T.R. & The Boys

Band Biography

Truly a gem to the state of North Carolina , T.R. & The Boys is one of the most refreshing sounds on the bluegrass market. Based out of Fayetteville, NC, T.R & The Boys perform throughout the southeastern United States. Their stage show is held in high esteem by longtime fans and new grassers alike. T.R. & The Boys’ sets are packed with high energy vocals, humor, and talented picking. Their sound features tight vocal harmonies, hard driving music, and beautiful a cappella tunes, all of which combine to form classic bluegrass with a contemporary edge.

T.R. & The Boys began as a gospel trio in 1999. Over the years, their style has evolved into a powerhouse of acoustic and vocal music. Trenton’s lead vocals range from a mellow warmth in the ballads to raw and cutting edge in the progressive numbers. Combining with Trenton’s lead is T.R.’s smooth tenor voice and Devin’s resonant baritone. Together, these three developed lush harmonies that produce their signature sound. In 2001, the trio saw the addition of Buzz on upright bass and Terry on banjo. With the expansion of the band, T.R. & The Boys were able to exploit their instrumental abilities. Trenton and T.R. drive the rhythm guitars while Devin demonstrates instrumental dexterity on mandolin and Terry displays his innovative banjo picking. For their ever popular a cappella hits, Terry balances the upper harmonies with his rich bass voice. Steeped in traditional music, Buzz grounds the quintet with his rock solid bass and timeless lead vocals. Unlike many groups, all five members of T.R. & The Boys take their turn as lead singer. Each voice has a distinct style which contributes to the band’s wide array of songs across musical genres. T.R. & The Boys’ blend of talent and unique personalities allows the group to explore new sounds yet still stay true to their bluegrass roots.

To date, the band has released three albums, two of which include original songwriting. T.R. & The Boys are members of Society for the Preservation of Blue Grass Music in America (SPBGMA) and the High Lonesome Strings.

	T.R. Reid is the group’s founder and band leader. A native of Stanley, NC, T.R. started performing when he was only 4 years old. His first appearances were on the TV music variety show, “Bill Hefner’s Country Style Roundup”, which was telecast in the early 1960’s. In the mid 1970’s, he played rhythm guitar and sang tenor and lead with the bluegrass band, Foxfire. Today, with T.R. & The Boys, his strong musicianship helps shape the sound of the band. T.R. is currently employed by BE&K Engineering, and resides in Fayetteville, NC.
	Singing lead for the band is Trenton Reid. Born and raised in Fayetteville, NC, Trenton started singing around the age of 3. His powerful lead voice is distinctive and has been defined as pure talent. He has unbelievable voice control, and his mix of musical styles from Journey to John Denver, make his sound truly unique. Alongside T.R., Trenton holds down the rhythm guitar for the band. He is currently employed as a Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Family Realty, and as the Manager of the Receiving Department of the Fayetteville Sam’s Club. Trenton recently became a new dad as his wife gave birth to their first child, Tyler. He and his family reside in Hope Mills, NC.
	On the 5 string banjo is Cramerton, NC native Terry Hunsucker. Terry comes to the group with over 30 years of banjo picking experience, playing in numerous bands across the nation. Influenced by J.D. Crowe, Bela Fleck, and the great Earl Scruggs, his fresh approach to the banjo makes his style unlike any other. Terry’s deep bass voice adds a warm hue to the group’s vocal quartet arrangements. With his wonderful sense of humor and big smile, folks can’t help but be delighted when Terry is on stage. After serving in the U.S. Army for over 20 years, Terry is currently retired and resides in Grays Creek, NC with his wife and son.
	A talented musician, Devin Reid plays mandolin and sings baritone. Born and raised in Fayetteville, NC, Devin is also an accomplished guitar & bass player. His true baritone vocal provides wonderful color to the T.R. & The Boys sound. Not limited to just instrumental talents, Devin is also a gifted songwriter. Devin is currently studying Instrumental Music Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where his musical skills include piano, marimba, drums & percussion, along with many more. He is also a distinguished North Carolina Teaching Fellow. Devin is on track to graduate in May of 2009.
	Hailing from Danville, VA, Buzz Slade provides the strong and steady upright bass. Buzz has had a number of years performing bluegrass music in a variety of venues. After 4 years with the band Low Country, he joined T.R. & The Boys in 2001. His thundering hand on bass provides the foundation from which the band’s distinct sound is built. A natural on stage, Buzz’s lead vocal is pure bluegrass. He retired after 22 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, and is currently employed with L3 Communications as an aircraft engineer. Buzz resides in Hope Mills, NC with his wife and two daughters.