Owensboro Living
Subscribe
  • Features
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Flavor
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Owensboro Living
  • Features
  • Culture
  • Lifestyle
  • Flavor
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Owensboro Living
No Result
View All Result
Home Culture

From Music Row to Bluegrass Roots

by Libby Johnson
December 30, 2024
in Culture
0
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Engelhardt’s journey to Hall of Fame leadership


Photo by Jamie Plain

Without a doubt, Engelhardt, 39, is a music business bonafide. At 19, the Florida native, (who was born in Lexington) headed to Nashville, where he secured an internship at Sony Music Publishing on a little street known as Music Row. He advanced from intern in the recording studio to staff, and then worked on in-house production and as an engineer, eventually becoming studio manager and producer. 

“We were just making music,” he said. “It’s a lot of long hours and behind-the-scenes work, doing everything from songwriter demos all the way up to major records.” 

The long hours at Sony put Englehardt in the same room as some of the biggest names in country music and beyond — Big & Rich, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Gretchen Wilson, Kenny Rogers, Willy, and Dolly, to name a few. 

At the same time he was producing for Sony, Englehardt — who does not call himself a musician, but admits to “dabbling” on a couple instruments — developed his own label: Englehardt Music Group. EMG has released more than 650 titles since 2004, according to a recent article on bluegrasstoday.com. 

The label, for which he will continue as owner/operator while staff oversees day-to-day business, has “about a 95% bluegrass focus,” which helped propel Englehardt to the Board of Directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association. He currently serves as chairman and will remain an at-large member due to his position at the Hall of Fame once his term is complete. 

Though Englehardt had been to Owensboro previously, moving here wasn’t on his radar. It was on a drive to Holiday World last summer with his wife and three children that the subject came up. 

“My wife asked if I was going to apply. I ended up doing so and it was a streamlined, good process,” he said, noting that so far, his favorite aspects of the Hall of Fame are that the mission is very forward facing and “there’s such a focus on kids, with lessons and tours.” 

A happy surprise has been seeing who turns up at Hall of Fame on a daily basis. 

“We actually get lots of artists that stop by unannounced,” he said. “Just the other day, we had Ricky Skagges and his wife, Sharon White, and then David Crowe, the son of Bluegrass legend J.D. Crowe.” 

Increasing the number of concerts and multi-day events (e.g. Jerry Garcia: A Bluegrass Journey Event) is on the agenda, but Englehardt doesn’t have any major changes on his mind.

“Everything is rockin’ good,” he said. “Obviously, we want to continue to highlight ROMP and encourage attendance.” 

Though there are artists he hopes to bring to Owensboro, “I don’t want to name names and then disappoint,” he said with a smile. 

Englehardt said if you love the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland or the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, “we’re a bit smaller, but just as impressive.” To Owensboroans — or anyone, for that matter — who haven’t visited the Hall of Fame, he urges them to come to a concert and or an exhibit to check it out. OL

Next Post

The Evolution of Jamie Alvey

2025 Owensboro Bucket List

Photo and article by Jacqueline Russell

Love Behind the Lens

FEATURED POST

Bravery Beyond Bullets

May 8, 2025

The Eric Group Brings Big-Time Entertainment to Area

May 1, 2025

Blending big flavor, big dreams, and community connection

June 30, 2025

From Small Towns to Big Stages

June 30, 2025

EDITOR PICK'S

Home sweet history: 1925 Wisdom That Still Rings True Today

June 30, 2025

Sweet Traditions, Spicy Twists

June 30, 2025

What We’re Eating Now

June 30, 2025

Seasonal Recipes: Summer Edition

June 30, 2025

Coastal Charm & Culinary Finds in Newport, Rhode Island

June 30, 2025

Backyard Dreams, Bold Flavor

June 30, 2025

Owensboro’s neighborhood swim clubs

June 30, 2025

STAY CONNECTED

  • 1.7k Followers
  • 2.4k Followers
Facebook Twitter Youtube

Category

  • Culture
  • Events
  • Features
  • Flavor
  • From the Desk of
  • Lifestyle
  • People
  • Places
  • Senior Living
  • The Arts
  • The Buzz
  • The Dish
  • The Last Word
  • The Pulse
  • The Scene
  • The Style

Owensboro Living

2624a New Hartford Rd
Owensboro, KY
270-297-1600

About Us

OwensboroLiving.com is the companion to the bi-monthly FREE magazine, Owensboro Living magazine. Here, get news on your phone, tablet, or computer. No subscription is necessary!

Copyright © 2025 Black Box Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Site by Tanner+West.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • The Buzz
  • Features
  • The Pulse
  • The Dish
  • The Style
  • The Scene
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 Black Box Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Site by Tanner+West.