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He was born and raised
by a good Christian family in Freeport, TX. He studied music from grade
school through College, at the University of North Texas State. Before
moving to Nashville in the summer of 1980, he had already worked with
Dale McBride, The Father of Terry McBride of "McBride and The Ride",
and Freddy Fender playing bass. After being in town a couple of months
he went to work with Louise Mandrell, first on bass then on steel
guitar. He then played guitar for both Billy Walker, and Christy Lane.
After Christy he stayed in town for a while to
build up his studio/producing experience. He went to work at the famous
"Captain's Table" in Printer's Alley with Trilly Cole in 1982 playing
bass, then guitar, and finally steel guitar. There he met his good
friend Steve Hamby and worked with him on many jobs around town for
some time. In 1984 he went on a three month tour with Dave Rowland and
Helen Cornelius to perform in the Musical "Annie Get Your Gun". In
August of 1985 he was flown to London England to tour with a group for
four months called "Dexy's Midnight Runners". It was an eleven piece
Irish folk rock band and Penn played steel guitar. In 1986 he worked
with a four piece group playing top forty music, wearing tuxedos
wherever they played.
Penn moved back to Hendersonville in 1987 and worked
with a group on the road playing two weeks in town, and two weeks out.
September of 1987 he just stayed in town and tried to get back in touch
with the recording end of the business.
In 1989 he went to work with Jack Greene. He mostly
stayed in town playing "The Grand Ole Opry", so it was a good way for
him to stay in town for producing and playing on other producers
recordings. He became Jack's musical director after ten months and is
still with him today.
He has produced many projects over the years,
five of which were for Steve Hamby. He has a Gospel album of his own
that he has been working on for the last eight years with several of
his musician friends in town. It is entitled "How Great Thou Art" by
Penn Pennington with Friends. He says his favorite musical thing to
arrange is vocals. His album is mostly A Capella with some very strange
and creative vocal arrangements, which was created mainly for musicians
to listen to, and appreciate, but he has found a little pleasant
surprise, ... even non-musicians have expressed fondness in the project
as well.
Two of his favorite Artists to Produce are
Steve Hamby and Dan Hunnicut. He produces them differently so they can
have their own identity. He produces Steve with that down to earth old
fashion corn country style. "Steve has a great country voice that seems
to bring out the rawness of that good 'ole Country Music. Dan sings in
a way that has more of a folk almost blues style. I try to produce him
with a few more instruments, more vocals, and a few more passing
chords. To me the songs he writes just call for it".
Penn performs professionally on Bass, Guitar,
Steel Guitar, and Vocals. He is familiar with orchestral instruments as
well. He says the knowledge is good for arranging purposes. If you have
a project in mind, get in touch with Penn. He is a terrific Producer,
and you won't be disappointed!
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Mr. Musician
