Carl Bentley II was raised in McDowell, Kentucky, a small town in Eastern Kentucky.  This area is known for its contribution to bluegrass and country music with names like Keith Whitley, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless and many more.  Carl’s Appalachian raising is evident in his both his original music and covered music.  Carl began singing in church at age 5 and learned the guitar at age 16.  It was evident in his late teens that the youngster had a promising career in music.  While in high school, he played in a group entitled “The Raider Express”, which was a stage band for South Floyd High School .  The name of the group comes from the school mascot, “South Floyd Raiders”.  In January 1995, with Carl on lead vocals and guitar, the group recorded the song “Coal Mining Blues”, a song written by Carl.  The song won second place in a local songwriting competition and earned Carl his first newspaper appearance in The Floyd County Times, the local newspaper.   Enthused by his talent, South Floyd High School Band director Dennis Bartley presented him with the Stephen Mollett music scholarship at his graduation ceremony in May, 1995.  In July, 1995, he became a member of the Mountain Jamboree – a local country and bluegrass talent show in Pikeville, Kentucky. On March 3 1996, Carl was nearly killed in a car accident while driving to work.  He fell asleep at the wheel striking a tree in his pickup truck.  His face slammed into the steering wheel crushing all the bones in his face and breaking both ankles.  He was flown by helicopter from the local hospital in McDowell, Kentucky to the University of Kentucky Medical Center.  The future of Carl’s music career was uncertain as he spent the next year in and out of the hospital recovering.  Through many prayers and the grace of god, Carl was able to make a full recovery.  In December of 1996, Carl and his high school girlfriend Amanda Forman were married in Wheelwright, Kentucky .  Amanda gave birth to their son Dakota Ryan Bentley on February 23, 1997.  Carl and Amanda were divorced later in the year. Carl attended Eastern Kentucky University from 1998 – 2003 where he majored in computer information systems earning a bachelors degree in business administration.  While in college, Carl played in several different country and bluegrass bands most noted for being the lead singer in a group entitled “The Blue Eagle Band”.  After college, Carl relocated to the Indianapolis, Indiana area seeking employment.  In his free time he would catch all the local bluegrass jam sessions.  He had become a local favorite singing bluegrass.  Inspired by his singing and songwriting talent, a local group entitled “The Indiana Boys” invited him to join the group in February 2005.  Carl would be the lead vocalist and guitar player.  He played with the group until March 2006 when he left for his current solo career. Today, Carl performs all over Indiana and soon other states with his band “The Eagle Creek Band”.  Carl lives with his Wife Kristi and son Carl Mason Bentley and two step daughters Megan and Morgan in Morristown, Indiana.  Kristi and Carl were married in December of 2005.