“The Bowman teachers would often hear me wailing away as I cleaned the bathrooms with my iPod and earphones on,” says Schrenk, who admits he was a little embarrassed once he realized people had been listening.
“He’s a good performer and a very special person,” says Shirley Short, one of the cafeteria staff at Bowman who has worked with him for 12 years.
Three years ago, Jesse Lyn Fisher, who works at Lebanon Christian, overheard Schrenk singing to the radio and invited him to sing at the Lebanon Grand Opry House where she hosts the weekend shows. Before he could even make up his mind, Fisher had already put him on the schedule.
Schrenk, who says his only experience singing was in his truck or in the shower, was both excited and nervous. The first time he walked up the steps to the stage, he realized he couldn’t remember the lyrics, and started to turn around but he paused and regained his composure. He hasn’t turned back since.
Today, Schrenk regularly performs at several local venues including The Colony Theater in Hillsboro, The Rex Patrick Show in Germantown, and even at Renfro Valley in Kentucky, a country music hotspot.
Last year, Schrenk spread his wings into Nashville. He has an open invitation to sing at the Nashville Palace, where Alan Jackson and Randy Travis got their start. He is also welcome to sing at John A’s, where Schrenk says Roni Stoneman from ‘’Hee Haw’’ is a regular.
With his cowboy hat and boots, and signature cuff-ripped jeans, Schrenk loves to sing honky-tonk, Western swing, and traditional country and even mixes in a little rock ‘n’ roll. His style is often compared to Alan Jackson and George Strait, and his favorite song to sing is a Strait classic, “Fireman.” Music producers and a well-know country disc jockey in Nashville have approached Schrenk about recording some music, but he is still considering his options and trying to keep grounded.
“Not being in the business very long, it’s hard to know who to trust,” he said.
Schrenk says even if he doesn’t make it big, singing is something he enjoys sharing with others. He likes where he works and spending time with his wife Madge and two daughters, Shayla and Makenzie, who are of paramount importance to him.
“My family is my whole basis for everything. They are the backbone,” he said.
Schrenk will perform at the Lebanon Grand Opry House on May 14.
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