TeJai's Country Music

Tejais Country Music, TeJai Burgdorf is a country music performer.  He lives at rural Oquawka, Illinois and was born in 1995.  TeJai is definitely a country boy, since he loves to ride his 4-wheeler in the timber, target shoot and climb trees.  But most of all TeJai loves to sing.  And more than anything he loves to bring the joy and sound of music to all through his young but ambitious voice.

TeJai began singing when he was 3 years old at church during the Holiday season.  This all took place after he signed up to sing at church for the following Sunday.  To the surprise of his mother, she asked what are you going to sing?  Well Tejai response was "I'll make something up!"  But as most mothers know at this age the songs never have an ending.  So mom suggested that he sing something all ready written.  TeJai then decided to do exactly that.  So on Monday before he is to sing in church he exclaimed he was going to sing Come All Ye Faithful!  What an undertaking to learn before Sunday.  So TeJai got the music and started learning the verses that week(remember he was only 4 years old).  Sunday arrives and he is called to the front of the church to sing.  And as big and proud as a 4 year old is, he marched to the front and took his place.  As the music began to play he smiled and then out came a beautiful voice of a child.  TeJai sang and sang not one but all three verses not missing one note or word and all was memorized not read.  The whole congregation was amazed that such a young boy could bring so much joy to the holiday season through his young voice.  This was only the beginning!

TeJai had found his God given gift in his joy of music that he can give to so many through his singing.  The next few years he has sang and performed at many churches and other events as follows,

*Rozetta Baptist Church, Rozetta, Illinois**Raritan Methodist Church, Raritan, Illinois**Harmony Bible Church, Danville, Iowa**Oquawka Methodist Church, Oquawka, Illinois**Park side First Baptist Church, Burlington, Iowa**Roseville Methodist Church, Roseville, Illinois**Gladstone Methodist Church, Gladstone, Illinois**Kirkwood Days, Kirkwood, Illinois(2yrs.)**Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York(with the Carl Sandburg Children's Choir)**Heritage Trails Festival, Oquawka, Illinois(3yrs.)**Strawberry Festival, Farmington, Iowa**Prime Beef Festival, Monmouth, Illinois**Homecoming Festival, Gladstone, Illinois**Catfish Cook Off, Oquawka, Illinois**Celebration Bell River Boat Cruises, Moline, Illinois**Colgate Country Showdown**Sweet corn Festival, West point, Iowa**Fourth of July Celebration, Fort Madison, Iowa**Union Elementary School, Biggsville, Illinois**Moon over Macomb Festival, Macomb, Illinois**Uncle Johns Apple Mill, Michigan**Westland Mall, West Burlington, Iowa**Sandburg Mall, Galesburg, Illinois**Southpark Mall, Moline, Illinois**Northpark Mall, Davenport, Iowa**Oaklane Nursing Home, Stronghurst, Illinois** West Central School, Biggsville, Illinois**Illinois Country Music Association-Sam Carlin Memorial, Bellflower, Illinois**I.C.M.A. Spring Concert, Downs Il. 4-20-08,** Prime time country opry talent show,  6-13-08 Farmington Iowa, Strawberry festival,  6-22-08 19th Annual Illinois Country Music Association "People's Choice" Awards Show(1st place in stage attire,  6-28-08 Weaver Iowa Flood 2008 Volunteer Celebration @ Greenbay Tap, 8-1-08 Bement Country Opry in Bement, Il ' 8-2-08 McLean County Country Opry, Bellflower, Il.,  8-9-08 West Point Sweet Corn Festival/Colgate Country Showdown,West Point,Ia., West Point Sweet Corn Festival/Colgate Country Showdown, West Point Ia. 8-27-08 through 8-31-08 Mt.Pleasant Iowa Old Threshers Reunion - TeJai performed 2, one hour shows a day,and was asked to preform on the main grandstand stage by Rhett Akins,9-20-08 ICMA qualifying competition to compete at NACMAI - Pigeon Forge,TN. 9-27-08 Heritage Trails Car Show, Oquawka, Il.,  10-4-08 McLean County Country Opry Show, "Country Music Month Celebration" 8 "Halloween Show", 10-11-08 Alzheimer's Memory Walk,Crapo Park, Burlington, Ia., 10-21-08 After 5, affiliated with stonecroft ministers,Monmouth Il.,  11-02-08 Sunny Brook Assisted Living/Grand Opening, Burlington, Ia.,  11-09-08,12-14-08 Lost Duck Brewing Co./Singer-Songwriters Night, Fort Madison, Ia.,  11-21-08 Holiday Walk, Stronghurst, Il., 12-20-08 Northpark Mall,Davenport Ia., IAAF,Springfield, Illinois, 01-16&17-2009,   Tooties Orchid Lounge (music row), Nashville, Tn. 03-06-09,  Morrison's Grove, Lexington, N.C. ,03-07-09,   First Pentecostal Holiness Church, Lexington,N.C., 03-08-09 ,  Twelfth Annual NACMAI event at the Country Tonight Theater, Pigeon Forge, Tn. 03-14-09, PZAZZ  Event Center, Burlington, Iowa 4-05-09, Bloomington Exteream pre & post game performances. Bloomington, Il. 06-06-09,  Race for the Cure, Rock Island, Il. 06-13-09 ,Nashville Songwriters Festival, Nashville TN., June 19-21,2009,Mackinaw Fest Talent Show, Mackinaw Il., June 25, 2009 7:00pm, I.C.M.A. Peoples Choice Awards, Olympia High School, Stanford, Il., June 28,2009 2:00pm, Fire Cracker Run, East Moline, Il. July 4th 7:30am, Bickford Assisted Living,Muscatine Iowa, July 11 1:00pm, Heartland Fair, Rising Star Contest, Peoria Il., July 12 1:00pm, Mercer County Fair, Talent Contest, July 18th 1:00 p.m., Vangn Hall Galleria, Bishop Hill, Il., July 18th 7:00 p.m., a hour show with TeJai and then an open mic following., Stronghurst Open Horse Show, Stronghurst Il., July 20th, BIX, Davenport Iowa, July 25th, Knoxville Fair, Knoxville,Il, 08-06-09, seminary Street Historical Dist., Galesburg, Il. 08-07-09,  Sweet Corn Festival, West Point, Iowa, (colgate country showdown) 08-21-09, Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Il. (Lincoln stage) 08-21-09, ICMA event, Mclean , IL. 08-23-09,  .Mediapoils Days, Mediapoils, Iowa, August 28, 5:00 to 7:00pm, Thunder Rolls Adverture Race Finally, Oquawka, Il. August 29 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Manito Fest, Manito, Il.  September 4,  6:30pm, (talent contest, September 5,Kewanee Hog Days Parade (Padila for Sheriff Float), Navoo Grape Festival Car Show, Navoo, Il., September 6, 1:30 to 2:30 then 3:30 to 4:00, Hog Days, Kewanee, Illinois, September 7, 1:00 pm in front of bank,  Fort Madison Rodeo, Fort Madison Iowa,  September 11 & 12, 5:00 to 7:00, at gate entery, Canton Friendship festival, Canton Idol, September 19th, 2009,Art in the Park, Fort Madison, Iowa, Sepember 20,QC Marathon, September 27, 2009,  7:30 am,Scarecrow Festival, Galesburg, IL. October 3, 2:00 to 4:00, Spoon River Drive, at the Red Brick School Gym, October 4,  12:00noon to 2:00pm, also many various ;homes, weddings , festivals, fairs and parties

TeJai is looking forward to the future in singing and performing more.  He loves to perform in front of larger crowds where he can really give the joy of music to many.  

TeJai at this time sings his original lyrics and plays electric acoustic guitar, also performs a wide range of new modern and traditional cover music. TeJai will delight an audience with his big voice and talent for an hour or more on stage. 

In the January/February 2008 issue of the Illinois Country Music Association Newsletter a printed article about TeJai appeared along with an editor's note that reads:                                       I MET TEJAI AND HIS MOTHER CATHY AT THE CARL SANDBURG MALL IN EARLY DECEMBER.  WHEN I SAW HIM SETTING UP HIS EQUIPMENT, I SAID TO MYSELF, "THIS YOUNG MAN LOOKS LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN GEORGE STRAIT AND CHARLIE PRIDE."  IT TURNS OUT THAT HE LOVES TO SING AS MUCH OR MORE THAN BOTH OF THESE FAMOUS FOLKS.

September 20, 2008 at the ICMA qualifying, the judging comments were that TeJai has such a large and powerful voice for some one so young and that he is singing way beyond his years, and such a great voice he has and will only become better and go further in years to come in the music Industry.  The judges at this event also commented on the great picking TeJai has shown on the acoustic guitar. 

At the twelfth annual NACMAI AWARDS SHOW, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee March 15, 2009 TeJaI won 2nd place in youth 7-12,  MOST PROMISING MALE VOCALIST, ENTERTAINER, DUET AND SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR.

In June 2009 TeJai attended the Song Writers Festival, on music square in Nashville, Tn.. This was a great event to attend.  TeJai met many people in the music field that enjoyed his music and the large sound of this young teens voice.  Meeting Keefer Rains and Eric Zanitas  and spending time with them was a great and wonderful time.  In the near future they all plan to get together and do some recordings. 

At the present time TeJai is performing on a regular basis in Illinois, Iowa and surrounding areas, at festival, fairs, benefits, and other events.

To contact TeJai for information please contact Cathy at 309-627-2277 or e-mail mailto:tejaicountrymusic@live.com