Born and raised in Southeast Missouri, Kent grew up on a steady soundtrack of soul and country legends like Ray Charles, Hank Williams Sr., and Otis Redding. Inspired by his older brother’s piano playing, Kent joined his first band at just eleven years old. By the time he finished college—after years of performing and honing his craft on keyboards—music wasn’t just a passion; it was his calling. Like so many musicians with big dreams, he packed up and headed to Nashville to immerse himself in the heart of Music City.
In 1982, Kent joined country music icon George Jones as the piano player for his legendary band, The Jones Boys. Over an extraordinary 28-year run, Kent toured the world with Jones and served as bandleader from 2005 to 2011. Along the way, he performed on some of the most recognized stages and television programs in entertainment, including the Grand Ole Opry, Hee Haw, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Austin City Limits, and “The George Jones Show” on TNN.
Throughout his career, Kent has also worked with celebrated artists such as Conway Twitty, Joe Diffie, Randy Travis, and Bobby Bare—bringing his signature musicianship and professionalism to every stage.
In addition to performing, Kent is the owner of Digitracks Nashville / Digitracks Demo Service, a respected recording studio serving artists and songwriters. He produced a CD of musical narratives with Major League veteran umpire Joe West and collaborated with Michael Panasuk on the Christmas project A Music Machine Christmas, featuring both original songs and beloved holiday classics. Kent has also released his own instrumental collection, Piano Favorites, showcasing his expressive and versatile piano style.
An accomplished ASCAP songwriter, Kent has had songs recorded by numerous independent artists over the years. Whether performing elegant jazz standards, timeless country classics, or crowd-favorite hits, he brings warmth, energy, and world-class experience to every performance.
Kent performs regularly throughout the Nashville area—both as a solo pianist and with various bands—and is available for private events, corporate gatherings, and special occasions. For current performance dates, visit his Facebook page—or reach out directly to book Kent for your next event.
