They’re on a mission –and so far – the three members of Trick Pony are succeeding at their mission to get their music to as many people as possible, and have a good time while doing just that.

Minnesota homeboy and bass player Ira Dean made his way to Nashville 13 years ago to try to find work in the music business. It wasn’t long before he scored a gig with Tanya Tucker, and not long after was fired.

“I was a side guy for a lot of artists like Johnny Cash and Tanya Tucker,” Dean said. “I got fired from Tanya, Keith gave me a call, and we put this thing (Trick Pony) together with Heidi (Newfield) in 1997.”

Keith is guitar player Keith Burns from Atlanta, Georgia, and was Joe Diffie’s bass player for about seven years. Burns also wrote the top-20 hit, “A Whole Lotta Gone,” for Diffie.

“Along with Heidi and Ira, I write a majority of stuff for Trick Pony,” said Burns. “We’ve been together about six years, and we’ve just been working our tails off since then.”

California cutie Heidi Newfield moved to Nashville in 1989 to pursue music as well, and since hooking up with Dean and Burns, has been Trick Pony’s guitar player, harmonica player, and has shared the lead vocalist position.

After the trio hooked up, they spent about four years singing, writing, and shopping –for a record deal.

“We got a van and trailer and went up and down the road all across the country,” Newfield said. “We played every club and honky tonk, and it was probably a good thing. It took us a year to just gel. We knew right away it was going to work, but we also knew it would take some time to mold.”

The van rides of a couple years ago seem like an eternity of time since they got their record deal and have had some success.

“Everything is moving so fast,” said Burns. “It’s like my brother said the other day, “Keith is on a roller-coaster, along with Heidi and Ira, and if you want to get on it, you just have to ride with them a while, then jump off, cause they are not getting off –they’re gonna keep on going.”

Going on the heels of their second album, “On a Mission,” Newfield, Burns, and Dean are happy where they are at in both their careers, and their lives.

“We’re really proud of “On a Mission.” That’s something that feeds us and lights a fire under us,” said Newfield. “But the one thing we all agree on is that when we walk up those stairs, we hear the roar of the crowd, and they’re diggin’ what we’re doing and singing every word to every song –that right there makes everything worth it. It’s the most incredible feeling in the world.”

What is Trick Pony?

Heidi: “Trick Pony is energy. It’s honky-tonkin,’ drivin,’ in your face fun. There is also a softer side to Trick Pony that pops out on some of the softer ballads.”

Keith: “We’re three friends from three different parts of the country making one noise together. We come from the old school of country music, but we also love Fleetwood Mac and stuff like that.

Ira: “Trick Pony, to me, is love of music, 20 years of lessons, learning, and making mistakes. That’s basically what it is.”

“Heavy on the mistakes,” adds Newfield laughing.

“It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it –it’s a lesson if you do. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I’ve also learned a lot of lessons too, and that’s what you do. You go down one road and if it dead-ends, you go back and try another road –it’s always that ride back to the main road that takes forever.”

“There is a genuine love of music here,” Newfield said. “I mean, nothing would please us more to be a huge hit and make lots of money, but that’s not the drive behind us. Like Ira said, it’s a love of country music, and friendship.”

More live dates are in the works, with the trio hitting the road hard after February.

“We’re going to be doing about 130 dates,” said Newfield. “We’re not gonna stop any time soon, that’s for darn sure.”

Praise from the queen of country

In an interview for Goldminer Magazine, fellow Winstock performer Loretta Lynn was asked, “So, you don’t think country music is telling it like it is anymore?”

Lynn answered, “No. Country music is not tellin’ it. There’s one girl out there right now, (Newfield) that says ‘Pour me, pour me, pour me another shot of whiskey . . . ‘ I kind of like her . . . She was woman enough to get out there and sing it.”

Lynn was referring to the band’s first hit song, “Pour Me,” from its debut album.

Newfield was able to meet Lynn at the Country Music Association awards.

“There were a lot of highlights that night –but my biggest highlight was something that was completely backstage, and that was when I got to meet Loretta for the very first time.

“I couldn’t run in my dress, so Ira detained her and told her that someone wanted to meet her. As I walked around the corner, she threw her arms out and ran towards me like a mother who hadn’t seen her daughter in a long time.

“She was so gracious, and we talked for about 10 minutes,” said Newfield.

“She wanted nothing to do with me” said Dean laughing.

“We talked about getting together and doing some writing. She’s just a great lady, and probably the single most biggest influence on me from a country female artist,” said Newfield. “To have her point me out –I can’t even begin to tell you how big of a thrill that was to me.”