“Orphan Train” brings together the talents of Trey Hensley (vocals, guitar), Rob Ickes (Hawaiian guitar, vocals), and Tammy Rogers (fiddle, vocals), with Marc Rogers on upright bass. The song and video pay tribute to the Orphan Train Movement, which relocated more than 250,000 orphaned and homeless children from off the streets, primarily New York City, to new homes across America between 1854 and 1929.

Brent Maher was inspired to create the project after discovering The National Orphan Train Complex in Concordia, Kansas. Moved by its history, he set out to tell the story through a blend of original music and narrative, following three fictional children from age 11 into their 20s. The result is Night of the Orphan Train – A Musical Novel, a unique fusion of historical storytelling and Americana, Bluegrass, and Classic melodic compositions. This song & video are the first releases from this project.


Bio for Rob Ikes and Trey Hensley: Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley perform and wrote many of the Orphan Train tracks.

Take Rob Ickes, the most decorated musician in IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards history with 15 Dobro Player of the Year wins, and 2023 IBMA Guitar Player of the Year Trey Hensley, a Tennessee-born guitar prodigy identified as “Nashville's hottest young player” by Acoustic Guitar magazine and you have Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, a powerhouse GRAMMY® nominated acoustic duo and won GRAMMY with Taj Mahal. Both are nominated again for 2025 IBMA Awards

BIO for TAMMY ROGERS - Masterful fiddle player and songwriter, Tammy Rogers King, is a founding member of the Grammy-winning bluegrass group, The SteelDrivers and the groundbreaking Americana record label, Dead Reckoning Records. She has recorded with many superstars including Eric Church, Neil Diamond, Reba McEntire, and toured with Emmylou Harris, Patty Loveless, Buddy Miller, Trisha Yearwood and more. The Steeldrivers are currently on tour selling out shows around the U.S.

BRIEF BIO for BRENT MAHER - With 7 Grammy award-winning records to his credit, Brent Maher has become one of Nashville’s most acclaimed songwriters, engineers, and producers. Maher’s accomplishments include over 20 #1 singles and a wide array of platinum and multi-platinum selling albums. He has worked with such iconic artists as Ike & Tina Turner, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, The Judds, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, Taj Mahal, Jelly Roll with a new duet by Sierra Ferrell & Nikki Lane and a song in the 2025 season of The Bear on FX/Hulu.

His latest project, Night of the Orphan Train – A Musical Novel, blends original storytelling and music in a historical narrative set for release as an audiobook and soundtrack in 2025. Maher was inducted into the Audio Engineering Society Hall of Fame in 2017 and honored by the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Music Masters series.

TREY HENSLEY QUOTE:
“Brent Maher approached Rob Ickes and myself to work on a song with him a few years back…the idea was the story of the “Orphan Train.” As Brent was telling us this story, it instantly became clear how important this project was going to be. I will always look back at the writing process for the “Orphan Train” as one of the most exciting creative experiences I’ve ever been a part of. This is an incredibly special piece of work and I’m so honored to have played a small role in getting this beautiful story from the writing room out into the world.”

ROB ICKES QUOTE:
“I am so excited about this project! Such an amazing experience to work with one of my all-time musical heroes, Brent Maher. Seems like Trey Hensley and I just clicked with Brent from the very first time we all hung out, and after doing our first album together, it was a great experience to co-write many of these Orphan Train songs with Brent. Co-writing a song involves a lot of time spent together-discussing things, telling stories, and getting into each other's minds, so to speak. I could tell Brent was quite inspired when he saw the billboard for the Orphan Train Museum on a drive back from Colorado to Tennessee, and how it stirred up memories from his own childhood, and the whole story just fell into place quite quickly. I was thrilled to be a part of it, such a great experience to work with a master such as Brent!

Of course, Trey's voice fits the part perfectly, and I was pleased to add on some harmony vocals. I also played my Grandpa's Hawaiian guitar (which he bought from the Montgomery Ward Catalog in 1927!) and it seemed to fit the aesthetic of many of these songs perfectly. What an amazing project to be a part of! So thrilled that all the creative energy is coming together into this great package, congrats Brent!!”

The full audiobook of Night of the Orphan Train - A Musical Novel will be available on October 17, 2025, and the original soundtrack will follow on November 7, 2025.


Project Website: http://www.nightoftheorphantrain.com
Websites for Rob & Trey: https://www.robandtrey.com/ https://robickes.com/ https://www.treyhensley.com/
Website for Tammy Rogers: https://www.thesteeldrivers.com/

Project Facebook: http://facebook.com/nightoftheorphantrain
Project Instagram: http://instagram.com/nightoftheorphantrain
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1N33O43FnAJtlHh8Nna68C?si=QbGUlqBeSGGt-3cU1PU5HQ

Label: Moraine Music
TRT: 3:53
ISRC: US59J2500038
Song IPI#

Songwriters: Brent Maher, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley
Songwriters’ IPI#: ASCAP# 069014286 / BMI# 739784779 / BMI# 180285963

Publisher: Moraine Music Group
Publisher IPI#: ASCAP# 126482086