Ky Rivers’ music journey began with a spark of inspiration. After hearing a T. Rex song at the tender age of 13 this led to a relentless plea to his parents for a guitar. After finally receiving one for his birthday, Ky formed his first band, playing and singing classic rock covers at school gigs at 15. As the band evolved, they moved from covers to original material, igniting a passion for songwriting and playing regular local pub gigs. This early experience paved the way for Ky to join a Rock Blues band, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts where he toured the UK rock club and festival scene playing at legendary venues such as Hammersmith Odeon, Reading and Donington Festivals and regular appearances at the old London Marquee, gaining a devoted following, particularly among bikers. During these “hellraising” days, Ky shared the stage with iconic bands like Hawkwind and Motörhead on concert hall tours, living the full rock ‘n ’roll lifestyle.
During the ’90s he got hooked on country while living in Ireland and in the early 2000s, while running a bar restaurant in the Canary Islands, Ky brought his deep connection to country music to life. Alongside Angie, they began performing at their venue, growing their reputation and eventually playing in bars and hotels around the islands. A UK country music agent offered them work back home, and soon after returning to the UK, Ky and Angie made waves on the country music and line dance scene as the popular duo, Cheyenne. They settled in Folkestone where they also took over the running of the popular Country weekends at the Burstin Hotel
In 2016, Angie retired from performing for health reasons, but Ky kept the flame alive, first performing with his daughter Shayna and later his son Liam. He also branched out as a solo artiste within the country music and line dance scene. Although the pandemic brought everything to a halt, including their business, Cheyenne Promotions, Ky’s passion for music was eventually reignited. It turns out that when it’s in your blood, it fuels your spirit, even in the toughest of times.
Throughout his career, Ky has always had an enthusiasm for songwriting, particularly within the country music genre. He wrote many original country songs but never quite found the right outlet to perform them extensively. With a renewed focus on his solo career, Ky is excited about the possibility of starting to write again and hopes to collaborate with other songwriters, bringing his country music vision to life again. Now, with a fresh outlook, he’s back on the road again, with a renewed sense of purpose and love for country music.
Text supplied by Ky Rivers.