Zink Music News

Hey Everybody, it’s been a long time since we have sent out a newsletter. This one is a bit more personal. We wanted to reconnect and let you know about some of the latest news, and share some photos from 2024.

As you can imagine I am overjoyed to share with everyone that Mason Zink is now a full-time member of Zink & Company.  He turned 16 in November, and now has his drivers license. He is quickly taking over the majority of the singing in the band and has become a crowd favorite. Mason works hard every day on his music. He’s playing bass with the band, but also works on banjo, mandolin, and guitar. Mason’s playing and singing abilities have grown immensely this past year. He is greatly influenced by many of the talented musicians that are around us on a regular basis. Mason was honored to be asked to perform with Dan Tyminski this past year in Gatlinburg. He was so excited. How awesome!! I can’t tell you how proud I am of him and thankful to be living in such a wonderful place. There are so many incredible opportunities where we can do what we love together every day. Mason is headed to Kentucky this weekend to perform along side Ben James of the Oak Ridge Boys with an all star lineup at Bluegrass in the Bluegrass. Keep up with him on Facebook!!

Mason has become the face of The Zink Trio. We perform many venues in the area and work fairly regularly at Dollywood. Mason has gotten to know many of the people at Dollywood and they all love him. It’s a great feeling to be standing on stage watching all the heads turn when Mason starts singing. Mason has a gift not only with his music, but with his love for people and performing, The Zink Trio is made up of Mason, myself and our good friend Jason Bales. Jason and I started working together back in 2020 and have become the best of friends. Jason is a huge positive influence on Mason and is showing him quite a bit on the Banjo. We love spending time with Jason on and off the stage. The Zink Trio allows us to play some smaller venues and we have a lot of fun wherever we perform. I have all I can do to keep up with these two guys.

In 2024, Mason played his first bluegrass cruise, and we are very excited to be doing it again this year. I have shared the flyer below with information on how to be part of our bluegrass cruise for 2025. As many of you know we have been doing cruises for many years. It’s one of our favorite ways to vacation. We always have a great time with all of our friends who join us.  The music, food, and all the destinations are always amazing and exciting. I’m not sure if Mason was more excited about the jamming or the food. The kid loves to eat. lol. Please consider joining us this year and give us a call for information.

Zink and Company is our full bluegrass band. At the end of 2024 we said goodbye, for now to our mandolin player Kyle Dodson. Kyle had played with us for about a year and a half until recently when he decided to relocate back to his hometown in Maryland. Kyle knows that he will always have a spot with us if he decides to return to Tennessee. We will miss him greatly, and we wish him well in his music career. Kyle is an incredible musician and has had some exciting things happen in 2024 including being asked to be a (Banjo) sub for the Queen of Bluegrass, Rhonda Vincent. He has performed with her many times on the Opry. Keep your eye on Kyle he’s only 24. He is going places and he’ll always have a place with Zink and Company.

We have not hired a permanent replacement for Kyle yet, but we are very fortunate to have so many talented musicians in the area that are helping us out regularly including Darrell Webb, Matt Flake, and Chevy Watson.  All of these guys are incredible musicians and we are always honored to share the stage with them.

Zink Country is our classic country band which performs multiple times a month in and around East Tennessee. I have made it a point to honor the tradition of country music by staying true to what I feel is real country music. This year, I hired two more permanent members. Most of you are already familiar with Sid Spiva, (Steel Guitar). Sid has been by my side since I moved to East Tennessee. Sid is helping me keep tradition alive the way I believe country music was intended. Not only is Sid an incredible musician, he’s also one of the best guys I’ve ever known.  Another great guy, who’s been by my side from the beginning, is Lonnie Rowland (Drums/Vocals). Lonnie helped make it possible for our family to get settled here in East TN. He is a tremendous talent and an even better friend. I am so thankful for their friendship. One of the biggest challenges with keeping a band together is having consistent members who are available all the time, as often as I need. At the beginning of January, Stephen Fox and Austin Davenport became full-time members of Zink Country. Both have been playing with our band as substitutes on and off over the past couple of years. They have become great friends of mine. We perform at many venues where people from all over the country come, and are excited to hear and sing along with real traditional country music. Playing with all of these guys is an honor, exciting, and incredibly humbling. Here are some pics of the guys.

Please help me welcome Austin (Bass/Vocals) and Stephen (Lead Guitar) as part of the Zink Country Family.

Sid Spiva

Lonnie Rowland

Austin Davenport

Stephen Fox

Pickin’ & Grinnin’

In January, we took Zink and Company back to the Berkshires to host a bluegrass concert in Dalton, Massachusetts. We were able to reconnect with many of our friends and family after two years. I can’t tell you how much I personally appreciate the support from the folks who continue to stay connected with us and our music. The bluegrass band performed, and Mason made his debut as a full-time member of the band. The show was sold out and it was a proud and emotional time for me. It was the first time, in a long time, where Mason, me,  and my Dad (Rocky Zink) got to perform together on stage. I fought back tears most of the evening, struggling to talk on the mic without breaking down. As Always, my dad, brought the crowd to their feet. It’s always a privilege to share the stage with him. I was so proud. Playing music is so much more to me than just the music. The friendships, love, and community is simply untouchable. We will be sure to do another Bluegrass show in the Berkshires.

 

However, we have scheduled a country show for August 10th 2025. There will be dancing. I have included a flyer below where you can make your reservations.

This event will also sell out so please reach out to us ASAP to secure your seats.

TeamZink

This is our 2024 Christmas pic. Our kids are growing up so fast.  Missy and I will be married 23 years in September. Where has the time gone? Our oldest, Cooper, is turning 18 on February 21. Mason 16, Molly 13, and Catie 10. Both Cooper and Mason have earned and saved their money to purchase their own cars. I will say we are nervous and constantly worried about them driving all over, but are so proud of the young men that they are becoming. All of the kids are doing outstanding in school, continually making the honor roll. Cooper will be graduating from high school in May and looking at his option for his future. Mason is deep into his music. Molly and Catie are both very active in softball playing both local and travel. Mama and Daddy are running all over the place all the time to keep up with their schedules. Missy is doing outstanding with her career and just got a new position that she is much happier with, and much more valued. I’m not sure I know of anybody that can manage life as well as she does. Looking back over these last six years, living in East Tennessee, we have learned and now know that we made the right decision for our family. Missy and I both love our jobs and we don’t think we have ever been happier or stronger as a team. It is incredibly hard to be away from all of our friends and family up north, but we are so thankful for social media and for all of our friends and family that continue to support our journey.

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