Talking to Pete McMurray, the country star reveals his beginnings on the stage of a singing competition and opens up about Montgomery Gentry‘s longtime partnership with Jim Beam.
McMurray, a longstanding tv and radio host, was interviewing Troy Gentry for a series called “Beam TV” in 2010 when he tells the story about how Montgomery Gentry got started, his own beginnings on a talent show, and how the two of them ended up inking a longtime relationship with one of America’s favorite bourbon whiskeys!
As Troy tells McMurray, somewhere around 1994 he had his first run-in with Jim Beam Whiskey, but not quite in the way you think.
“Eddie and I worked with his brother, John Michael Montgomery, before he got his deal,” He began. “Eddie went on the road with him, so I pursued a solo career – we all had the music bug.”
After moving to Nashville and cutting a demo, Troy caught wind of a talent competition hosted by none other than Jim Beam itself!
Called the Jim Beam National Talent Round Up, Troy decided to enter and compete in the 1994 rounds and took home the 1st place trophy! After that he began opening for the likes of Patty Loveless, Tracy Byrd, Eddie Rabbitt, and more!
But that was only the beginning of a great whiskey partnership!
In 2000, Montgomery Gentry and Jim Beam first partnered for a tour sponsored by the whiskey maker. Since that time, the country stars have always promoted and stood by their sponsor!
So the next time you’re at a Montgomery Gentry show, get yourself some Jim Beam!
Watch the full interview with both Eddie and Troy in the video below!
