and Jerry Jeff Walker. This is where Ben says his songwriting stems from; he describes it as having deep roots in American folk music from the 60's and 70's. While venturing on to new instruments such as the bass guitar and the mandolin, he keeps his main focus on his songwriting which has been his stronghold for years.

"I have spent some time in recording studios but mainly do my own work at home," says Hussey.

These days Ben works as Larry Joe Taylor's road manager and stays fairly busy wherever they go. He enjoys being able to combine work and good music as he goes from show to show each week.

When asked for one of his best memories on stage, he described the opportunity he had to play with Bob Livingston, former bass player for Jerry Jeff Walker. He said he enjoyed playing with someone who had been part of Jerry Jeff Walker's music. Thursday nights Ben can be found playing at the Rockin' P Bar and Grill with a few friends and says each week it seems to attract more and more people. On almost any night of the week, you can find a musician playing at one of the local restaurants and bars in Stephenville. Some of these locations are The Agave Bar and Grill, The Rockin P Bar and Grill, Tumbleweed BBQ, and The Bull Nettle.

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