In 1999, Bob Rea arrived in Nashville with over thirty years of songs to his credit. It wasn't long before his raw sensibilities and lyrical poeticism drew the attention of people in the business and fellow songwriters alike. His songs are distinctive, written not primarily for the market, but as a response to lived experience. They contain an element of truth and authenticity that is often hard to come by in mainstream music.

There is something raw about Bob's songs, an unflinching and unapologetic quality that gives continuity to everything he writes. "When I started writing songs with Nashville writers, I soon noticed that I didn't write like they wrote," he says. "And soon after, I realized that I wasn't actually writing songs so much as telling little stories and truths about the world as I have known it. Curtis Green of Famous Music Fame once told me that writers could only write how they could write. "You've only got one brain" he said. Of course Curtis was speaking strictly for himself in that arena."

Bob has recently signed with Ash Street Publishing, who he enjoys working with immensely. He feels that being with Ash Street is more like being a part of a family than a cog in a music machine. Bob has also started his own label, Shiny Dime Music. "I have only spent a couple of years in my life working for other people or companies, thus it seemed only natural that I start my own record label in keeping with that frontier spirit that has always gotten me at odds with the rest of the world. Win, lose or draw, I'd like to be the one to decide my own fate".

Bob's debut album, Black Highway, is soon to be released. Bob says "It's a genuine journey down the highway of life from start to finish with plenty of vivid imagery, as well as a few good laughs along the way." Listeners have compared it to the works of artists as varied as Johnny Cash to Pink Floyd. One fan said "these are the most optimistic depressing songs I've ever heard." All in all, there is a great listening experience to be had here!!!

Black Highway will be released formally in January of 2004 and will be available on this web site.