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A year and a half after the late country singer’s death from cancer, Grillin & Chillin Alehouse hosted American Soldier: A tribute to Toby Keith, performed by Texas musician DeWayne Terry.
According to Alehouse owner Chuck Frowien, the Aug. 8 event, which opened with Reno’s Left Of Centre Band, drew more than 200 people to the ticketed event, which is unusual for the venue, known for its free music performances.
Hollister resident Nicole Lorusso said she wanted to come because she had seen both bands before, including a performance in the Hollister Concert series, and had gotten to know members of Left of Centre.
“I love country music,” she said. “And I really like the musicians. It’s hard to pick just one favorite song. I love them all. And I enjoy the way this music brings people together. I think that’s a lot of fun.”
Headline DeWayne Terry has been a professional musician under his own name for many years, and once appeared on the reality show “Nashville Star.” He has been nominated for a Josie Award as “Male Tribute Artist of the Year.”
Terry told BenitoLink that people had told him for years that he looked like Toby Keith and that he should form a tribute band.
“This is something I had never considered,” he said. “It was hard to imagine being anything other than myself on stage.”
Keith, a 14-time Academy of Country Music Award recipient, died in February 2024 after a long battle with stomach cancer.
“I am having a lot of fun with the music now,” Terry said, “keeping the music alive and meeting a lot of great people.”
Frowein said he particularly enjoys Left of Centre because the group can easily move from country to rock and roll to reggae.
“They are a great band,” he said. “They will go from one song in the middle to another song and bring it all together. It makes it a fun experience.”
Frowein said that there were extra expenses in booking the two bands because they came from such a distance to perform, which is why the show required tickets.
“We do this sometimes with bigger bands,” Frowein said. “But we also have local bands, like the Chicano All-Stars and San Benito County Line, which knock it out of the park and bring in a big crowd.”
Frowein said he enjoys bringing touring events to the community and, looking at the crowd, saw musicians from other local bands in the audience.
“Music, I think, brings people together in friendships and good times,” he said. “And there’s something about music that is just a fun time.”
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