Rock star professor: A long, windy road finally led him to his passion

It was a hectic, bustling evening in New York as Hadley Heavin prepared himself for the life-defining moment that would make or break his identity in the music industry.
He peered through the curtain, watching people find their way to the 150 chairs that were set around the stage in semi-circle. The place was packed.
To some, it may have been a simple fundraising event, but to Heavin it was his moment to show the world what he was made of.
"It was my first concert with the Maestro, my teacher," said Heavin, who is now a UNO professor. "I was really nervous. He looked at me, he had a great sense of humor, and asked, 'Hadley are you nervous?' I said 'Yes, very.' He then told me 'Only five guitarists have died on stage.' I started laughing and we played very well."
Along with teaching music at UNO, Heavin currently plays in a band called Tablao.
"The experiences that I have had are amazing," Heavin said about his band. "We are all like family. I've been a soloist my whole life, but now it's a group thing and it's kind of fun having a bunch of people around. The guitar player is like my brother."
But it's been a long road to this point for Heavin, who grew up enjoying rock and bluegrass music. His father was a jazz guitarist, and by the age of seven Heavin was on the road watching him perform.
"My dad was one of the greats," Heavin said. "I began playing the drums at that time. But, by the time I was 13 I was burnt out from music and started rodeoing."
Heavin participated in rodeo professionally for six years, until he was drafted and went to Vietnam. Being wounded in the war and not able to go back to rodeoing, he decided to begin performing.
"It was Spanish music that lead me to playing the guitar," Heavin said. "When I first heard a classical guitarist perform, that's when I decided that it was my passion. Spanish music is the greatest music in the world. The culture is so rich. It drives my soul. It gives me goose bumps."
One night, Heavin was performing for the Guitar Society while in college at Southwest Missouri University in Springfield, Mo. In the audience was a professional guitarist who represented Spain, called the Maestro. He enjoyed Heavin's performance and invited him to his home.
"I played at the Maestro's house for four hours," Heavin said. "He told me that when he would return to Spain, he would send me a bunch of music to learn. I worked on all of it, and he came back to the United States to spend 10 days mentoring me."
At the end of his trip, the Maestro gave him a proposal. He offered to study with him for free if he would live in Spain.
"I was in Spain by the following spring with a scholarship," Heavin said. "I loved Spain. I was the Maestro's protg and went to daily lessons. The Maestro taught me how to really play the guitar. He gave me inspiration. I got advice every day. He was like a father to me."
After six months of lessons, Heavin and the Maestro began touring and performing duets on stage. They performed in Europe, New York, Louisiana, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas and Spain. He also learned how to play Flamenco, and often played for dancers. After he returned for graduate school, he began touring on his own.
"I traveled all of the time," Heavin said. "I did a bunch of recordings for other people. I played with Mulberry Lane for their demo in Nashville. But when my daughter was a year old, I decided to stop traveling."
Heavin began touring locally. He was offered trips to play in Australia and was even given money and studio space to make a record. Traveling was no longer appealing to Heavin by then.
"I started with Tablao a year ago," Heavin said. "When I was performing solo at Espa¤a in Benson, these guys with their wives heard me play. One was a doctor, and the other was a computer project manager. They asked me if I would be interested in recording."
Heavin accepted their offer and went to the studio the next day. After watching one of the guys play the guitar with a unique style, he asked them if they wanted to "jam a little bit."
"We decided that we needed a singer, and I suggested my daughter," Heavin said. "They didn't seem too interested. When they heard her, however, their jaws were on the floor."
They decided on the name "Tablao" which means "stage" in Spain. Heavin got the idea for the name from one of his greatest memories during his time in Spain of gypsies playing flamenco on stage.
"We are a very unique band," Heavin said. "We are really multi-cultural. We are playing music that is never usually found among musicians on this level. We are playing in different languages: Lithuanian, Spanish, and English. We can do things other bands can't do."
Heavin's favorite part of playing with Tablao is the relationship that continues to grow with his 18-year-old daughter. The incoming UNO freshman is a dedicated singer for the band.
"She's come through for us and worked really hard," Heavin said. "She has a mesmerizing voice. In general, she is the best part about performing."
Tablao will be coming out with an album in about a month. They are planning on calling it "Bodega", which is a storage facility in Spain where fine wines are kept.
"We want the right people to hear us and go as far as we can," Heavin said. "To have a supportive environment and to be able to make music is great. Doing music together has been great."
Tablao woll be performing Sept. 6 at the Prestige on 168th and Center streets at 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit tablao.net.