from the Express-News:For some, the music died on SaturdayWeb Posted: 07/30/2007 12:27 AM CDT
Bryan Chu
Express-News
Pictures and flowers still adorn Terry Penney's workstation at Sanchez Barber Shop & Hair in Kerrville, commemorating the life of a well-known rock 'n' roll, country and blues guitarist in the Texas music community.
The song "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan, sung by close friends, still resonates in the ears of those that showed up at the barbershop Saturday night, each of whom lit a candle in remembrance for Penney and two other musicians killed in a head-on collision Saturday morning.
The three musicians — Terry Penney; his wife, Sarah, a vocalist; and Edward Andrade, a bass player — part of the country-western band Chad Reilly and the Wild Horse Band, were on their way back on Texas 173 at 3:35 a.m. Saturday from a gig at the Lone Star Saloon in Uvalde when a two-door Chevy sedan drifted into their lane.
A southbound motorist suspected of driving drunk crossed over into their lane and collided head-on with the van, driven by Terry Penney. The van rolled over and caught fire.
Terry Penney, 59, and Sarah Penney, 51, both from Kerrville; Andrade, 47, of Ingram; and Doogan, Terry Penney's poodle-terrier mix, died at the scene.
"Family, music and friends, that was their life," said Stephanie Beach, Sarah's daughter. "They will be very much missed."
Police believe Rogelio Palacios, 18, of Kerrville, who also died at the scene, was intoxicated that night.
Efforts to reach Palacios' family Sunday were unsuccessful.
Palacios was wearing a seat belt, but officials are still determining whether those in the van were restrained.
Funeral arrangements are still pending for the Penneys and Andrade.
The three musicians lived quite a different life from pleasing throngs of fans.
Terry Penney was a cosmetologist for five years while Sarah Penney was a cook and baker at Dietert Senior Citizen Center in Kerrville. Andrade was a volunteer firefighter at the Ingram Fire Department. After approximately five years on the job, Andrade worked his way up to lieutenant.
"He was always a strait-laced human being that worked really hard to support his family," said Marvin Gazaway, captain of the Ingram Fire Department. "As far as the Fire Department, we're really emotional. We'll miss him a whole lot."
Country music and rock were just some of the many types of music the Penneys played.
Along with Frank Wantland, 45, a bass player from Ingram, and Carlos Escobedo, 51, a drummer from Ingram, the Penneys formed a Christian rock band, Pathway. The band recently completed its first demo, "These Days"
Terry Penney and Andrade also played together in a classic rock and blues band in Kerrville called Sol Patch along with Bryan Maldonado, 34, a guitarist, and Melissa Weatherly, 44, a vocalist.
Terry Penney and Andrade were known best as "hired guns," musicians who would fill in when bands were missing players.
"You wouldn't believe how many people in this community are affected by this," Wantland said.
Of the three, Terry Penney may have left the biggest imprint on music in Texas. Around the business for nearly 40 years, Terry Penney established himself as one of the best guitar players, said Rhea Penick, manager of Chad Reilly and the Wild Horse Band.
From the 1970s through the 1990s, Terry Penney performed in over 400 gigs, said Greg Forest, 55, of Kerrville, a former musician and a close friend of Penney's.
Some, like Chad Reilly, a popular San Antonio country singer, even consider Terry Penney a legend.
Reilly, who turned 29Saturday, said Terry Penney, Sarah Penney and Andrade were like family.
Reilly said he still remembers shaking each member's hand after Friday night's performance. He said the group was slated to play the following day, his birthday.
"I'm still in shock," he said. "I can't believe they are gone. They will be missed forever."
