CHEYENNE

Meet Mark Heinrich, Band Manager and Founder of Cheyenne

Mark Heinrich~ Percussion – Band Manager

Mark was born in Schulenburg, TX January of 1969. Being born in a family full of musicians in a small town must’ve had something to do with his musical influence.  He began playing drums, by ear, when he was only two years old.  He added percussion to his repertoire in his twenties.  In addition to his playing abilities, he also can sing harmony vocals, to complete the package.

Mark started playing with a couple new and up and coming bands called the Kickin’ Back band and April Delashaw and Branded Hearts band which both played progressive country. After playing big dance halls, festivals, and major events, he was hooked and started getting his own gigs and picked up other artists to start playing all around the Texas area.

Mark was the founder of Cheyenne and was playing drums for them which led to bigger shows and his first studio experience.  Playing high energy shows and playing with solid musicians lead the group to play with major artists like Gary Stewart, John Conley, David Ball, Johnny Lee, Eddy Raven, Roger Creager, Mark Chesnut, Tracy Byrd, Daryl Dodd, Gary Allan, David Allen Coe, Joe Diffie and Darryl Worley.  Mark went on to influence other singers to start their own group and play with their own dance hall bands known as Dustin Henderson, Kyle Parks, Pete Benz, Les Hartman, Tab Grey, Troy Farnham, Russ Jones, Craig Howell, Somewhere in Texas, Alley Daniel, Pauline Reese, Greg Caldwell, Tom Horn, Second Hand Rose, and Kelly and Shannon Pearson.

“All it takes is one good song to make your name and band very popular”  -Mark

After playing with many bands,  he still continues to work diligently since 2001 where he manages and coordinates projects through the design, installation and maintenance of the communication systems for several city organizations.  This allowed more time to spend with his family and take on some other projects but music kept calling him back. Mark helped put Cheyenne reunion gig back together and started playing every Month at Dessau Hall until October of 2010.  He played a couple gigs with Les Hartman and the Second Hand Rose Band.  Mark considers himself very fortunate to be working with the newly organized Austin band, Cheyenne.

We have some great musicians that have completed what is now known as “Cheyenne”.  We are having a great time entertaining ourselves and everyone that comes out to see us perform live.  The vocals and harmonies are amazing!  …& that’s the “rest of the story”.

See below for this incredible line up of fine Texas musicians:

Meet Michelle Pearson ~ Vocals and Keys ~ Music Director (vocal coach/staff sergeant)

Michelle Pearson ~ Vocals and Keys ~Music Director
Michelle Pearson was born at Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas on June 22, 1976.  She is the youngest girl of five children in her family. Her father, Roger Pearson, started the Roger Pearson and the Southern Comforts Band in 1967. As his children began to take an interest in music, he began teaching. He recalls that Michelle would always sing along with him when he would practice songs on his old Martin guitar in their family living room. “She was always the loudest one. Her brother, Schannen, used to call her Thunder Lungs.” Roger says. As her first instrument obviously was her voice, her second instrument was the fiddle. She began playing the fiddle when she was nine. She continued to play fiddle until she was fifteen, when she laid it down and started playing piano. None of the Pearson kids were ever given official lessons. They all learned from their father. Even though he didn’t know how to play all of the instruments that they were interested in, he always knew how to teach them what they needed to know. Roger formed a new Southern Comforts Band as the children grew up. Kelly played bass. Scott played drums. Michelle played piano, and they all sang. For many years, they toured the state of Texas working in dance halls, large venue clubs, and private parties.

In September of 2004, the family suffered the loss of Roger’s mother and stepfather. Roger, being saddled with the executor position over his parent’s estate, decided to take a hiatus from the music business. Michelle was at a loss. She started scrambling for something to do with her life. She went back to school for a degree in Music Education. There was no demand for her degree by the time she got out of school. So, she decided to open a restaurant in Lockhart, Texas. The restaurant business proved more than she could handle. Michelle’s heart wasn’t interested in other types of work. Because her family band still wasn’t playing, and she didn’t have the heart to play for another band, Michelle decided to go into the karaoke business. She began working for her good friend, Raquel Dahud, owner of Rock-ee-o-kee Entertainment. She worked closely with Rocky for five years. Michelle decided to strike out on her own in June of 2011. She started her own karaoke business with the help of her parents, called ShowCase Entertainment with Pearson Productions. She’s doing well building up her karaoke company.

In October of 2011, as her business continued to grow, Mark Heinrich approached Michelle and her friend, Becca, about reorganizing the new Cheyenne Band. They are at present building a very positive reputation with the band. The future looks bright. “ I’m excited to be playing again, and with the talent that I’m working with, I’m excited to see what the future holds.” Michelle says.

Becca Johnson ~  Vocals and Percussion

Being raised in a family of all girls, Becca Johnson, being the oldest took up music at an early age.  You could say music is in her blood, considering, that her father played guitar and sang to her through the entirety of her childhood.  He instilled in her an eclectic variety of artists such as, The Steve Miller Band, Count Baisie, Etta James, The Beatles, and Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.  These being some of her influences, Becca has committed to a journey in music as her life long dream.  From singing karaoke, to writing music, to recording soundtracks, to playing in live bands, Becca isbecoming a well rounded and well known musical influence in the central Texas area.

Jaimie Weston ~ Vocals and Rhythm Guitar

Jamie Weston, born July 23, 1991 in Pasadena, Texas.  Growing up, his lullabies were the melodic tunes of Roger Pearson, and the Southern Comfort’s Band practicing right down the hall.  Having a grandfather like Roger meant having a whole family full of musicians.  Jamie got his first guitar when he was three.  It was a hand me down little red guitar that had been handed down from his Uncle Schannen to his Uncle Kelly, to his mother Kris, and then to his Uncle Scott before it finally came to him.  He grew up with music in his blood.  He would sit quietly every practice session in the hallway listening to his grandfather’s band practice at least twice a week.  He would sit next to his Aunt Michelle’s piano and sing along in harmony with her.  Having such a musical family influence has helped to nurture the path of his future.  Jamie received his first professional stature as a back up singer and rhythm guitar player for his Uncle Kelly’s band Kelly Pearson and Rodeo.  He went on to play with Cooper’s Ride, who did not make it out of the practice room.  However, Jamie had higher aspirations.  When Jamie got the call from his Aunt Michelle to audition for the New Cheyenne Band, he knew his ship was coming in.  He now enjoys being the lead singer for the Cheyenne Band, and says he enjoys being part of the music, and the band family.  He is eager to see where the future is going to lead.

Meet Randy Barnette ~ Vocals and Bass

Randy Barnette ~  Vocals and Bass

Randy was born in San Antonio, Texas in July 1975, and has lived in the Texas Hill Country most of his life.  When only seven years old, he picked up his dad’s classical guitar and started learning chords out of an old Roy Clark lesson book.  In his early teens he became more serious.  At age thirteen, he bought his first electric bass and shortly after, an electric guitar.  He started playing in bands when he was fifteen and has played with several different Texas bands playing covers and original music.  He started playing with a band from his home town of Boerne, TX, then branched out to play with bands from all over the Hill Country.  Randy Started off playing bass guitar, but after several years decided to give lead guitar a try. Realizing his natural draw to bass guitar, he is back to his roots and playing bass again.  Be it as a member, or filling in, Randy has played Dance Halls all over Texas and venues from South Texas to Wyoming to Minnesota.  Over the years Randy has opened shows for Gary Allan, Jack Ingram, Kevin Fowler, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Randy Rogers, Gretchen Wilson and several others.  He has also come into his own as a vocalist, adding lead and harmony vocals to his abilities. Randy joined up with Cheyenne in November of 2011 and is looking forward to holding down the low end with them wherever they go!

Meet Scott Pearson ~ Vocals and Drums

Scott Pearson ~  Vocals and Drums

Scott Pearson was born on July 24^th 1978 in Austin TX. He was the youngest of five kids: Schannen, Kris, Kelly, Michelle, and then Scott. Being born into a musical family sparked a love of music that would eventually lead to a career in music. Scott’s father, Roger Pearson, was a Central Texas country music legend. He was the founder of Roger Pearson and the Southern Comforts band and played all throughout Central Texas for over 30yrs. Always being at his father’s side, Scott was exposed to some of the best musicians that Texas had to offer. Scott decided that his instrument of choice was the drums, even though he also plays guitar and bass guitar as well. On an icy December night, Roger’s drummer called and said that he couldn’t make it to the gig. Roger decided that this was the right time to put Scott behind the drums, Scott was only nine years old and was the last drummer that his father ever had. Years later, Roger decided to take a hiatus from music due to his mother’s failing health. Kelly and Scott decided to pick up where their father left off under the name Kelly Pearson and Rodeo. Kelly and Scott were highly successful together opening up for such acts as Tobey Keith, Mark Wills, and Dwight Yoakum. Kelly and Scott even produced an album, “Wild Cowboy” which also featured their sister Michelle. During this time Scott started writing music as well, one of his songs that he co-wrote with his brother Kelly (Time stand still) was even featured on Kelly’s album. Scott and Michelle continued to do studio work for the next few years working with several Texas artists. Their latest venture together is the rebirth of Cheyenne. Scott is a drummer, singer, & songwriter which makes him a triple threat. Scott is currently writing original music with other members of Cheyenne which they hope to release soon.