Darryl Gregory Brings Country Songs to Funky Monkey

Country music is full of heartbreak, tragedy, bad luck, and good times gone by. According to musician Darryl Gregory, the best country songs tell these stories.

to the Funky Monkey Café at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27.

Gregory said it’s very important that his songs tell a story through the lyrics so the audience can immerse themselves in the music. He will also talk to audience and won’t let his shows be a passive listening experience.

“I really like to engage the audience,” Gregory said. “I like more interactiveness.”

A mix of American rockers like John Hiatt, Bruce Springsteen, and John Mellencamp shows up in his music, a result of his music listening roots.

“I grew up admiring Bruce Springsteen, my mom liked Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash,” he said. “I was in a rock band in high school so I listened to the ‘70s and ‘80s rock.”

Gregory is a resident of Sandy Hook, near Newtown in western Connecticut, and is the band director at Schaghticoke Middle School in New Milford.

“As a band leader, I can play pretty much any instrument,” he said.

He went to college for trombone but learned guitar as a teen and finds it’s the best instrument to play at intimate shows.

“It’s more conductive to connect with people,” he said.

His latest album, “Big Texas Sky,” is available at www.darrylgregory.com and www.bluecavestudios.com