Bronson Hetzer Band

    If you haven't had the chance to check out the Bronson Hetzer Band this past year, you are missing out on some great entertainment featuring a talented group of musicians from the Miami Valley. The band has performed at many area locations including W.O. Wrights, Jackass Flats, McGuffy's, All Sports Bar, and Dixie Cowgirls. The 4-member group - Bronson Hetzer, Dick Wilson, Dennis Chrisman, and Dustin Smith - play a great mix of country and southern rock that always gets the crowd up, dancing, and having fun. Many of the songs are originals written by Hetzer and Wilson. Fan favorites include original songs such as "She's Not the Girl Next Door;" "Young, Dumb & Full of It;" and "He Ain't Seen That Girl Get Crazy."
    Bronson Hetzer sings, plays rhythm guitar, and also composes original songs for the band with his writing partner Dick Wilson. Hetzer credits his grandpa, Fred Reed, for his talent and love for entertaining. Reed, who played the dobro and banjo in a bluegrass band, bought Hetzer his first electric guitar when he was in the 3rd grade. Before long, Hetzer was learning chords and even joining his grandfather on the stage. He soon became interested in writing original songs, and he has been composing, playing, and singing ever since. Hetzer is passionate about music, and he works hard to make his audience really feel what he sings. He likes to write songs about real-life experiences that people can relate to in some way. Hetzer lists George Jones, Keith Urban, Garth Brooks, and Metallica as some of his idols in the entertainment industry, but considers his parents his "real" idols. "They have never questioned my decision to pursue music as a career and have always supported me in any way they could," says Hetzer. Although he is only 21 years old, Hetzer has already shared the stage with an impressive list of singers that includes John Michael Montgomery, Joe Diffie, Darryl Worley, T.G. Sheppard, and Mel McDaniel. On August 8th, Hetzer will add Neal McCoy's name to this list when he opens for Neal at JD Legends. Hetzer is also very excited about his just-released 2nd CD, recorded at Beaird Studio in Nashville this past February. All of the songs were written by Hetzer and Wilson. Both CD's are available at Roadhouse Karaoke and DJ, located at 3810 Dayton-Xenia Road in Beavercreek. Upcoming shows include JD Legends on August 8th; the All Sports Bar in Xenia on August 14th; Dixie Cowgirls on August 21st; and Bojangles on August 29th. The band returns to W.O. Wrights in September. You can check out the current show schedule, and also listen to some of Hetzer's music, by visiting his website at www.MySpace.com/BronsonHetzer.
    Dick Wilson has been involved in the music industry since the age of 12. He plays bass guitar and also doubles as the sound engineer for the Bronson Hetzer Band. He spends a great deal of his time writing with Hetzer and with Nashville recording artist Felicia King. Wilson can also frequently be found working in the recording studio at Roadhouse Karaoke and DJ. Wilson is a talented songwriter, musician, (bass, rhythm, drums and keyboard) and recording engineer. For 13 years, Wilson played with the Von Ryan's Express at festivals, rodeo's, and area clubs. The Von Ryan's Express band also performed at Wright State University in the award-winning musical Bird On the Wing with Billy Edd Wheeler. Wilson ran sound for Bernie's Music as well. He dedicates much of his time and musical experience to help local talents such as Bronson Hetzer, Felicia King, and Chelsea Morgan realize their dreams of achieving success in the music industry. Those that know him well can tell you that Wilson prefers to be quietly "in the background" when he is performing, but he is always willing to devote his time and to offer encouragement and support for anyone that is interested in pursuing a career in the music industry. Wilson often travels to Nashville to attend workshops for songwriters. You can visit his website at www.MySpace.com/etheridgewilson to listen to some of the many songs that Wilson has composed.
    Band member Dennis Chrisman plays lead guitar and also does vocals with the Bronson Hetzer Band.  Chrisman "put aside" his musical career at a young age so that he and his wife of 25 years could raise their three children. Chrisman, who grew up in the Beavercreek and Fairborn areas, has spent the last 28 years working for Dorothy Lane Market, and is currently its Human Resources Director. Early in the spring of 2007, Chrisman decided he would like to return to the music scene, but he views this return as a hobby - not a profession.  Chrisman enjoys singing any kind of music that "rocks," and plays lead, acoustic, and bass guitars with a group of coworkers that formed a band called the DLM Players. He says his involvement with the band is fun and a great way to relieve stress. Chrisman has written several original songs himself, and plans to record them in the studio at Roadhouse Karaoke and DJ.  Chrisman is actively involved in the Bronson Hetzer Band as well. Like Wilson, he truly enjoys helping young, talented performers like Bronson fulfill their dreams of a career in the music industry. You can visit Chrisman's website at www.MySpace.com/dchrismanmusic.
    Rounding out the Bronson Hetzer Band is drummer Dustin Smith. This is Smith's first experience playing with a band. Smith is a young, self-taught drummer, and is full of energy and enthusiasm. He is really loving his first taste of working with a band.
    For more information about the Bronson Hetzer Band,  you can visit the Roadhouse Karaoke website at www.roadhousekjdj.com. ; Remember to stop by Roadhouse Karaoke to pick up Bronson's newest CD, and be sure to get out to see the Bronson Hetzer Band perform!