The Bent Penny to play at famous Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville

Dec. 30—Sierra Marling

Local band, The Bent Penny, played at the legendary Tootsie's Orchid Lounge in Nashville on Friday, Dec. 30.

Tootsie's is world-famous for hosting and nurturing talent such as Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn on Nashville's infamous Broadway strip.

The journey to Nashville began in Dec. 2009, when Rick Warner invited 30 people to a gathering in his brother, Randy Warner's, garage to celebrate Randy's birthday.

For four hours, the group—comprised of Randy, Rick, and Gary—performed during the small celebration.

Randy liked the idea so much he then reciprocated by holding another small music-filled gathering for Rick's birthday a month later.

The band looks a little different from when it first began, with some members coming and going over the years and upgrades from their original starting equipment, which was found at yard sales, pawn shops, and secondhand from another band.

They also played at varying venues, such as The Richmond Centre and Bluegrass Barrel House, but Randy Warner fondly recalled that their first public, advertised gig was actually at the Dairy Queen in Berea.

In a prior article from The Register, Randy Warner explained that their big break came in July 2010, just a little over a year after they played their first show.

A bartender at Bogart's Crown Plaza named Emilee Walters Sierp, was approached several times by the band to play a show. Finally, they were given a Friday night gig. That show created a regular space for the band, as they were asked by the venue to play the next Friday. Eventually, the band started performing every Friday, and one Saturday a month.

Today, the band is comprised of seven members who have all been in the band for about 10 years. There is the adoptive father-son duo of Cliff and Gary Jones, Richmond native Sheri Portwood, retired local firefighter Scott Ferguson, and brothers Rick and Randy Warner.

The group, while very different, said they consider each other to be close and work together to create a great show.

"I'm a 70s [music] guy with a bluegrass/country background, Cliff is a Motown guy with a blues background, Sherri's is bluegrass/country, so we're mixed and kind of thrown in together. That makes a good mix," Randy Warner explained.

He also said this gives the band the ability to perform audience requests on the fly, from The Dukes of Hazzard theme to hits from Waylon Jennings.

While performing at various venues along the way, the band has been nominated for many Lexington Music Awards and have even won one for "Best Rock Band" in 2017.

However, according to lead guitarist Randy Warner, none of the awards, money, or accolades matter.

"It's not about the money. It's about the people, the entertainment, and what kind of example we leave at the end of the day."

The local community has benefited from this mindset at multiple points in the band's history.

The group has historically worked with the Humane Society for their Pennies for Paws event and also played events benefiting the American Heart Association and those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Randy Warner fondly recalled a gig they played for Big Brothers, Big Sisters where they were able to put their money where their mouth was.

"They paid us quite well, and we turned around and gave that money back," he said.

Randy Warner credits this altruistic outlook to the way members of the group were raised, commenting, "I think that growing up in Richmond taught us hometown values and the meaning of what true friendship and bonding as a family is."

As for the big show at Tootsie's, Randy Warner said the band is definitely doing it for the right reasons.

"We're not going down there to look to be discovered or get famous. We're going down to support the Cats and have a good time," he said.