About Me
Sincere, Honest, and well mannered are words that describe this talented artist. A crisp dressed handsome young man with piercing blue eyes, and a rich solid baritone voice. He is also an amazing whistler, and incorporates this unique talent in several of his songs.
Bart Merlyn Hansen was born and raised in America's heartland near the small town of Pierson, Iowa. His dreams have always been music. Bart has been singing for as long as he can remember. The youngest of three children, he and his sisters grew up singing in church, and in the family band headed by their father. During his high school years Bart spent much of his summers traveling with several music groups playing country, bluegrass, and gospel music for churches, fairs and festivals through out the United States. After graduating from a local college the music bug was still in his system so he headed west. For three seasons Bart performed as a member of the Dakota Country Music Show in Custer, South Dakota for tourists visiting the Black Hills.
Bart prides himself on being well versed on the history of country music. Especially the country music of the 1950's and 60's. Artists such as Faron Young, Wynn Stewart, Marty Robbins, Carl Smith, Ray Price, Buck Owens, Randy Travis, Elvis, and a host of others have greatly influenced his life and music. However when asked what person had the most overall impact on his musical style, Bart quickly replied, "Dad without a doubt. He taught me my first chord on the guitar and I learned a lot of classic songs by copying him long before I ever heard the original versions." He adds "I learned to sing from Dad, and Mom and my sisters taught me to dance." If not in front of a microphone Bart is likely to be found on a dance floor spinning the ladies, or writing songs, both are crafts he has spent many hours honing.
Bart's first real debut on "stage" was at a very early age when he slicked back his hair and got up on the waxed top of his mother's "hi-fi" stereo with his microphone (a turkey baster with a string attached as a chord) and sang and danced in his stocking feet to the tunes of Elvis Presley, entertaining family members. From then on he knew in front of a crowd was where he wanted to be.
With a steady diet of stage life under his belt, Bart made the decision that music was going to be his life. With the support of a close knit family and friends and strong faith in the Lord he set out for Nashville to fulfill his dreams of creating traditional influenced country music. He now owns an acreage just north of Nashville and for the last several years has supported himself solely on the income made from playing music. He and his band play the clubs on Broadway entertaining tourist and locals alike when in Nashville. Since 2002 Bart has been playing guitar and fronting the band for Loretta Lynn, relishing every moment of being a "Coal Miner" and being on stage with a legend. Far removed from that first "hi-fi" stage Bart continues to reach for the top when he sings his way into the hearts of the people he meets. He hopes that his music will help to insure country music's traditions will be guarded well into the future.
