Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Hill.
Hi Trey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up in North Carolina. At the age of 18, I was invited on the road to play guitar by Grammy-nominated Christian band SONICFLOOd. I moved to Nashville, TN during that time. For almost two decades I lived and worked out of Nashville. In 2006 I made the move to the country music industry. During that time I toured and/or recorded with an eclectic lineup of artists, from Big & Rich, Jessica Simpson, to Taylor Swift and Rascal Flatts.
I moved to the San Diego area during the COVID pandemic in the fall of 2020. In 2021, I started booking my own shows around San Diego.
In 2024, I released an EP entitled “The Search For Something Good”. Co-produced with Bill Pomerleau. It features 5 songs about my journey to California, my walk in sobriety, and a record about “finding inner peace”. During that season, I also started playing some shows with Generation Radio (Jay Demarcus’ side project away from Rascal Flatts), and befriended Steve Ferrone (Drummer for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Average White Band, etc). Steve hosts his own show called “The New Guy Show” on Tom Petty’s Sirius XM station. He was able to get “The Search For Something Good” added to Sirius XM, and has continued to help get more of my music out on the airwaves. The EP was also up for “Pop Album Of The Year” at the San Diego Music Awards. Even though I’d like to think it’s more in the country, rock, americana genre. ; )
Other than that, i’m just so happy to be apart of the San Diego community, and I’m here to stay!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Around 2016 I developed a horrible addiction to alcohol and cocaine. For four years, I continued succeeding in the music industry, but my personal life was in shambles. In 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, I left Nashville for San Diego. I was able to change scenery and get my life under control. I’m happy to say that i’m approaching 3 years of full sobriety!
By moving away from Nashville, I was essentially leaving behind a successful career as a “side guy” guitarist to the “stars”. After 20 years, I didn’t want to switch careers, but needed to do something. In 2021, I started booking solo work around San Diego. Playing country and rock covers at many of our local venues, and bars. I now do around 200+ shows each year, solo acoustic or with my band. (bassist Jim Reeves, drummer Joe Urquhart)
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Vocalist, Guitarist, Songwriter, Producer, Engineer. Former Nashville “guitarist to the stars”. I have toured and/or recorded with artists: Big & Rich, Jessica Simpson, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Jana Kramer, etc.
TV performances include: The Tonight Show w/ Jimmy Fallon
The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, The Late Show w/ David Letterman
The Ellen Show
Grand Ole Opry
Good Morning America
The Today Show
CBS Early Show
ESPN’s College Game Day
NHL All Star Show from Nashville
My biggest accomplishment that makes me proud is playing Madison Square Garden 3 times! That was truly a dream come true. A second thing that I think is cool, is i’ve played concerts on all continents except Antartica. It’s my nerdy “claim to fame”
Any big plans?
2025 has been an incredible year of my own shows, writing songs, releasing new music, and also back to playing the “side guy” guitarist role with Generation Radio, as well as Gary LeVox (lead vocalist for Rascal Flatts). I’ve been able to go back and forth to Nashville a good bit. I’ve made my peace with a place I called home for nearly 20 years, but I do not miss living there. HAHA. I’m a full-blown Oceanside beach bum at this point!
On November 15, 2025 I’ll be releasing a Christmas single called “Peace On Earth”, and a new 5 song EP is slated to release in March 2026. I’ve got lots of local gigs coming up, as well as Las Vegas, and a northeast shows in NY and NJ.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.treyhilltunes.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/treyhilltunes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/treyhilltunes
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/treyhilltunes
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEOjU64BHu2ebdALU1XQu6Q
Image Credits
Patrick McClory on the main pic submitted. Tre Johnson for all live performance photos. Last pic with Gary LeVox is a selfie.
