Trent Swartzentruber - Guitar
trent@jeffdeyo.com

I was born January 9, 1985, in Phoenix, AZ where the majority of my family still resides. I was raised there and lived there all my life until I moved to Nashville, TN at age 21 in January ’06 to play guitar for Jeff Deyo.

I always had a musical background in grade school, so I started playing the bass guitar when I was 11. After learning the bass rather quickly, I picked up the guitar at age 14 and loved it!

All this time I had been attending Phoenix Assembly of God, with Pastor Tommy Barnett. Though I lived in Phoenix, I literally grew up hanging out at the church. I began playing in the church orchestra when I was 17 years old and just couldn’t get enough. I was mentored by our youth pastor, Brad Baker, and by our youth worship leader, Shawn Henss, and they encouraged me in how to walk a godly path and helped me to grow personally, spiritually, and musically.

As a senior in high school, I filled in as a rhythm guitarist for a rock band called The Blackouts from January ’03 to August ’03, where I gained some performance and touring experience.

Then at our state AG Youth Convention in November of ’05 where Jeff was leading worship, I was able to meet, fellowship and worship with him and the band. A couple months later, I heard through our worship leader that Jeff was having guitar auditions. I quickly found out where and how and flew to Nashville for the big tryout.

Within 3 total weeks, I found out about the auditions, tried out and got the call to come play with the band. January 27, 2006 was my first worship concert with Jeff and the guys. Now I have been with them for over a year and am excited to have officially been welcomed in as Jeff’s lead guitarist.

I can hardly believe how quickly my life changed, but I had been seeking God with an intense desire to know what he had for my life for several weeks before the audition. I even fasted for several days for the first time ever during the audition process. I am grateful that God responded so directly! So, here I am! I can say it truly is a blessing from God to be where I am at this time in my life. And I hope to see YOU out on the road worshiping God with us…