Time spent growing up as a teenager in Decatur, IL was constantly filled with the dream of performing in front of audiences around the world. Three decades later and with that dream realized, the passion continues.

The humble journey started in the fall of 1994 as the passion for learning and performing on guitar and bass was born. After seven years in numerous original Central Illinois bands, @tekressemusic started his professional music career in early 2002 after enlisting in the United States Army as a Bass Guitar player. What started out in southeastern Oklahoma with a young, relatively green musician without a lot of quality stage time ended with a seasoned pro standing on stage in Austin, TX at the 2021 iHeart Country Festival—in what now seems like a “blink of an eye” 20 year military career and everything that accompanied it.

Since the late 90’s, @tekressemusic has been fortunate to share some pretty big stages both in and out of the military as a supporting act for: V Shape Mind, Mudvayne, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Aaron Tippin, Toby Keith, Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, Chris Young, Everclear, Cole Swindell, and Lee Brice along with an extensive list of amazing regional and local bands across the US and Europe. He has performed as an acoustic solo/duo artist in Southeast Oklahoma, Dallas, Nashville, Hampton Roads, VA, Central MO, Columbia, SC, and the greater Louisville area to include main stage performances at Bricktown-OKC, Beachstreet USA, Lake of the Ozarks, Salute to America in Jefferson City, and Vista Lights in Columbia, SC. He had the honor to perform at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville as part of a songwriter showcase series in early 2005 and had a song published on Music Row shortly thereafter (Headlights).

I mean we all love to name drop in the bio section when we can (The above is a solid B/B+), but what was the takeaway from all the years, all the rehearsals, the countless songs learned—all the gigs? No matter the audience count (10 to 10,000), you bring YOUR ALL and do your part to make that time a memorable experience for as many as you can. Then repeat.

After all the miles travelled and a lifetime worth of musical experiences, @tekressemusic returned to his roots as a performing solo artist in 2022 after his military retirement. Following a series of successful solo gigs, the focus turned to the studio with two indpendent EP releases featuring performances on all instruments and vocals: "All the Beginnings and all of the Ends" in 2023 and "American Carousel" in 2024. Two different albums detailing love, loss, and personal stories.

“We have all loved and lost. We have all had setbacks and we have all been given life circumstances that seemed instantly hopeless to overcome in the present moment. But WE are all resilient. WE all keep moving forward. WE all find a way”-@tekressemusic

Along with his solo cover and original work, @tekressemusic also performs in the acoustic duo projects "Here's To Us" and "Ghosted on Friday" along with being the bassist of the 90s cover band "Flannel Nostalgia". You can find him playing in and around the greater Louisville area each month in one group or another, and look for a brand new EP release in early 2027.