So who is this Drew Bentley Guy?

Drew Bentley first began playing the guitar at age 9 and has now been playing for over 40 years. After taking private lessons and playing in local high school garage bands, Drew went on study the guitar at CCAC. Drew taught his first guitar lesson at the age of 18, while studying music at the college. Only a few years later, after studying jazz guitar at Duquesne university, Drew was able to make performing and guitar instruction his full-time occupation.

Drew has been busy with his performing and recording career. Drew has performed with dozens of bands in hundreds of venues in multiple states. He currently plays with his own original project, under his own name, along with the Drew Bentley Power Trio, JD Strum, an original project, City Heat wedding and variety band, and as a solo artist playing both jazz and variety cover music. With JD Strum, Drew performed on the 102.5 WDVE morning show, the WBXQ 94.5 Backyard Rocker, the Acoustic Hour On WCCS, WLER 97.7 and IUP radio along with a host of other radio stations. Drew has, as an original act and other, opened for Sister Hazel, Brent Michaels, Carbon Leaf, Low Millions, Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, Molly Hatchet and played second stage for Dave Matthews Band, Kansas and Deep Purple. Drew has been a member of many other notable bands including DaPhunk Band and the Businessmen. In 2005, 2006 and 2009, Drew won Guitar Center’s “King Of The Blues” contest for store 802 along with a number of other song writing and performing competitions.

Along with performing and recording, eight years into full time private guitar instruction, Drew co established and still operates, as President, Bentley and Romito Professional Music Lessons LLC. DBA Irwin School Of Music and PT School Of Music. Drew has held the position of guitar instructor at CCAC Boyce Campus and was the guitar instructor for Camp Jam Pittsburgh for 2011 and 2102. While operating B&R Music Lessons, Drew has been active in the community sponsoring the Penn Middle School guitar club, teaching group classes for P.T.A.R.C., being a career day speaker at Franklin Regional and hosting an open stage for the studio. Drew has studied the guitar with Joe Negri, Bill Purse, Mark Koch, Ken Karsh, John Maione, Marty Reidell and Jim Held.

Drew’s recording discography includes JD Strum’s 2004 LP “Just Another Story” co written/produced by Drew, “A Prelude To The Upcoming Debut Solo Album, 2011 EP written and produced and his latest project and most ambitious projects to date, “Bold Horizon” 2019 LP, a collection of 10 original, instrumental rock/jazz/blues ensemble pieces also written and produced by Drew.

Looking ahead, Drew intends to continue to write and record albums, perform his original music, continue to grow his lesson studios, teach privately, teach on line, do clinics and seminars and take his career as far as it will take him.