Cory Bivens Band

The year must have been about 1985. Me and my mom were in the car listening to the radio. A song called "Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind" came on. I sat there in amazement wondering what I had been missing. I asked, who is that singing. Mom said George Stait. I think it was a subconscious attempt by my mother to turn my interest to something other than KISS. Whether it was or not, I was hooked. Not only by the music but by the look. I was digging the starched jeans and cowboy hat look. I still dabbled with the idea of being a rock star for years but always came back to country music.

Skip ahead a few years and you find me singing in church. Though I can't remember the year, I can remember my first solo. "Joy Comes in the Morning" by Bill Gaither. Scared to death but excited to be the center of attention I belted out the tune. I sang a few more solos throughout the years and got to express my love and praise for God. I still wanted to sing country music though. So, as soon as I graduated high school, the Lord slapped my parents in the pocketbook and said buy this boy a pa. I put up some fliers at the local music store looking for band members. It wasn't long before we were practicing in the living room. We played under the name Cory Bivens and Western Skies for about four years before circumstances and stupidity separated me from the stage.

I got back on stage after a long soul searching removal from the lifestyle. I fronted an existing band for a couple of years without much accomplishment. It just wasn't me. So, I broke away from there and started what is today Cory Bivens Band. I searched through various musicians in the area and eventually came up with the best pickers this side of Dallas.

Kirk Williamson on bass guitar and vocals, Robert Allen on lead guitar and vocals, Ricky Ballenger on lead guitar and mandolin, and Tommy McCoy on drums make up the best band I've ever had the privilege to play with. We recorded an EP on Kirk's dime and had some considerable success with it. But I knew we needed to cut a full length album. Through some research and phone calls I came up with the opportunity of a lifetime. To have Tommy Alverson produce that full length album. We got the chance to spend a week with him and one of the coolest and most experienced engineers around, Patrick McGuire. I got the chance to hear these songs that had been in my head come to life. I got to share my songs about heartbreak, whiskey, and finding true love. And now here we are, 24 years later. Still loving God and singing country music