Leon Troyer kicks off Spring music events

Thursday, April 12, 2012
Leon Troyer takes a minute to sit and chat on a bench just outside of the Vernon County Courthouse on Wednesday, April 11. Troyer was passing through Nevada on his way to Kansas City and couldn't stay long, but he is the featured act for the kick-off of "Monday Music Nights on the Square" beginning Monday, so he will be back.

Leon Troyer has a natural ear for music, and it's no wonder, since his mother played a guitar the whole time she was pregnant with him.

His father was a musician, too; so it didn't seem unusual when he strummed his "first chords on a guitar" when he was just 5 years old. He's been playing music ever since; and on Monday, he will be the first musician featured in the "Monday Music Nights on the Square."

The Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event and director Gina Ensor said, getting Troyer to play was an issue of "timing." She had been discussing a "concert series" with Frank and Pat Arnold when Troyer stopped by the chamber office to promote his new CD, "The Common Man's Highway," which is a tribute to Route 66. Ensor ran with the idea and thinks it will be "something fun for folks to do."

Troyer is no stranger to this area. He grew up in the western part of the state and has lived here his whole life. He said he would call Garden City, Mo., his hometown, since he graduated from Sherwood High School near Creighton. He lived in Adrian for some time, "did some radio in Butler" and even spent a few months in Nevada in the 90's. Now he lives in Washburn, just south of Cassville.

Over the years Troyer has won many music competitions and played in several bands. He can play the acoustic guitar, bass or six- string electric. He also plays the drums and is accomplished with a trumpet and tuba. Troyer also has a portfolio containing about 150 songs that he's written over the years.

Ten of those are on his new CD. Troyer was asked by producer Gary Smith to write a couple of songs for the CD while he was recovering from an accident -- his career as a heating and cooling technician had been on hold after a car wreck. "The accident gave me time to devote to music" he said, so now he is promoting the music full time. Troyer ended up writing all 10 of the new songs. Now he travels a lot playing and trying to sell the music.

Troyer said he likes playing smaller venues like Nevada. "I pepper as many as I can in there between the big ones," he said. Asked if he was excited to play in Nevada, he replied, "very much so."

Troyer will be performing on the south lawn of the Vernon County Courthouse at 6 p.m. on Monday. He said he would be doing songs from the CD, "cover songs and requests.

The Monday Music Nights on the Square will feature a different musician or group of musicians each week until Bushwhacker Days, according to Ensor. Local entertainers are encouraged to call the chamber of commerce for more information. Youth, church and civic groups also can get involved.

Wood's supermarket is sponsoring the concessions for the concert events and whatever entity works the concession stand during the performance gets to split the proceeds with the chamber, according to Ensor. Residents are encouraged to bring a lawn chair.

For more about Leon Troyer, his music and his new CD go to www.leonthecommonman.com/index.htm.

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