Bill Hearne Trio to perform at The Bowery in Winnsboro on March. From left, David Thom, Bill Hearne and Zeke Severson. (Courtesy

Folk musician Bill Hearne and his sidekicks, David Thom and Zeke Severson, will be in concert on The Bowery Stage in Winnsboro on March 2.

In 1968, Hearne began his professional life as a musician in Austin and met his future wife, singer Bonnie Cross. As a musical act, they toured throughout the region before moving to Red River, New Mexico, in 1979 where they became the house act at Chubbie’s Tavern.

Hearne and his wife, who died last year, recorded “Most Requested: Best of Bill & Bonnie,” “Diamonds in the Rough”  and  “Live at the La Fonda.”

“I personally remember them from the Kerrville Folk Festival where he and Bonnie were featured performers every year,” Jim Willis, talent booker for The Bowery said. “Both were legally blind (Bill with some vision). They were billed as Bill and Bonnie Hearne with him on guitar, her on the piano and both on vocals.”

After starting to play the guitar at age 7, Hearne developed a style he calls cross picking,.

“Since I didn’t have people to play with, I developed a style that incorporated a percussion rhythm while playing lead riffs,” Hearne said. “Basically, I tried to be a one-man band.”

Singer Lyle Lovett became a fan of Hearne after seeing Hearne and his wife perform.

“They used to play a place called Corky’s in the Montrose area of Houston,” Lovett said. “I would get a seat right up next to the stage and sit in front of Bill and try to figure out all his guitar licks.”

Lindy Hearne, a member of the extended Hearne family, and his partner Lynn Adler, who perform as Adler & Hearne, will be opening the concert.

The Bowery is located at 200 Market St. in Winnsboro. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 and $22 and are available at www.winnsborocenterforthearts.com.