Legends Bar and Grill in Hamilton, Ohio was destroyed by a fire last August. It should re-open in another month. The Marathon Music Showcase/ Fundraiser for Legends Bar and Grill will be held on Sept. 15 at Froggy’s in Monroe, Ohio. The benefit will help will help Legends Bar and Grill restock so they can re-open. Cody Doench will be one of nearly 30 musical acts to perform.
When did you start singing? Well from what I recall I started singing in the back seat of my grandpas old car singing to Ralph and carter Stanley tapes. From then it moved to my older brothers car singing Backstreet Boys.
How would you describe your music? If I had to describe my music it would be a snowball off bluegrass, country, rock and boy band.haha I grew up with a open mind in music and I think it shows in what I play and how I perform my music.
Who are your musical influences? My list musical influences is always growing, I used to sit and listen to tony rice recordings and try and figure out what he’s doing on guitar, then move over to Keith Whitley and try and figure out how he sings they way he does, then watch MTV and figure out how to have stage presence like Otown haha I’m always studying and trying to take notes from everyone, even some back yard jam I will learn something new to influence how I play.
What is your favorite concert you have attended? My favorite concert will probably have to be Randy Houser at J.D. Legends a few years back. The guy has such a powerful voice live and puts on a great show. That or Chris Cagle when I was stationed in New York. Chris has always been one of my favorite artist to see live.
What made it memorable? The memories of those concerts are kinda blurry due to adult beverages, but from what I can remember it was just awesome experience being there when they where out in their element playing their music to us.
What is your favorite place to perform? What do you like about it? My favorite place to perform will always be anywhere anyone will have me. I say that because my music has taken me all over this country and each new place has something the last one didn’t, and that’s new ears to take in what I’ve learned for so many years.
Other than artists, who has been influential in your decision to become a singer? Growing up I listened to bluegrass and I still do everyday, Tony Rice, josh Williams, jimmy Martin those guys made me want to play my guitar and be good. My older brother has a friend that I’ve known since I was a kid that could play dang near everything with strings on it and make it sounds good, he influenced me to no matter how good you think you are, there is always so much more to learn. I’d listen to tapes of tony rice and he said something that I will never forget that influenced me being a musician, and the context of the tape was how to play bluegrass guitar, tony said what you know is in your left hand, who you are is in your right. Ever since then that made me think, try not to be like someone else, that’s why I try and put my own “twang” on every song.
What was the first song you wrote? First song I can remember writing was when I was deployed to Afghanistan for my second deployment my daughter Ally was born two months after I left. I wanted to write her a song if anything where to ever happen to me she would know that I loved her even before she knew who I was. That one gets to me. I’ve written a few but that one gets me.
What is your favorite original song? What was the inspiration behind it? My favorite original song happens to be one that me and a buddy of mine Luke Montgomery wrote a few weeks back. I don’t have a name for such a song yet but I gotta say it’s on my favorite list of original music I’ve done.
Where can people hear your music? And lastly you can find my music on Facebook Cody Doench music and my Instagram Cody Doench music.