From Strumming in His Yard to Performing at the SCPD Ventana Banquet Room
The road to Sun City has been an interesting journey for Tim Bryant. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 11, 1954, he was soon whisked away by his parents to Hughes, Arkansas. This little town of 1,960 souls, nestled just 40 miles from Memphis, on the Arkansas side of the mighty Mississippi River, became his childhood home. It was a stone’s throw from where legends like Elvis Presley, Conway Twitty, and Johnny Cash were raised.
Music flowed through Tim’s veins from the start. As the son of a southern minister, his first notes were played in church. His father’s Sears Silvertone guitar, a formidable challenge for a six-year-old, became his first love.
In 1970, the Bryant family left the south and its hospitality for La Junta, Colorado. Graduating high school, Tim was ready to dive into the professional music scene. The Urban Cowboy movement was in full swing, with line dancing and new country music taking over. Clubs sprouted up everywhere, and Tim was determined to be part of it.
That following winter, Tim took a job with the Santa Fe Railroad, knowing the music industry was tough. The plan was simple: work for a few years, save money, then hit the road.
Life, however, had other plans. Marriage and the birth of his daughter Amber, who arrived two and a half months premature and with special needs, meant he had to keep his railroad job for the security it offered. Over the years, Tim still wrote songs, performed, and kept on dreaming.
Tim juggled work and music for seven years before he had to choose. The demands were too great, and music took a backseat. Despite this, he remained proud of his accomplishments as a musician.
Climbing the ranks in the railroad industry, Tim became a conductor and then moved into management. Moving to Hemet, California, he managed crews across the western division, and later became Trainmaster in Bakersfield, California. The industrial setting of the railroad was a symphony of iron and steam, with the ceaseless rhythm of labor under the blazing sun, where sweat mingled with the scent of hot metal and the hum of machinery filled the air. After a 37-year career, he retired in Oklahoma City, then moved to Sun City following his last divorce.
Sun City was a dream come true—a haven with endless activities like softball and golf. It was a land of calm, quiet, vibrant landscapes with perpetual sunshine, azure skies, and great neighbors. It was here that Tim met Patty Roth, and together they built a beautiful home. Patty, a music lover, encouraged Tim to play again. Despite initial struggles and selling his equipment out of frustration, Patty insisted Tim get a hearing test. To his surprise, he had significant hearing loss. After getting hearing aids, the world came alive with sound again, and Tim returned to his guitar with renewed vigor.
During the COVID pandemic, Tim started playing on his patio. What began as casual performances grew as neighbors gathered around the golf course to listen, and soon, he was playing every Sunday with a live Facebook feed. The crowd kept growing, and his passion for music was reignited.
But life took another turn when Patty was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer six years ago. She fought bravely, but sadly passed away on December 19, 2022. Devastated, Tim went on a three-month road trip to escape the pain, but he realized he couldn’t outrun his grief. Returning home for Patty’s memorial, he saw the support of his friends and stayed in Sun City, knowing this was where he belonged.
Today, Tim feels incredibly blessed as his audience continues to grow. He plays at private parties, clubs, and special events, with regular gigs at Ventanas.
For more updates and his schedule, follow his journey on Facebook Tim Bryant Sun City.
