Who Is Tony Bohenkamp?

After a successful 18-year stint in the Aurelia Community School music department (where I was only kicked out of ONE choir rehearsal) in northwest Iowa, including a tumultuous year as the drummer for the rising but largely unrecognized rock band "The Fury," I ventured to Iowa State University in the fall of 1990, looking for a degree and some beer. Six years later (that's right, six), I had a B. S. in Horticulture, a large mid-section, and had recorded two cd's as the singer with a band called "Lunchbox." I then moved to Chicago and became an assistant golf course superintendent for a year, before moving back to Iowa to become the drummer for the folk-rock quartet "The Nadas." That was 1997. Luckily, I have not been kicked out of that band yet, I've been on five cd's with them, and I get to enjoy the vast landscape and small music venues of this great country.

In the year 1998, I thought to myself, "Self? I know all of these wonderful songs written by other people. Maybe I could make some extra money by playing them for other people." So I started to put a song list together, including my favorite artists and eras, put in a little time on the piano and guitar for practice, and started begging bar owners I knew to let me play. My solo "career" (if you can call it that) has been a ton of fun since then, and I try to keep adding songs to my list every week. Those of you who have seen me play know that I can still use LOTS of practice. But I can play "The Gambler" by Kenny Rogers like nobody's business.

Then, the Nadas were featured in Playboy magazine in the October issue of 2001. I had the pleasure of meeting Alison Lundgren, an associate editor there at the time, and the author of our story. We were having a few rips at a bar one night, and were talking about college. I mentioned to her that during one of my six years at ISU I was an English major. She asked if I had done any published writing. I said no, but I had always wanted to. She then asked if I had any samples of writing. I said no, but I could make something up. Two weeks later, I was writing my first short piece for Playboy magazine, and my copywriting career was born. I love to write, especially when interviewing former Playboy Playmates on the phone. I'm even writing a book on how to be smart in the music world. I and my band have been screwed in every way possible in this business, and I'd like to help other people look out for the idiots. If I can help just ONE musician……

As you can see, I have a lot going on. But there is a phrase I'd like you to remember that describes me pretty well.

JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONE.

Thanks for visiting my site. PEACE!

Tony Bohnenkamp