Originally inspired by the pedal steel guitar sound in Linda Ronstadt’s hit song ‘Blue Bayou’, Kerry discovered during that time, that he lived just down the street from the Pedal Steel Guitar Emporium on West Lake street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With great curiosity, he bought his first Emmons Pedal Steel Guitar from the proprietor "Clem Schmitz" who was a accomplished pedal steel technician / and in recent years, an innovator of the instrument's unique mechanism.
With correspondence courses and some local gigs under his belt, Kerry migrated south and ended up in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina landing a "House Band” residency gig six-nights-a-week. There he got to perform with legends, 'Little Jimmie Dickens' & 'Charlie Louvin' in a live radio broadcast.
2 years later the 'House Gig' came to an end, and an opportunity came to attend a one week, In-Residence course, with the World's Greatest Pedal Steel Guitarist, Buddy Emmons in Nashville, receiving 6 full days of Personal Instruction from the Master of the Pedal Steel guitar. "A memoriable experience it was".
1996 living in Iowa, his band opened a concert for CMA Artist Radney Foster.
In 1997 Kerry moved to Austin, Texas and worked with a variety of Austin bands including legendary Texas Fiddle Player, "Alvin Crow", & "Johnny-X Reed" at the world famous "Broken Spoke" Austin’s historic country music venue.
While in Austin, He worked with Alternative artist "Jeff Klein" whose songs appeared on such television shows as Young Americans, Wasteland, and Dawson's Creek.
Austin jam sessions were always interesting! jamming with CMT artist Bruce Robison, also The Derailers, ... and with members of George Strait's Band at a club in San Marcos, TX. also sitting in at Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse with Jody Payne, Willie Nelson’s lead guitarist and Pete Mitchell (who was Ernest Tubb's lead guitarist for 13 years) when Pete relocated to Texas from Nashville.
Then in 2001, Kerry had a wonderful opportunity to Tour extensively with an aspiring Texas artist at that time, The Chris Chitsey Band, outfitted with a 45-foot 'Silver Eagle' Entertainers Tour Bus & Trailer they were officially on Tour.
The band got to perform headlining concerts from Las Vegas to Phoenix, to Denver and Nashville, including the Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville’s premier performance venue, www.wildhorsesaloon.com for Country Radio CRS 2002... in addition to sharing the stage with the following CMT Artists: Pat Green, Tracy Byrd, Mark Chestnut, Emerson Drive, Neal McCoy,The Bellamy Brothers and … opening a concert in Texas for the legendary Blues Guitarist 'Elvin Bishop'.
As time would have it, Kerry left that group and moved to California in 2003, working shows with the www.CaliforniaCowboys.com performing at the “Cow Palace” San Francisco (subbing for Hall-of-Fame Steel Guitarist 'Bobby Black' ) and Opening Acts for the following bands: Dierks Bently, Billy Currington, Big and Rich, Darryl Worley.
Performing in San Francisco's 'McLaren Park' with Michael Ahern & the 'Little Wheels Band', for the inauguration of the 'Gerry Garcia Amphitheater', Kerry shared the stage with the original incarnation of 'Jefferson Starship' featuring a stellar cast of old and new players, including songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Paul Kantner and vocalist Marty Balin, who both founded the band 'Jefferson Airplane'.
Performing with Grammy Nominee Johnny Gunn and his band, they were opening act for 'Eddie Money' at Knocti Harbor resort & concert facility.
In 2009, filling in for Hall-of Fame' Steel Guitarist Bobby Black ... Kerry had the opportunity to play the critically acclaimed Musical "Always ... Patsy Cline" at the San Jose Stage Theatre in San Jose, CA.
and Jammin' at The Pioneer Saloon in Woodside, CA with Bundy Browne
and Jammin' with Jake Owen after sound-check at The Rodeo Club in San Jose.
Performing with Tom McBride at the HotelUtah sf
Giging with the talented Marty Atkinson … Video
Sharing the stage at Amnesia in San Francisco with David Luning / Country Jeb Boynton
Playin’ some really fun music with Jim Lewin & Billy Layman
Recording with songwriter, guitarist Jim Brantley https://piedmont.bandcamp.com/album/piedmont-2