A veterinarian, a Presbyterian minister, and a Wal-Mart manager walk into a bar… Sounds like the beginning of a joke, doesn't it? Only it's not a joke, these are the actual day jobs of a trio of musicians known as The Company I Keep.Using an unusual combination of instruments featuring the hammered dulcimer, The Company I Keep blends influences from several musical genres into a collection of original songs and standards that could be called AppalachiaCelticana-Gospelgrass.Formed in early 2004, The Company I Keep began recording their first CD in the fall of that year, after several enthusiastically received public performances. Completed in the spring of 2005, their debut instrumental CD, A Few Days Back, has sold briskly at their performances in the Middle Tennessee area, and has received regular local radio play as well. After receiving multiple offers, the trio signed publishing contracts on all the songs from A Few Days Back with music publishers in Los Angeles and New York.Noteworthy Performances:Rocky River Bluegrass Concert Series 3/04Main Street McMinnville Summer Concert Series 7/04 Viola Valley Homecoming 8/04 Warren County A&L Fair 9/04Riverview Terrace 12/04Normandy Music Night 5/05Main Street McMinnville Summer Concert Series 7/05Riverview Terrace 12/05Capalanos 2/06The Dixie Cafe, Byrdstown, TN 4/06The Company I Keep is:Gene Maxwell, the veterinarian who plays guitar and bass Andy Gay, the Presbyterian who plays fiddle, mandolin, penny whistle and fluteSteve Phillips, the Wal-Mart Manager who plays hammered dulcimer, harmonica, and shakerContact: thecompanyikeepmusic@yahoo.com