It’s hard to deny that a band like Deadly Earnest and the Honky Tonk Heroes is anything but memorable. Once you hear a name like that, it’s etched in your brain forever, but the music created by the Cleveland-area quintet in the ’70s and ’80s more than speaks for itself. Deadly Earnest was the stage name of bandleader Denny Earnest. Denny, a staple in the Ohio music scene, had previously been a member of two other high-profile Cleveland bands, Bridge and Target (both on the Fervor roster). The talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist recruited Denny Jones (fiddle, mandolin), Greg “G.G.” Giancola (drums), Jay Vecchio (bass), and Joel Culp (vocals, guitar) to round out the ensemble. With a nod to what would now be called “alt-country,” Deadly Earnest and the Honky Tonk Heroes built a solid following in the Midwest and spent much of their time on tour, winning fans from California to New York, Georgia to Washington, and everywhere in between. The group issued three LPs and several singles on the Wheeler Recordin’ Co. label during their decade-plus career. Their self-titled debut found distribution through Michael Nesmith’s (The Monkees) Pacific Arts label and helped develop a strong following in Spain, Italy, and France. A Billboard Magazine review stated, “The picking is first-rate, the harmonies are tight, and the lyrics are original and often droll.” We’re pleased to say that much of Deadly Earnest’s remarkable catalog now resides at Fervor Records.

See Deadly Earnest and The Honky Tonk Heroes on DISCOG.