About

Although the Honky Tonk Truckers was officially founded in 2006 the band can trace its country rock roots and life-long friendships back to the late 1970s. It was around the summer of 1976 when the various members of the band all met while playing the club and concert circuit in Lancaster and the surrounding communities of California's Antelope Valley.

Over the last 30 years the members of the band have joined forces more than once and played in several different bands together. Some of those bands familiar to those from the Antelope Valley would include the Edgar Kelly Band, Rainbolt, Gravel Road, Runaway Train, and the Rum Runners.

Early in the Spring of 2006, bassist Monroe Conner and keyboardist John Landon were looking for a new musical direction after deciding it was time to retire from their long-time and highly-successful classic rock band. the Rum Runners. Playing classic rock just didn't seem as rewarding as it used to be and it was time to face the fact that after 15 years of playing classic rock there were not too many songs they hadn't played. Monroe and John had been playing a few country gigs with the Runaway Train Band and forming their own hard hitting, honky tonkin', rockin' country band just seemed like a natural direction to take.

While searching for a guitar player and drummer for their new project they contacted their old friend and southern rock virtuoso guitarist, Rich Valpey. Rich had been playing country with the Gravel Road Band from Tehachapi for the last several years. He had also occassionally filled in and played with the Rum Runners and his powerful singing and soulful southern rock style of guitar playing seemed like a natural fit for the new group.

Rich suggested that he bring along another old friend to the audition, drummer Bill Stevens. After the first rehearsal, there was no need to audition any other players, and Rich and Bill were asked to join the band. The Honky Tonk Truckers was almost complete but something was still missing, a little bit of the "Bakersfield Sound".

While playing Rockin' Rodeo in Bakersfield with the Runaway Train Band a lifelong friendship was made between Monroe and club manager Gary Morris. Monroe told Gary he was starting a new country band but was looking for a real country guitarist with the "Bakersfield Sound" or a steel guitar player to round out the new group. Gary told him, "I got just the guy for you, this guy is one hell of a guitar player and he also plays steel." The number he gave him was Monroe's old friend who he hadn't seen in about 25 years, Bryan Calande. Monroe called Bryan and asked him to come jam with he band to see if it would be something he would be interested in getting involved with. Bryan said it would be great to see an old friend and see if there was any magic between the members of the group. He agreed to sit in at the next gig.

The band's next gig was over the July 4th weekend at Desert Tortoise Days in California City. After the first set with Bryan, it bacame apparent that there was indeed some magic and chemistry between the players in the band. Bryan's red hot country guitar licks and his soulful steel guitar sound was exactly what the band needed to add a distinct cutting edge country flavor to their music. At the end of the night, Bryan agreed to join the band and the line up was complete.

Although the band was now complete, they still had not decided on a name for the new group. Several different names and ideas were being kicked around but the group just could not come up with a distinct and catchy name that described their direction and sound. When they finished their show that night, someone in the crowd said, "you guys are some honky tonkin' mother *uckers". Liking the ring of the phrase, but not wanting to directly quote the profane statement the hybrid and unofficial version (Honky Tonkin Mother Truckers) was created. In the end, the name was shortened to the Honky Tonk Truckers and officially sanctioned as the signature trademark for the band's hard rockin', honky tonkin', country rock music.