By Dave Woods



About a dozen hearty souls, including myself, braved the elements one recent wintery afternoon to listen to the musical stylings of a 28-year-old Southern California native named John DeHoyos. DeHoyos, whose bright eyes and toothy grin make him look much younger than he really is, manages to make ends meet for his wife of seven years and 18-month-old daughter by playing guitar and singing songs in bars and nightclubs across the country. On that particular Saturday, DeHoyos found himself sharing stories and crooning to a crowd of loyal fans -- and new friends -- at Brewsters Lounge in Joplin.



DeHoyos, a self-proclaimed Christian man, finds no disconnect in making his bread and butter singing songs in establishments that cater to a drinking clientele. In fact, one of his crowd favorites, the simply titled “Beer Bottle Song,” is a proven crowd favorite.



Click the viewer below to watch John DeHoyos perform 'The Beer Bottle Song.'





I sat down for this conversation with DeHoyos between musical sets during his three- hour performance to talk about his music, his family and how he wound up performing for the president of Afghanistan at the American embassy in Kabul while working with TV journalist Dan Rather.



During the 15- or 20-minutes we managed to squeeze in before the crowd demanded he return to the make-shift stage, it became clear why DeHoyos is able to make a living doing what he does when so many other performers fail: He never takes his eyes off of the audience. You feel like you are the only person in the room when he engages you in one-on-one conversation and when he's standing alone behind the mic. Oh, and I suppose I should mention, his guitar skills are exceptional, his voice smooth and easy to listen to, and his attitude sincere. Here's some of our conversation:



So you are not from around here originally?

“I am not an Ozarker, but I do like the Ozarkians…they are very nice people. I live here in (Marshfield) Missouri and I do enjoy it. My beautiful wife, Natalie, and baby girl Maddy (Madeline Daniel) go touring with me everywhere.



How long have you been a musician performing for a living?

“I started about three years ago. That’s when I took the step to quit my day job and go ahead 100 percent. It worked out very well.



What was your day job?

“I used to manage a custom guitar shop. Then I started the self-employment. I started teaching guitar and doing guitar lesson DVD’s and performing live.”



Do you come from a musical family?

No… actually. In my immediate family, nobody plays an instrument. I have an uncle -- or bunch of uncles -- who live in Arizona and Mexico who sing contemporary, I guess you call it Ranchera music. It’s Mexican folk music.”



Tell me about your trip to Afghanistan.

I went working with Dan Rather. It was a lot of fun.



You must be the only one who had any fun in Afghanistan.

Yeah. I pretty much was…I didn’t realize. When you are there and in the thick of it…It didn’t really seem real.



Surreal?

Definitely. I went out with Dan Rather working as a journalist. And while we were at he American embassy in Kabul a couple of the White House folks that we were following around and interviewing along with the president of Afghanistan said, “we here you play professionally and would like to have you perform at the embassy.” I said absolutely. And so I played there two nights in a row. They liked it a whole lot. It was a lot of fun.”



How does a Southwest Missouri guy…via Southern California, end up working with Dan Rather?

“A very good friend of mine who happens to be a TV director called me out of the blue and said 'pack your bags, we are going to Afghanistan.' ”



It beats the other way you get to Afghanistan I imagine.

“My job there was to be the sound engineer and technician for the entire television shoot. I learned a lot on the trip.”



Los Angeles, Ca., Marshfield, Mo., Afghanistan and then back to Joplin? What is the difference in the audiences you’ve seen?

“Good question.”



Probably the embassy in Kabul is a little different crowd that you found today at Brewsters?

“Absolutely….ummm….I played about three hours straight. I ran out of material. Since I moved here from Southern California I find that the crowds here really do appreciate original music. Especially in the Midwest. I play Eureka Springs a lot and it’s the same way there.”



It seems like a lot of the song that you have penned yourself have a faith base to them...Particularly the one about your daughter. Tell me a little bit about your faith.

“I’m a Christian man, a family man. Family comes first…God, and my wife, and my baby girl.”



In that order?

In that order. There is no way anybody in their right mind would have a wife and baby girl and then just say 'you know I think I’m going to quit my job now and do this.' But when God says ‘jump,’ I just ask how high? My family and I have not been let down yet. Of course, we’ve lived off top ramen and things like that, but we have clothes on our backs and always had a roof over our heads. It’s been wonderful. We have had a wonderful run with God in our lives. My wife…I give her all the credit. She’s amazing.”



You play a lot of the classic rock like Neil Young? He’s known for his protests and anti-war songs. Do you find some kind of connection with Neil Young?

“He does a lot of a political songs and I just try to keep away from it myself. However, I love, absolutely love, Neal Young’s lyrics. I love his songwriting, I love his guitar playing. He’s amazing.



What’s life on the road like with you and the wife and the daughter?

Ahhh…too much fun. Way too much fun. We have tried pulling trailers …that was fun. But after about 1000 miles of pulling a 40-foot trailer, it gets old really quick, so we decided to go tent camping. We usually tour in the spring and summer, so the tent camping is just amazing fun. We have campfires, cook and make coffee. We do all of that stuff.”



Pioneer style?

“When wintertime rolls around we hit-up all of the KOA’s and stay in the cabins where they have heaters. It's just a lot of fun.”



What about this life, your life, do you want to most communicate to your daughter? Is performing in bars counter to what you are trying to instill in your child?

“Not necessarily. 'Cause I don’t just perform in bars. I also do TV shows. What I’d like to instill in my daughter is…I’d like her to have a choice so she can do whatever she would like to do. But also, to understand that she doesn't have to be afraid to do what she wants to do. She will be taken care of as long as she’s got faith in her life, she can do absolutely anything. And my wife has been a tremendous role in teaching her a lot how we live that way. She’s an amazing woman.”



Who is your favorite solo artist?

“Other than Neil Young? I’d have to say James Taylor.”



Because of his song-writing skills?

“James Taylor has stayed solid . Just like Neil Young. No one will ever be able to sound like James Taylor…ever. He has the most unique voice I’ve ever heard.”



Who is your favorite group?

“That’s a tough one it’s a toss up between AC/DC and…”



Really, on the 'Highway to Hell' with John DeHoyos …

“Yeah, they are definitely one of my favorite groups. I like Metallica a lot.”



Favorite songwriter?

“Has to be Neil Young.”



Best album ever?

“Harvest”



Why should somebody take the time to come see a single guy with a big microphone and a vintage-looking amp sing his heart out?

“When people think of singer-songwriters and single acoustic guys they get scared off. That’s not going to happen with me. They’re going to get 110 percent balls-out. They’re going to get kicked in the ass with an acoustic guitar and get to listen to some great original music that you won’t hear anywhere else.”