Ashtabula native Marc Fortney had an epiphany while stretched out on his back three stories above a Nashville sidewalk.

“I was working on this decrepit chimney, filling in the cracks, and I thought ‘This is not why I get to see my mom and dad only three times a year and am making all these sacrifices,’” said Fortney in a phone interview from his home in Nashville. “The next day, I said ‘This is who I am going to be, a song writer and an artist.’ I made a decision I was never going to do anything with my life other than write songs and be a performer. That was going to be how I made my living. ... My life really changed after I made that statement, it pushed me in that direction.”

That was five years ago, and Fortney, 37, says he is just now starting to see the results of his resolve pay off. In late 2006, country star Toby Keith stopped by Nashville’s 12th and Porter to catch a performance by Fortney and his Trailer Choir. After listening to the band a couple of nights, Keith brought his entire entourage of management people with him to the show and signed the band as part of his Show Dog family.

“Two days later we were on (the Big Dog Daddy) Tour,” said Fortney, who spent three months opening for Keith at venues across the U.S.

Fortney and his band will use their holiday break to return to his home town Dec. 22, when Trailer Choir will be part of The Bull Christmas Bash at Jewel’s Dance Hall. Roger McCoy of The Bull says Trailer Choir will join Next-of-Kin and Tony Rio and Relentless for the all-night show. Trailer Choir is scheduled to play 11 p.m. Call Jewel’s for ticket information.

“We’re really excited to be back up in Ashtabula,” Fortney says.

Fortney grew up on East 44th Street and his parents, David and Jayne, still live in Ashtabula, as does his sister, Leah Kollhoff, her husband Matt and their baby daughter, Hanna. His sister, Jenna, is in Nashville with Fortney.

Like most Ashtabula County teens, Fortney’s musical interests leaned more toward rock than country. His interest in country was piqued while a student at Middle Tennessee State. “After moving down there and becoming a song writer, I just fell in love with country music,” he says.

Fortney had played around with the guitar for years, but the impetus for getting serious about music and song writing came through the tragic death of his friend, Andy Sheldon. “The first song I wrote was for his funeral,” Fortney says. “That was the first time I ever put words and melody together. I realized in the future that was what I was going to be.”

He wrote songs for five years and kicked around in a variety of music-related jobs in Nashville before that fateful chimney incident. After realizing repairing chimneys was not his career goal, Fortney focused his energies on improving his attitude, his professionalism and commitment to his song writing and performance.

He formed Trailer Choir about three years ago, although the front musicians who give face to the band now are recent additions. Crystal Hoyt, provides a dash of beauty and dynamic female vocals. Vinnie “The Mack” Henderson, who puts his 370 pounds into motion during their high energy act, gives the Trailer Choir a unique entertainment edge.

“Vinnie is a phenomenal entertainer,” Fortney said. “He energizes the crowd and gives the people a little bit of humor.”

Fortney says the band performs mostly songs he has written. He describes them as a “fun party country band” that’s influenced by his northern pop roots.

“We’re about good times, celebrating life and holding up a beer in the air. We try to bring a smile to the crowd’s face,” he says.

Although the band has this humorous, party element, Fortney says their music can stand on its own.

“If you heard our music and never saw our act, you’d still want to buy my CD,” Fortney says.

The band’s MySpace entry describes Trailer Choir as a group that lays down a “freewheeling hillbilly blend that embraces Skynyrd-fried rockers, hip-hop flavored country-funk and everything in between.”

Toby Keith is producing a CD of Trailer Choir’s music and sings with the band on at least one cut. After the new year, they’ll hit the road with Keith’s show. Meanwhile, Fortney is looking forward to his performance at Jewel’s and spending the Christmas holiday with his family and hometown friends.

“I’m going to hug my mom about 13,000 times when I’m up there,” he says. “I’m going to go to the Crow’s Nest, have a pizza and hang out with my Dad and buddies.”

online: trailerchoir.com