Biography
Curtis Wayne Stroud was born and raised in Northwest Missouri. He grew up being heavily influenced by country music. At a young age he would listen to his uncle Jim Stroud, who was touring with the Union Mill Opry, and uncle Ernie Hardy perform.
He began his musical journey by playing the trumpet in 5th grade, Going into high school he had no interest in sports so his main focus became music. As a teenager, Stroud began listening to Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and Johnny Cash recordings and at 15 decided that it was time to learn the guitar for himself. For Christmas, his parents bought him his first acoustic guitar and the next Christmas, his first electric guitar.
At the age of 17, local bassist, John Skidmore, heard Stroud playing and asked him to come see his band at a local bar. Skidmore was playing in the Jerry Forney Blues Band and introduced him to Forney. While talking, they found they had a common interest in singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver. At this point, Stroud’s interest in playing music skyrocketed. Stroud was introduced to, and asked to sit in with, many local musicians such as Ted Paxson, Phil Forney, Phil Vandel, Kenny Brushwood and Kenny Dewitt. He gained much musical knowledge from them as well as local musician and mentor Bud Neiderhouse.
During college, Stroud formed the band, NightSky, with fellow musicians Nick Richardson (Bass), Cale Lang (Drums) and Johnny Miller (Harmonica). Later, restructuring the band with Logan Merz (Guitar) and Michael Parde (Drums). NightSky played all through Northwest Missouri and Southeast Nebraska.
After college, Stroud began his journey teaching Vocal and Instrumental music at the Elementary and High School levels while sitting in with various bands throughout the area.
In 2007, Stroud drew the interest of a Nashville producer but decided to take another route,
In 2009, Stroud released an album of original material titled, “Til My Last Chord Rings.” Although the album never went platinum it did quickly reach aluminum foil status.
Over the past decade, Stroud has performed numerous jobs with the bands, Justified, The Curtis Wayne Stroud Band, CWS AC2 (acoustic duo with Harold Nussbaum) and solo acoustic.
Stroud is currently playing mostly solo jobs and Sunday Nights with the Phil Forney Band, consisting of Phil Forney (Bass), Linda Adwell (Saxophone), and Dennis Dressler (Drums and Harmonica), performing over 100 shows per year.
Curtis Wayne Stroud has had the privilege of sharing the stage and performing with acts such as Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, Junior Brown, Jackson Taylor, Josh Morningstar and Billy Don Burns.
Photos by Kristin Gillenwater