Versailles brothers riding into Lexington with Black Opry show at Woodsongs
Brandon and Derek Campbell, better known as The Kentucky Gentlemen, have something in common with country superstar Sturgill Simpson. They are all Woodford County High alums and the Campbell brothers are hoping to carve out a music career themselves.
With rich vocal harmonies that go down sweeter than Kentucky Gentleman bourbon, the twin brothers are one of four bands performing with the Black Opry, a new organization providing opportunities for Black artists in country, blues, folk and Americana music.
The Black Opry show will perform at the Lyric Theatre on March 21.
“This will be our first show in Lexington,” said Brandon Campbell. “We’re thrilled to get back up to Kentucky to play for our friends and family. Getting to do it with the Black Opry at a historic building like the Lyric Theatre is like a dream come true.”
The show will act as a full circle moment of sorts for the brothers, who got their starts in music as children in their local church’s choir just up the road in Versailles. That led into classical piano lessons, mashing keyboards at home with their older brother Quentin and singing along to Disney songs in their bedroom until their parents gave them their first guitars when they turned 12.
Around the same time they were introduced to country music. Oddly enough it came from one of their mother’s therapy clients who would often come in for his appointments holding a radio that was always tuned to country radio. The brothers credit “radio man” for helping turn them on to artists like The Dixie Chicks (now The Chicks) and Garth Brooks, among others.
“The Chicks’ albums got pretty scratched up in the car from being on repeat all the time,” said Derek. “Between ’90’s country and R&B we were always singing along to something growing up. Nobody in our family had a problem with yelling out lyrics either, further encouraging us to embrace who we are and to not shy away from our musical dreams.”
After spending their entire childhoods singing and doing just about everything else together, the brothers went their separate ways for college — Brandon to Columbia College in Chicago and Derek to Indiana University in Bloomington. After just a year out on their own discovering their individual selves the two realized that they were better together. This led both to move back to Kentucky briefly before departing for Nashville, where they live today.
However, their short stint back home did yield one critical detail — a group name. The brothers have their mother to thank for that.
“While discussing the differences between Kentucky, Chicago and Indiana she remarked that ‘No matter where you are, you’ll always be my Kentucky gentlemen,’” said Brandon. “From there the name stuck. Mom always knows best.”
Now in Nashville for over eight years, The Kentucky Gentlemen are beginning to gain momentum in the music industry with a sound they describe as “a whole lot of soul and a whole lot of country.” This description holds up on “Vibin’,” “Whatever You’re Up For” and “Alcohol”, the latter being their latest single coming out on March 25. All three songs are part of the band’s forthcoming debut album co-produced by the multi-Grammy nominated Matt McClure (Lee Brice, Dylan Scott) and Chris Sligh (Rascal Flatts’ “Here Comes Goodbye.”)
But perhaps the biggest development pushing the band to new heights lately has been the Black Opry. Founded last year by country music fan and journalist Holly G, the Black Opry has already built a vast network and tight knit community spread throughout the country in addition to organizing shows in New York City, Houston, Atlanta and Dollywood, among others.
The Kentucky Gentlemen have been a part of many of the Black Opry’s shows and will be joining the organization when it comes to “WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour” on March 21. Other performers include Roberta Lea, Tylar Bryant and Jett Holden.
“It’s incredible how much of a community the Black Opry has built in less than a year’s time,” said Derek Campbell. “Having that camaraderie between like-minded individuals is something that Black people in country music do not take for granted. Despite Black people’s strong influence on the genre many artists have been shut out of the industry for far too long, so it’s nice to have people like Holly working to bring us together to create opportunities where we can all connect and thrive.”
Black Opry at Woodsongs
Who: The Kentucky Gentlemen, Roberta Lea, Tylar Bryant and Jett Holden
When: March 21 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Lyric Theatre, 300 E Third St.
Tickets: $10, LexingtonLyric.com
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 6:00 AM.