STELLAR SESSION GUITARIST EDDIE HEINZELMAN EVOLVES WITH HIGHLY PERSONAL RELEASE AND NEW POWER TRIO, THE REBELLIOUS SONS

Eddie Heinzelman has made a major footprint on the country music landscape as an in-demand session musician and sideman. An inductee into the Southeastern Indiana Musicians Hall of Fame, Eddie has spent years touring with legends like Radney Foster. However, he is now imprinting in an even more impactful way: stepping out from the sideman shadows with his new band, The Rebellious Sons.

“The name is inspired by the outlaw gospel of Ray Wylie Hubbard,” Heinzelman says. “I want to carry that torch with a sound that is pure, unadulterated Cosmic Southern soul.”

This isn’t your average barroom band. This powerhouse trio—featuring Eddie Heinzelman (Vocals/Guitar), Ray Capehart (Bass), and Lundy Cupp (Drums)—spent decades forging a pedigree in Nashville’s elite session scene. After serving as the “hired guns” for a literal Who’s Who of Country and Americana—including Darius Rucker, Lee Roy Parnell, Heidi Newfield, and Ty Herndon—these three veterans have reclaimed the raw, intuitive energy of the classic power trio.

Channeling the heavy-duty blues of The James Gang and ZZ Top alongside the swampy, deep-pocket grooves of Little Feat and The Band, The Rebellious Sons deliver a masterclass in tone and taste. Their music captures the improvisation of the Allman Brothers and the grit of the Black Crowes. It’s music for the open road, the sweat-soaked roadhouse, and the joyous outdoor festival: loud, honest, and delivered with the seasoned precision of men who have seen every corner of the industry and chose to stay gritty. They aren’t just playing the music—they’re living the story.

Eddie was inducted into the Southeastern Indiana Musicians Hall of Fame on Nov. 2, 2019!

What do his peers say?

"Folks... Eddie Heinzelman is a fine musician, “Road Mangler” and truly a steady soul. It ain’t easy to jump in on my show. Nothing is ever the same way twice. Ever!!!  Thank you Eddie! You done good, brother!" - Lee Roy Parnell

"Eddie is an amazing guitar player, a dang fine singer songwriter, and a prince of a man. He is a great harmony singer and makes me better on stage. Eddie writes, sings, and plays with an abundance of heart and talent. On his latest record, soulful electric guitars, country harmonies, and roots rock groove weave together like wild muscadine grape vines on a southern Indiana fence line." - Radney Foster

"Eddie has become one of my dearest friends and is a great, great guitar player" - Johnny Hiland

"Terrific album and guest...Eddie is the real deal!"- Charlie Mattos, WSM Radio
 

Eddie's extensive resume includes performances with a variety of artists, including Jazz legends, Joe Henderson and Norris Turney, Opera star Barbara Daniels, Pop star Tiffany, Broadway star Michelle Pawk, and Contemporary Christian artist, Jason Crabb, as well as a literal "Who's Who" of Country, Bluegrass, and Americana artists:
Radney Foster, Darius Rucker, Lee Roy Parnell, Kelly Willis, Jack Ingram, Billy Yates, Darden Smith, Julie Roberts, Vince Gill, Darryl Worley, Gene Watson, Jeannie Seely, Collin Raye, T. Graham Brown, Jimmy Fortune, and many, many more! 

A native of Brookville, IN, Eddie got his first guitar at age 8 and began formal Classical guitar lessons.

• "My grandma bought me my first guitar, a Harmony from Sears, for Christmas. I wanted to be a singing cowboy like Gene Autry, but I also wanted to learn how to play guitar "right". There was a music store next to where my mother worked so she signed me up for lessons. She would come home from work, then drive me back the 45 minutes each way, every week."

Within just a couple years, his teacher, David Dolata, a Master's student at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, recognized Eddie's talent and began mentoring him for the college audition process. Until one day, Eddie's brother brought home the album that would change his entire direction.

• "When I was 11, my brother came home from school with the album, Led Zeppelin IV, and I was mesmerized from the first note to the last. It spun my head around on my shoulders, I had never heard guitar playing or songs that sounded like that before. I sat in front of the stereo and listened to the entire album 5 times in a row, absorbing every nuance of every note Jimmy Page played. I knew at that very moment that was what I wanted to do - write my own songs, learn improvisation, and play electric guitar".

Eddie continued Classical lessons until he was 14, while also studying electric guitar Blues and Rock with other teachers. However, most of those lessons only lasted a few months. Eddie was learning faster than they taught.

• "I devoured music at the time, eager to learn everything I could. I'd read about a guitar player in a magazine or review then go buy the albums. Then I'd research who his influences were and go buy those albums. I did this with every guitarist I came across. I wanted to learn their styles and then what influenced each of them so I worked backwards, and the depth of musicians and styles I covered that way was very broad. When I was 15, one teacher in particular taught me how to visualize and listen to music in order to separate the parts and instruments. I'd take a song to him each week; he'd transcribe it for me to learn. I'd learn it and take in another song the next week. But after just a couple months, I was able to transcribe on my own so I looked for the next challenge...and the next teacher."

At this same time, Eddie had been performing professionally since the age of 13, establishing a reputation as a versatile guitarist around the Cincinnati, OH area, working with regional and national acts in various genres from Country to Rock to Jazz to Classical music.

• "I was playing in multiple bands at gigs like weddings,dances,VFW halls, and bars, and I would get calls to fill in because I could learn songs fast. When I turned 16, wanting to be the best musician I could be, I set my sights on finding a Jazz teacher. I was also teaching lessons by this time at a local music store, and that's where I found Scott Elliott who was a graduate of the Berklee School of Music and was a Grad Student at the College Conservatory of Music at the time. Scott really helped me take my playing to the next level, combining my technique with advanced Music Theory. My practice time went from an hour a day to 5 hours a day in preparation for my audition. I made it into CCM, but instead of a Classical student, I went as a Jazz major."

After graduating from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music's Jazz and Studio Music program, Eddie formed the country band, Durango, with his brother and released an EP, 'Closer To Home' that was featured in the CMT Dance Link video series. Soon thereafter, he moved to Nashville, TN to focus on writing songs and began playing guitar live and on sessions for other singers and songwriters.  

• "After graduation, I wanted to focus again on writing my own music, and I began developing my own approach and really wanted to get back to Country music where I could blend all of my experience and versatility. My versatility is my calling card and what I draw on for recording sessions, writing songs, and the frequent calls I would get to sub and fill in. I've gotten most of my artist gigs through initial sub work, and I've been very fortunate to have performed with some of the biggest names in the business and tour throughout the US as well as in Norway, England, China and Japan."

A dynamic and charismatic performer whose versatility and experience as a musician enhance his songwriting talent, his debut album, "Hey, Songwriter" was released in February 2017, and his sophomore release, “Wherever You Go”, following a year and a half later, not only showcases Eddie's guitar proficiency but his artistry as a songwriter.  All of the songs were written or co-written by Eddie, who also co-produced the projects with one of Nashville's most talented engineers and producers, Casey Wood. The albums are an Americana collection of heartfelt songs that touch on love, loss, adversity and triumph, blending influences from Country, Bluegrass, and Southern Roots Rock. Every song stands on it's own, and is beautifully delivered with Eddie's vocals and guitar work. Eddie's talent for weaving together story and melody results in engaging tapestries of lyric and music.

• " I had been pitching songs in Nashville for several years pursuing a writing deal. I came close several times, but one day, a publisher asked me "Do you really want a publishing deal?" No one had ever stopped to ask me that. I always thought I did, but I think my answer surprised us both. Since then, I've been wandering the desert, so to speak, with my writing, moving beyond all of the things I was told I was supposed to do and how I was supposed to write as a songwriter into a realm of writing and performing what I want to write. And I've never been happier with my songs. Plus, songs never have a chance to do their jobs of touching and communicating with people if they're sitting in a catalog somewhere or you leave it up to someone else to tell you which one is worthy of listening to or pitching. So I went back to the examples of my heroes like Ray Wylie Hubbard, Radney Foster, Steve Earle and Guy Clark and other writers and artists I respect so much like Mary Gauthier, Darden Smith, and Jack Ingram, and I refocused on my original Zen-like philosophy that success is in the work itself. I think Darden Smith says it best: "Write songs. Tell stories. Move people". That's all I ever wanted, and all I plan to do from here out."

As a songwriter, Eddie's cuts include: 

“Faith” - Johanna Jacobsen, Saricorn Day 1 EP
"Kicks" - soon to be released by Dead Crow Road
"Crawl" - co-written with David Norris and The Voice winner, Craig Wayne Boyd, is featured in the soundtrack and movie, "Dead In 5 Heartbeats", and available on Nick Nicholson's "Stronger Than Whiskey" album 
"Best Part Of My Day" - available on Karen E. Reynold's "Paper Castles" album
"Before We Fly" - available on Shane Michael Taylor's "I Will Stand" album
"Friendship On Fire" - available on Brian Martin's "Famous For Something" and Chuck Allen Floyd's "Good On The Inside" albums
"She's Water" - available on James Lann's "Honky Tonk Kung Fu" album, and Eddie's debut album, “Hey, Songwriter”

Eddie contributed compositions to the documentary film, "Radio Free Newport", receiving a Best Composer nomination at Cannes Shorts, a Best Original Score award at The Paris Film Festival, and Best Original Music Finalist at Beyond The Curve Film Festival. 

Drop by the Tour page to see where you can catch Eddie performing around Nashville or on the road with his own band as well as with some of Nashville's finest artists!

For Song Licensing or Booking Information:  Contact One Louder