Kentucky Blue Collar Band
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2004 in Eastern Kentucky, United States |
| Founder | Goble Cantrell, Mark Rohan, Don Hayes, Dean Ball |
| Headquarters | Eastern Kentucky , United States |
| Products | Music albums |
| Website | www |
Kentucky Blue Collar Band is a country rock group from the United States, established in 2004 in Eastern Kentucky by Goble Cantrell (rhythm guitar, vocals), Mark Rohan (drums), Don Hayes (lead guitar), and Dean Ball (bass guitar). After learning about another Louisville-based group called "Blue Collar Band," they incorporated "Kentucky" into their name, performing as Kentucky Blue Collar Band starting in 2006. In 2008, Marc Currens joined the band, contributing bass guitar and harmony vocals.
Their first album, Rockin' the Road (2006, Huba Records), received airplay on local radio stations. The subsequent release, Long Hard Road (2009), expanded their reach with broader radio exposure, earning the May 2009 song of the month award on Texas’s Hoss the Boss station and setting a new fan voting record in that station’s year-end competition. Their third project, Evolution (2011), produced by Randy Hayes of Digital Basement Studios—who has collaborated with artists such as J.D. Crowe and Tanya Tucker—included a top 40 country hit and continued to ascend music charts.
After performing at events like the CMA Music Festival, Nashville Center Stage, and Shooters Nashville, the band secured a contract with Visionway Records Nashville. Recording sessions for their upcoming album commenced on July 23, 2011, at Black River Studio in Nashville, with plans to release the lead single in September.
The group has been featured in media outlets including Nashville Music Guide and Music Entertainment Magazine and has participated in radio interviews on programs such as Knight Rider Radio and Hoss the Boss. In November 2011, they recorded cover versions of "Wagon Wheel" (originally by Old Crow Medicine Show) and "Hillbilly Rock" (Marty Stuart) at Randy Hayes’ studio; these tracks are intended for a forthcoming album comprising favorite cover songs.
Goble Cantrell
Goble Cantrell, who serves as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, was born on September 11, 1973, in Paintsville, Kentucky, and grew up in West Liberty within Morgan County. His enthusiasm for music emerged early on, inspired by listening to his mother’s 8-Track Stereo featuring artists like George Jones and Conway Twitty. By second grade, he was already performing songs such as Kenny Rogers’ "The Gambler" for his classmates.
At age five, Goble received his first guitar from his grandparents. Throughout his school years, he broadened his musical abilities by playing drums, trumpet, baritone horn, and tuba in several ensembles. After graduating from Morgan County High School in 1992, he devoted greater attention to guitar playing and songwriting by the time he reached nineteen.
In 2002, Goble developed a unique approach by combining drumming and guitar playing while singing simultaneously, which led to crafting his distinctive sound and composing original material. He has authored twenty of the twenty-three tracks featured on KBCB’s last two albums and co-wrote another song with bassist Marc Currens.
Beginning in early 2003, drummer Mark Rohan joined Goble for weekly practice sessions. Don Hayes from Olive Hill was added as lead guitarist in 2004 following several jam sessions. After cycling through three different bassists over time, Marc Currens became part of the lineup in early 2008.
Since then, Kentucky Blue Collar Band has released three studio albums, produced two professional music videos with Kevin Hayes of 371 Digital Films, and signed a recording agreement with Visionway Records Nashville in June 2011.
Mark Rohan
Mark Rohan, known for his skills on drums and percussion, was born on May 23, 1959, in Ludlow, Kentucky. He lived there until the age of 39 before relocating to Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife Ersula.
Inspired by artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Seger, and Alice Cooper, Mark began playing drums during his high school years but ceased due to challenges with reading musical notation. After a period of informal performances with various groups, he reconnected with KBCB's frontman Goble Cantrell in 2003. This reunion rekindled his enthusiasm for drumming, especially since KBCB’s style emphasized playing by intuition rather than sheet music. Mark has been a vital member of the band since its inception eight years ago.
Don Hayes
Don Hayes, the band's lead guitarist, was born in January 1950 in Fairmont, West Virginia. His early years were spent in Whitehall, West Virginia, followed by a move near Akron, Ohio. Don completed his education at Northwest High School in 1968. As a dedicated athlete and musician from early on, he started playing guitar at age sixteen with his first group "Don & Jerry & the Ghost Riders," where he contributed notably to original compositions.
Don cites Don Rich and Duane Eddy among his musical inspirations. Throughout his career, he played with multiple cover bands and continued performing during his US Army deployment in Germany. Although he contemplated stepping away from band involvement after moving to Kentucky in 2002, KBCB’s focus on original music convinced him to join. Since then, Don has been instrumental in developing the band’s distinctive sound and legacy.
Marc Currens
Marc Currens, who handles bass guitar and harmony vocals, was born July 5, 1963, in Lexington, Kentucky. Raised partly in Las Vegas and California before returning to Kentucky, Marc draws influence from the Beatles, Byrds, Rolling Stones, Buck Owens, and The Buckaroos. Proficient in drums, bass, guitar, and vocals, he has performed with groups including Spectra (1993–1996), Deuces Wild (guest appearances 1998–1999), 11:59 (2000–2002), and Kentucky Blue Collar Band (2008–present). Introduced to KBCB by drummer Mark Rohan, Marc quickly became a member and contributed to their Evolution album by co-writing "I Ain't Changin" and "Do It Later," the latter featuring him on lead vocals.
Marc has a son named Marc II (born 1987) from a previous marriage and married Melissa in 1999. The couple resides in Lexington, Kentucky.
Former members
- Ronnie Cole - bass guitar (2004–2005)
- Dean Ball - bass guitar (2005–2007)
- Mike Ball - bass guitar (2007–2008)
Musical styles
The group’s musical identity fuses elements of country music, blues, Southern rock, and metal, marked by rhythm guitar-driven songs that encourage foot-stomping. Lead vocalist Goble Cantrell delivers lyrics with a narrative style reminiscent of Johnny Cash combined with a vocal rasp similar to Bob Dylan. Their original works reflect this mixture—from energetic rock numbers like "The Jam," "Missin' You," and "Blue Collar Man" featured on Long Hard Road to more mellow tunes such as "When I'm Gone," "Should've Been," and "Country Girl" found on Evolution. Catering primarily to blue-collar audiences, their sound has been described by Geno Delora of England's Rebel Rock Show as a "head-on collision with the Marshall Tucker Band." In summary, they define their musical approach as Kentucky Soul.
Albums
- Rockin' the Road (2006) – Released under Huba Records; featuring Goble Cantrell, Mark Rohan, Don Hayes, Dean Ball. Engineered by Steve Wright at HUBA Records, located in West Liberty, Kentucky
- Long Hard Road (2009) – Performed by Goble Cantrell, Mark Rohan, Don Hayes, Marc Currens. Recorded and produced by Randy Hayes at Digital Basement Studios in Jackson County, Kentucky
- Evolution (2011) – Presented by Goble Cantrell, Mark Rohan, Don Hayes, Marc Currens. Production handled by Randy Hayes at Digital Basement Studios, Waneta, Kentucky