Hit after hit, Montgomery Gentry will play it all at Lakes Jam

Montgomery Gentry, who describe themselves as blue collar workers living the songs they sing, will give Brainerd lakes area country fans an "energy packed show" when they hit the Lakes Jam stage.

Montgomery Gentry-the country duo of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry-will perform on country night at 6 p.m. June 24 at Lakes Jam, a three-day outdoor music fest which features a rock and roll and country night at Brainerd International Raceway grounds, off Highway 371 north of Baxter.

Montgomery Gentry hit the national scene in 1999 and have maintained a successful career having 14 Top 10 singles, including "Something To Be Proud Of," "If You Ever Stop Loving Me," Lucky Man," "Back When I Knew It All" and "Roll With Me."

"We've been fortunate to be doing this for the past 18 years," Gentry said in May in a telephone interview. Gentry and Montgomery were in Florida getting ready for a show.

"Our shows are energy packed and the rowdier the crowd gets the rowdier the show is," Gentry said of their upcoming show at Lakes Jam. "We'll be playing hit after hit, all the hits that people have made popular for us. We're working on a new album right now and just finished recording the last four songs. We're hoping to have the new music worked into the (Lakes Jam) show."

Gentry said "My Town" and "Something To Be Proud Of" are two songs that have special meaning to many people. Gentry said "My Town" relates to everyone as it doesn't matter where people live, they always will have their hometown where they grew up.

"We always hear that when we sing this song it takes people back to their youth, to their hometown where they grew up," Gentry said. "We went back to our hometown and recorded the video."

Gentry said "Something To Be Proud Of" is special to Montgomery and himself as it celebrates the men and women veterans who served and they are proud of them.

Montgomery Gentry is working on two new greatest hit albums. Gentry said he wanted to do a project where people who are not familiar with their music could listen to one or two albums and be familiar with their type of music.

Gentry said he and Montgomery got started in the mid to late '80s and they met through Montgomery's brother, John Michael Montgomery, who was playing music in clubs back in their hometown. Gentry said they'd sing together when they both were in town. Gentry is from Lexington, Ky., and Montgomery is from Lancaster, Ky., and they grew up about 20 miles apart.

"The reason why we are so successful today is we were close friends before we became business partners," Gentry said. "We have a brotherly relationship. If we disagree about something we walk away, come back and talk about it later without fighting about it. We've had this closeness and we've been able to make this work for the past 18 years and we will for the next 18 years."

When asked about how the two men came up with using their last names as a band name-and how they figured out who's name would be listed first-Gentry said they started out as Deuces Wild, then were called just Deuce and then were branded as Montgomery Gentry, as the record company people always referred to them as the "Montgomery Gentry boys" when they saw them.

"It just stuck with us," Gentry said of Montgomery Gentry. "It just rolls off the tongue much better too than Gentry Montgomery."

Gentry's early influences were George Jones, Randy Travis, Hank Williams, Jr. and Merle Haggard. Gentry was an avid country radio listener as a child and loved listening to George Jones on his father's eight track.

As a teenager, Gentry began doing guest vocals with area bands and eventually landed a gig with a local Lexington, Ky., group. Due to his talent, Gentry won the 1994 Jim Beam National Talent Search in Nashville, which led to opening slots for Patty Loveless, John Michael Montgomery, Tracy Byrd and Eddie Rabbitt.

Montgomery's early influences were Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., Charlie Daniels, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard.

At around 5 years old, Montgomery began performing with his parents' band, Harold Montgomery & Kentucky River Express. When he reached his teens he joined his father's band full-time and replaced his mom, Carol, as the group's drummer.

Gentry said they have been fortunate to be in the music business for almost two decades. Gentry said to have so many hits and awards has been a blessing.

Montgomery Gentry has earned American Country Music and Country Music Association awards, and sold several million albums and been honored with memberships into the Grand Ole Opry and, in April of 2015, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame. Montgomery Gentry said they grew up listening to many of the country stars who played at the Grand Ole Opry and for them to also play there and to be honored there is something they'll never forget.

"We appreciate all of our fans and are happy to entertain," Gentry said. "We want people to forget all their worries for about an hour and a half."

If You Go:

• Lakes Jam 2017.

• When: June 22-24.

• Where: Brainerd International Raceway.

• June 22: Dylan Jakobsen, 2 p.m.; 32 Below, 4 p.m.; Chris Hawkey, 6 p.m.; Locash, 8:30 p.m.; and Chris Janson, 10 p.m. On the secondary stage will be Steele River Band.

• June 23: Fabulous Armadillos, 4 p.m.; Buckcherry, 6 p.m.; Bret Michaels, 8 p.m.; and Skillet, 10 p.m. On the secondary stage will be Kat Perkins at 11:30 p.m.; Analog Drifters at noon; and Fookey at 2 p.m.