My first trip back to Poor Valley was when I was two weeks old.  I spent every summer after that in Virginia.  In my formative years I was very much aware of music.  I started asking for a guitar when I was four.  I didn't get it until I was twelve.

    In 1970 I headed for Nashville and became one of the "TomCats" playing guitar for Tommy Cash.  After a couple of years of growing up and learning how to have a great time on the road, I left Tommy to form a group named after home..."Poor Valley".

     "Poor Valley" was a country rock group I formed with some good friends.  The band performed locally in Nashville for a couple of years.  In 1974 Carl Perkins' dad was ill and John Cash called me and asked if I'd fill in while Carl was home with his Dad.  Naturally I said yes, I stayed for 8 1/2 years.

     After leaving John, Marshall Grant called and I went to work for the Statler Brothers until they retired October 26, 2002.  Along the way I also played here at home with local groups "Mendota" and "Nervous Rex".

     For the past few years I've been working on an acoustic album, this past year and a half I've put off working on it very much.  My family has suffered quite a few losses beginning with my mother-in-law, Jane Marie Weiford, in April of 2002.  On August 20, 2002 we lost my uncle, Jackie D. Carter and then on February 10, 2003, my mother, Lois Carter Hensley, passed away.  Rather suddenly, in May 2003, my cousin, June Carter Cash died, and then on July 12, 2003, my father, Cecil Emory Hensley died of a broken heart.  Then recently, on September 12, 2003, John R. Cash died. It has been a very difficult time.