Music tends to bring people together.
That's what Doyle Kempker has found, and he wants to keep bringing people together with music as long as he can.
Growing up in Westphalia, Kempker started playing music when he was 6 years old and watched the Grand Ole Opry on TV, dreaming of performing in Nashville.
That dream came true, as Kempker worked out of Nashville for 15 years as a bass player before becoming an audio engineer - which he found he liked just as much as performing.
"I've been blessed," Kempker said. "It's not that I'm good - it's the right place, right time and right people. There was always a love of music in my family, but how they started me playing at 6 I don't know. I played all through grade school and high school. I did bass, drums, guitar and steel guitar. I'm not that good; I just got lucky."
Three months after he left high school, Kempker joined a USO show and traveled overseas to entertain the troops. From there, a network of people got him into playing with bands and artists around Nashville, including country performer Joe Nichols.
Kempker entered the sound engineering business when country artist Jeff Carson needed a last-minute engineer.
"His guys called me and I told them I didn't know what I was doing, but they said they didn't have anybody - and I said, 'Fine,'" Kempker said. "I did the first show, and they came back and offered me the job. I got to eat, so there again: right place at the right time."
Knowing he couldn't have a family life if he continued to work the music tour business, Kempker decided to return to Central Missouri and start a family. He now has three children and a sound system business, Quality Sound Solutions, and has been involved in music festivals in places such as Glasgow, Mexico and New London.
"Live music is near and dear to my heart," Kempker said. "Live music gives you an attachment to your audience. It's always been a way to take a little gift that God gave me and use that to brighten somebody's day."
Kempker said he wants to focus on helping the local music community.
"Little did I know that starting the company would lead me to another level of satisfaction in music," Kempker said. "This led me to do sound for small bands around this area, and they recommended me to the towns for their events. I found that I don't have to be famous to make a difference."
He had mentors growing up, so he's willing to do whatever he can to help young musicians, he said.
Last month, Kempker helped organize the River City Music Revival, where nine local bands performed over a 10-hour period. Already Kempker has been approached by bands interested in doing another similar event.
"The idea was to show these people that instead of bands getting in competition with one another, if they all support each other, they can all win together," Kempker said. "It was amazing to see all those musicians show up, and they hung out and got to know each other.
"I don't care if it's at a club or it's at festival; it's all about helping keep the music scene alive. It will die if people don't keep it up."