Sabine River Bend was formed by Earl Cochran Jr. in 2008 when he retired from Lance Inc. snack food company after 35 years as a District Manager for Southeast Texas.
Earl always wanted to be part of an organized band, and Sabine River Bend has fulfilled that dream. There are currently 4 full-time members of the band, with Earl playing guitar, singing lead, and harmony vocals. Reuben Maddox plays the mandolin, sings lead, and harmony vocals. Trey Cochran playing the banjo, singing lead, and harmony vocals. Keeping the band in time, is Brad Hight on the upright, and electric bass.
There are many great musicians that play with SRB when available. They would include, but not be limited to Dale Broussard, Eddie Ortego, Elton Brindley, Huey Buxton Matthew Tessier, Shawn Spiars, Lynn Holbrook, and Jordan Kishbaugh.
Earl Cochran Jr.
Earl has been part of the South East Texas music scene since 1972, when his good friend David Otegar would pick him up and bring him with him to play rhythm guitar all over the area. In 1980 Earl, David, Kenny Wylie, and David Roork formed the Southern Tradition Bluegrass Band. The band stayed together for many years, until Kenny moved to Ohio.
In 2001, Earl was part of the Sabine Bluegrass band with Ted Hanks, Gerald Block, Elton Brindley, and Eddie Mathews. They played together in South East Texas until several band members decided the travel and time consuming show dates were a bit too much.
In 2008 Earl got with Trey, Brad and Reuben to form Sabine River Bend.
Reuben Maddox
Reuben has been playing the mandolin around South East Texas, and South West Louisiana since he was old enough to carry the thing. His father, Curt Maddox, put on the Bluegrass festival in Sugartown, Louisiana for many years. Curt would also do emcee work for festivals in surrounding states, always bringing Reuben along to jam at all the festival.
Reuben is a great song writer, and has played with country and bluegrass bands in Texas, Louisiana, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Brad Hight
Brad caught the bluegrass bug at the Triple Creek Music Park in Woodville, Texas. He chose the bass when he realized Eddie Mathews would be leaving Earl and the Sabine Bluegrass band. His goal was to play in the band and he got up to speed quickly. Brad played in the band, until he joined Earl in the Sabine River Bend Band.
Brad also enjoys playing country music in and around the area, playing up right and electric bass.
Trey Cochran
Trey Cochran is Earl’s oldest son, and is an accomplished musician and singer.
Trey plays the banjo in the band, but is also well versed on the mandolin, guitar, and bass.
Trey was part of the first Audio Engineering, and Commercial Music program at Lamar University in Port Arthur, Texas.
He has played in several bands while living in Nashville, and has traveled the country. We are glad to have him back in Texas, and driving the banjo.
Eddie Ortego
Eddie Ortego has been a fixture in the music scene in Southeast Texas, Southwest Louisiana for many years.
An accomplished resonator guitar player, singer, and song writer, makes him a big part of the Sabine River Bend sound.
When Eddie plays, people listen, from the novice to the professionals, he has been widely recognized in the music community.