Texas Music Journal » Country

Shaver Takes the Summer Off to Heal

Sam Moore — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:28:18 +0000

WACO, Texas — Billy Joe Shaver will undoubtedly, as his song heard in the movie Crazy Heart espouses, “live forever.”

But occasionally parts wear out and Shaver will spend the summer recuperating from surgery for two tears in his bicep ligament. Last month he spent one night in the hospital after doctors placed a stent in a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart.

Shaver has canceled his August dates in order to give himself time to heal.

“I think God came down and did this to me so that I’d rest up a while,” Shaver said. “I wouldn’t have slowed down otherwise.”

“If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself,” added the 71-year-old performer. “But please tell everyone I will be back as soon as I mend up.”

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Texas Experience Will Help Miranda Lambert on CMT Tour

Sam Moore — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:08:12 +0000

(Editor’s Note: The following is courtesy of cmt.com.)

Miranda Lambert will serve as the headlining act for CMT on Tour this fall, which begins Sept. 29 in New York City. Billed as “CMT on Tour: Miranda Lambert Revolution,” the 28-city tour will also feature special guest Eric Church and introduce new artist Josh Kelley.

“Having that Texas club circuit experience at an early age and also touring with some of the best in the business for several years, I know what it takes to bring it every night and give fans more than their money’s worth,” says Lambert. “The CMT tour is a great way for me to thank fans for their support this year and show them I can live up to the honors.”

Lambert recently added her first CMT Music Award to an already impressive list of accolades. “The House That Built Me,” from her latest album, Revolution, held the No. 1 position for four weeks. It follows her previous hit, “White Liar.” Her latest single is “Only Prettier.”

Church’s hits include “Love Your Love the Most” and “Hell on the Heart,” from his album, Carolina.

“I’m very excited to be on what I believe will be one of the best tours going out this fall,” Church said. “I’ve been on a lot of tours, and this one is gonna be the heat! I love what Miranda does, and we are gonna take the stage every night locked and cocked. The crowd better be ready for it, ’cause we are!”

Singer-songwriter Josh Kelley recently completed his first country album. His single, “Georgia Clay,” is expected to arrive at country radio on Aug. 9. After releasing six studio albums, including For the Ride Home, he signed with Universal Music Group’s MCA Nashville imprint in 2009.

Mark Chesnutt Ready To Become an Outlaw

Sam Moore — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:07:28 +0000

There’s a new outlaw in town. And it comes courtesy of Texas music star Mark Chesnutt.

“Outlaw” is the newest CD by the Beaumont native. Its Tuesday release will make available some of the great tunes first made famous by other Texas artists, including the original Outlaws.

Chesnutt grew up in southeast Texas as a rock and roll fan – until he heard the likes of Willie and Waylon.

“I was listening to rock, when Willie and Waylon grew their hair long,” he said. “I remember Mama and Daddy saying ‘they done gone hippie on us.’ I saw all that taking place, and I thought it was great.

“When I was asked to do this album, it was very natural. I know all those old songs. It was fun for me. I knew it was going to be different.”

From the opening song – Billy Joe Shaver’s “Black Rose” – to Guy Clark’s haunting “Desperados Waiting on a Train,” Chesnutt takes us on a musical journey through all the emotions that were first presented in the 1970s by the original Outlaws.

Every song on the CD is fantastic. But these are not necessarily the songs people normally think of when they think of the Outlaws.

Chesnutt said, “Anybody can do the anthems. Anyone who doesn’t know anything about the history of country music could do ‘Good Hearted Woman.’”

Chesnutt and his producer wanted to go deeper. Many of the songs were hits, but not considered anthems. They wanted to display the musical movement that went beyond just the commercial aspect.

One of perhaps the most surprising songs in the collection is Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Morning Coming Down.”

“Those songs were in the middle of that movement,” Chesnutt said. “These songs about being stoned were not comfortable for Nashville at the time. These are deep songs that were not intended as dance tunes.”

His personal favorite song on the CD is a different Kristofferson offering, “Lovin’ Her Was Easier.” He heard Waylon Jennings do it, but never considered it to fit his own style.

“I thought it was a little deep for me,” Chesnutt commented. “All these years later, it seemed to make more sense for me now. It seemed to make more sense to me now. I really loved the way that song came out.”

One of the things that helped Chesnutt achieve the sound on the album was the ability to record the songs he calls “the old way.” Musicians recorded their tracks during normal daylight hours. Chesnutt would then go to the studio late at night and lay down his vocals. He credits that to his love of Texas honky tonks.

“There’s just something not natural about singing in the daytime,” he said.

The result is a product that remains true to Chesnutt’s reputation as a country music traditionalist. All but one of the 12 tracks are Chesnutt alone. The 12th track, “A Couple More Years,” is a duet with Amber Digby. Chesnutt had listened to her on Willie’s Place satellite program, and watched her on TV. But this was the first time for the two to collaborate.

“I like the way she sings in unison, rather than harmony,” he said. “It really makes the song feel more real.”

Chesnutt sees the tribute to the outlaw movement as more than just a history lesson.

“We’ve done things here in Texas the way the outlaws did them all along. This is where the outlaw movement came from. If they hadn’t come to Texas, I don’t know where Texas music would be today.”

Among the changes the outlaws brought was the ability to produce songs the way the artist wants to.

“Labels were the boss, the producers were the boss. You showed up in the studio of their choice, sang in their key, with their musicians,” Chesnutt said. “Everybody – especially Waylon – got sick of that. That story of Waylon bringing a pistol to the studio was true! In Texas, they came down and did it their own way. That’s what this album is about, capturing that free spirit.”

Texas is now home to many musical genres. Are there new outlaws today? Chesnutt is hard pressed, but points to two: Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert.

He said, “Jamey is doing it his way, singing songs about getting drunk, getting stoned and going to prison. He is one of the few who you could call a modern outlaw. Miranda is another one. She writes her own songs about shooting guns and kicking butt. Those two are doing it their way. It hasn’t been easy for them.”

As for himself, Chesnutt is happy where he is. He lives in Beaumont, he tours, and knows that at some point he will be back in the studio, recording. He attributes his success and longevity to “being hard headed and stubborn.”

And he is ready for the world to hear his latest creation, when it is released on Tuesday. “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound,” “Bloody Mary Morning,” and “Need a Little Time Off for Bad Behavior” are three more of the outlaw songs on the CD. As Chesnutt says, these are the types of songs that were written in the back of the bus, in the hotel room, by a writer who might be sober, might be drunk.

“Outlaw” is a fantastic example of some of the not-too-distant roots of today’s Texas music. And it shows that the songs that were popular 30 years ago are still just as good today.

Hendrix Prepares for New Release

Sam Moore — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:41:18 +0000

On Friday, Terri Hendrix will kick off a weekend of California dates starting at the Live Oak Music Festival in San Luis Obispo. Then it’s back to Texas for the release of Hendrix’s new album, Cry Till You Laugh.

Back in May, Hendrix opened for two packed Texas music dates (at Dallas’ House of Blues and Austin’s La Zona Rosa) for the Indigo Girls. After her set at the 39th Annual Kerrville Folk Festival in front of a record crowd, she joined them on harmonica and harmony on a few songs like the evenings prior.

This year, she received the 2010 Art of Peace Award from St. Mary’s University, was inducted into the South Texas Music Walk of Fame (see “News” in “quick links” for info on all involved), and received notification that she will receive the Hardin Simmons University Distinguished Alumni Recipient Award in 2011.

Texas Music Loses an International Legend

Sam Moore — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:22:31 +0000

Jimmy Dean often talked about his roots in Texas music. The country legend died Sunday. He was 81.

Dean died at his home near Richmond, Va. His wife, Donna, said he had been doing well lately, despite ongoing health problems.

Jimmy Dean and the Texas Wildcats

Dean dropped out of school after ninth grade. He fronted the Texas Wildcats band. He had his first national hit in the early 1950s, “Bummin’ Around.” His fame was immortalized with his Grammy Award-winning “Big Bad John” in 1961. He also had a popular television show in the early 1960s.

In 1969, Dean branched into the food industry, popularizing Jimmy Dean Sausage.

Dean is survived by his wife, three children, and two grandchildren.

Lonestar Visits The Price Is Right

Sam Moore — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 02:12:05 +0000

CBS’s Emmy Award-winning THE PRICE IS RIGHT, with host Drew Carey, welcomes country music band “Lonestar” on Thursday, June 16, (11:00 AM-12:00 Noon, ET; 10:00-11:00 AM, PT), on the CBS Television Network. Lonestar will play live throughout the show as the house band. The show will also offer an exciting showcase with prizes that include a new car and trip to San Diego, as well as tickets to attend a Lonestar’s concert plus band merchandise.

Lonestar with Drew Carey

Lonestar has amassed a total of 27 singles on the country charts, with 10 of those reaching #1. In 1999, Lonestar achieved crossover success when their hit single, “Amazed,” reached #1 on both the country charts and the Billboard Hot 100. Lonestar, consisting of Cody Collins, Dean Sams, Michael Britt and Keech Rainwater, released their 11th studio album Party Heard Around the World, in April.

THE PRICE IS RIGHT, the longest-running game show in television history, is hosted by Drew Carey. Produced by FremantleMedia North America, THE PRICE IS RIGHT is broadcast weekdays on the CBS Television Network.

Chandler Nash Talks with Texas Music Journal

Sam Moore — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:58:43 +0000

Few 17-year old musicians can claim veteran status with a straight face. Dallas singer-songwriter Chandler Nash is one. Her previous band, The Bella Cullen Project (formed with two friends at a sleepover when they were just 13), released 2 full-length original albums; enjoyed over 1 million MySpace plays; performed live nationwide; and was featured on MTV, ABC’s Nightline, and in Esquire, People and CosmoGirl magazines.

Yet, as she embarks upon a solo career, this Dallas singer-songwriter remains eager to evolve her craft. “I just want to keep playing,” Chandler enthuses. “Since I was 6-years old I’ve always wanted to be a musician. Even if it doesn’t work out, I’m still going to play music even if I’m just a wedding singer or something!”

Moving away from her old band’s folky sensibilities, Chandler is now melding diverse influences into contemporary, robust pop/rock expressions flecked with lurking country heartache. On her debut, the aptly-titled Solo (released through Interscope Digital Distribution), increasingly accomplished songwriting connects through her emotive, lithe-yet-lived-in timbre. “I like a little bit of everything,” mulls Chandler. “[But] my favorite artists are kind of oldies like Billy Joel, The Beatles and Elton John.”

During the recent Wildflower Festival in Dallas, Chandler spoke with Texas Music Reporter Charlie Vann. The interview can be heard by connecting to the link below.

http://cvann.podOmatic.com/entry/2010-05-12T09_30_06-07_00

Nunn Taking Texas to the Country

Sam Moore — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:23:02 +0000

Austin, TX — Gary P. Nunn continues to receive critical acclaim for his latest album, TAKING TEXAS TO THE COUNTRY, while working diligently to promote the new music with tour dates and special appearances.

Combining contemporary modern sounding arrangements with deep-rooted Texas vocals, Nunn’s formula for ongoing critical and public success can be attributed to his desire to keep the music he creates authentic and his audiences entertained. Emphasizing the sounds of classic country, Nunn has a knack for delivering songs that will stir emotions and move boots across the dance floor, as demonstrated on the 13 new tracks making up TAKING TEXAS TO THE COUNTRY. A true veteran on the Texas scene, his music has inspired a movement and he continues to lead the pack with this latest collection.

CountryChart.com applauds Nunn for “taking Texas down a country path” in this recent review: “Finding an album that a grandson, father and grandfather can enjoy together on a hunting or fishing trip is almost impossible. However, Gary P. Nunn has done it. He’s crafted a near perfect Texas country album with TAKING TEXAS TO THE COUNTRY. It offers a cool Texas country vibe mixed with traditional country sensibilities.”

Backed by his Bunkhouse Band (Derek Groves on guitar, Bracken Hale on bass and Beau Johnson on drums), Nunn has been touring the Lone Star state performing his radio single off the album “The Girl Just Loves to Dance,” as well as a choice selection of new music and perennial favorites. Upcoming shows are scheduled throughout the summer and include stops in Austin, the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, San Antonio and a host of other cities.

Nunn recently took some time out of his busy promotional and tour schedule to sit down with Amy Kushnir as a special guest on the “My Texas Today” Web site. Armed with a recipe for A Blueberry Topped Lemon Tart, a favorite made by wife Ruth, Nunn showed off a true and genuine Texas-sized personality talking music, food and good times. The video of this appearance is available online now at www.MyTexasToday.com.

Gary P. Nunn shows and special appearances include:
May 15, Outskirts, Wichita Falls, Texas
May 16, Maifest, Anhalt, Texas
May 21, Hardin County Music Fest, Kountze, Texas
May 22, Great Texas Sausage Festival, Lake Somerville, Texas
May 28, Back Porch, Port Aransas, Texas
May 29, House Pasture, Con Can, Texas
May 30, Lakeside Icehouse, Bryan, Texas
June 2, County Line BBQ, San Antonio
June 4, Broken Spoke, Austin
June 6, Love And War in Texas (Shiner Sunday), Plano, Texas
June 12, Rot Biker Rally, Austin
June 19, 11th Street Bar, Bandera, Texas
June 20, Hondos on Main, Fredericksburg, Texas
June 23, 8.0, Fort Worth
June 25, Blanco’s Bar & Grill, Houston
June 26, Back Porch Bar Port Aransas, Texas

For more information, please visit www.garypnunn.com.

Dallas Band Rocks a Country Sound

Sam Moore — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:31:03 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Editor’s Note: Texas Music Journal is proud to present our first video interview for our followers. This story focuses on Somebody’s Darling, a Dallas-based rock/country band that is growing in popularity. This story was produced by James Warde and Christina Shams.

Somebody's Darling

Chesnutt Pays Tribute to Texas Friends With New Release

Sam Moore — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:37:01 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (April 27, 2010)—Saguaro Road Records is pleased to un-cinch Mark Chesnutt’s new collection of all-American, all-time favorite, whiskey-soaked standards—OUTLAW. From the distinguished specialty label that has brought country music enthusiasts unrivaled recordings from artists such as Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker and Lonestar, OUTLAW follows in the same vein; with grit, spit-polished and shined, and delivered by one of country music’s finest music stylists.

Mark Chesnutt

Set to be released on June 22, 2010, OUTLAW features re-recordings of some of Chesnutt’s personal heroes and life-long friends such as Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings (for whom Mark’s eldest son is named.) The product of producer Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam/Michelle Shocked/Tanya Tucker), OUTLAW is a true-denim-blue Mark Chesnutt-branded musical composition.

“When I was first approached to record this CD, my reaction wasn’t just ‘yes,’ but ‘hell, yeah,’” Chesnutt said. “I cut my teeth on this kind of music and it’s an opportunity [that might not have otherwise presented itself] for me to pay tribute to some of my biggest heroes in country music.”

OUTLAW quivers with the neo-traditional country style Chesnutt has been known for over his 20-year career. With traces of black flowers, Bloody Marys, easy lovin’, country livin’, sober Sundays, freedoms, desperados and bad behavior, the new, timeless project is Mark Chesnutt at his best. With an invigorating feel reminiscent of the music that brought him to the forefront as a country music traditionalist, and in keeping with the musical trends that make him a mainstay in the format today, OUTLAW, delivered in quintessential Chesnutt style, warrants attention.

“Mark Chesnutt put on a vocal display like I’ve never before seen in the studio. He stood in front of the mic and sang the whole record, from beginning to end, flawlessly [and in less than three hours]. We are all amazed at the results,” introduced producer Pete Anderson. “There may be singers out there as good as Mark, but there are none better and, at this point in my career, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with this caliber of talent.”

Carrying the torch in the footsteps of George Jones and Waylon Jennings, Chesnutt plays nearly 100 dates a year. He has four platinum albums, five gold albums, 14 No. 1 singles and 23 Top 10 singles to his name; his trademarked voice has shaped the music of today’s country music newcomers and the new country music generation. OUTLAW is Chesnutt’s fourteenth studio recording and the first project of work from L.A.

Up-to-date information surrounding the list of OUTLAW cuts will be released via Mark’s social community sites:
http://www.facebook.com/markchesnutt; http://www.twitter.com/MarkChesnutt; http://www.myspace.com/officialmarkchesnutt. The CD will be available via all major retail and digital outlets.

For more information on Mark Chesnutt visit www.markchesnutt.com.

Texas Music Star Found Not Guilty of Assault

Sam Moore — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:09:43 +0000

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story is courtesy of KWTX-TV, Waco TX.

Jurors returned a not guilty verdict Friday evening in the aggravated assault of Central Texas singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver, 70, who was accused of shooting Billy Bryant Coker in 2007 outside of Papa Joe’s Saloon in Lorena.

Shaver, however, still faces a charge for unlawfully carrying a firearm in a licensed premises, which is a third-degree felony.

The judge required him to post a $7,500 bond by next week and told him he was free to go.
Shaver left the courthouse to head to Houston, where he was scheduled to perform Friday night.

Coker’s family declined comment, although Coker’s son said he didn’t want Shaver to go to prison, but wanted him held accountable. He said he was not happy with the verdict.

Final arguments started at around 2:30 p.m. and jurors left the courtroom at about 4:30 to begin to deliberate.
They returned the not guilty verdict at about 6:30 p.m.

Both sides rested just after 2 p.m. Friday after prosecutors called their only rebuttal witness, Coker’s mother, whom they asked if Shaver had called her after her son was shot.

She said Shaver called two days afterward and said, “I want to apologize, I shot your son and I don’t know what made me do it.”

Just before the trial recessed for lunch Friday, two people were removed from the courtroom. One man interrupted proceedings with a loud, exasperated outburst as the prosecution was crossing-examining Shaver, a deputy said.
An unnamed journalist was also escorted out of the courtroom, but the reason for the removal wasn’t clear, the deputy said.

Shaver took the stand in his own defense Friday morning, saying he felt threatened by the knife that Coker used to stir his drink as he, Shaver and Shaver’s then-wife Wanda talked. Wanda Shaver was once married to Coker’s cousin.

He said there was tension between Coker and his former wife and he said when he told Wanda, “let’s go,” Coker shouted “shut the f**k up,” and then said, “let’s take it outside.”

“I felt like I was fixin’ to be dead,” Shaver said Friday. “I was gonna have to take it for Wanda,” he said. “I wanted to beat him to the punch.” Shaver said he didn’t want to kill Coker, but instead, “I wanted to scare him.”

Shaver testified he wasn’t holding the gun when Coker walked outside and said he reached for it with his left hand—not his right as prosecution witnesses said—when he saw Coker raise his hand. He said he thought Coker was reaching for a gun.

“I thought he was going to shoot me. He already had a knife,” Shaver said. Shaver said after he shot Coker, the victim said, “I’m, sorry.”

Under cross-examination, Shaver testified he didn’t want to leave the bar because his ex-wife was there and he wanted to protect her.

“I’m from Texas. If I were chicken s***, I would have left, but I’m not.”

He said Coker eventually called him out to the parking lot, where the shooting occurred. Wanda Shaver testified Thursday that as the three talked, Coker became angry as he continued to stir his drink with his knife. Papa Joe’s Saloon owner Gloria Tambling earlier testified she asked Coker not to use the knife because it intimidated other customers.

While Wanda Shaver testified Thursday, country music legend Willie Nelson and Academy Award winning actor Robert Duvall were standing by to appear as character witnesses. Nelson, who arrived Thursday morning to support his longtime friend, was served with a prosecution subpoena while he in was in a courthouse restroom.
He was exempted, however, from a rule that usually bars witnesses from being in the courtroom while others are testifying. Nelson was told to be available to testify and he remained in the courtroom until deliberations began late Friday afternoon.

He never took the stand. He did confirm Thursday afternoon that he talked to Shaver on the night of the shooting, but provided no other details. Duvall was subpoenaed to appear as a character witness for the defense. He didn’t testify Thursday and won’t return Friday, Shaver’s attorney, Dick Deguerin said.

Coker told investigators that before the shooting on March 31 2007, he and Shaver were talking in the bar and discovered that she was the widow of Coker’s cousin. He testified Wednesday that he didn’t notice any tension during his conversation with Shaver in the bar, but said the singer seemed annoyed that he stirred his drink with his knife.
Later in the parking lot, he said, Shaver tapped him on the shoulder and asked, “Where do you want it?” before pulling the trigger and shooting him in the cheek.

Earlier Thursday, an attorney who’s an expert on the state’s concealed carry law testified for the prosecution, telling jurors that it was a felony for Shaver, who had a handgun permit at the time of the shooting, to have taken a gun inside a business that makes more than half of its money from alcohol sales. But the defense countered that the bar didn’t display the proper signage, advising patrons that guns were not allowed.

Shaver’s attorney, Dick DeGuerin of Houston has represented such high-visibility clients as Branch Davidian leader David Koresh, Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land,
Shaver rose to musical fame in the 1970s. He wrote “Georgia on a Fast Train” and “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Someday)” and has recorded more than 20 albums. He was nominated for a Grammy Award this year in the best Southern, country or bluegrass gospel album category, but lost out to Ricky Skaggs and The Whites, whose “Salt of the Earth” won the honors.

Singing Doctor Still Performing in Greenville

Sam Moore — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 03:51:35 +0000

GREENVILLE – One of the great things about this site is that in our constant search for the best in Texas music, we often get to meet incredibly talented singers and songwriters who some people may not know anything about. Such is the case with Matt Koger.

Last year, Texas Music Journal presented a feature on Matt Koger, a Greenville doctor who also happens to be a very talented musician. He has multiple CD’s to his credit, and is a bit of a local legend in north Texas.

Matt sent me an email today, reminding me that he is still performing. If you’d like to see him – and believe me, it will be well worth your while to make a trip to Greenville – he is scheduled to appear Saturday night at the Blue Armadillo Winery. For more information and directions, visit www.bluearmadillowinery.com.

North Texas Music Showman Dies

Sam Moore — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:58:42 +0000

Editor’s Note: The following story comes from WFAA-TV, Dallas. To see their complete video report, please visit
http://www.wfaa.com/news/entertainment/Performers-honor-country-music-starmaker-Johnnie-High-88498907.html.

ARLINGTON — The spotlight has been turned off on a North Texas music showman. Johnnie High died Wednesday at his home in Bedford after battling heart disease.

High’s Country Music Revue, which airs nationally in syndicated television, is credited with helping to launch the career of many artists — including LeAnn Rimes, the Dixie Chicks and Lee Ann Womack.
High was 80 years old.

Shy Blakeman Reaches His Final Destination

Sam Moore — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:26:39 +0000

Austin, TX — Shy Blakeman, the Texas singer-songwriter with a colorful past and engaging character who was first introduced to audiences during the 2006 season of “Nashville Star,” is scheduled to release his third album LONG DISTANCE MAN today.

Influenced by the eclectic southern mixture representative of The Black Crowes, Waylon Jennings and Ray Charles, Blakeman succeeds in his efforts to break ground on a new sound by melding genres into an album that is equally pleasurable and viably commercial. This new venture allows the listener to go along for a ride with the “Long Distance Man” as he musically meanders through songs that cross the plains of Texas country at “Quarter to Three,” hears the blues and tastes the “Swamp Water Whisky” of Baton Rouge, dances all night in a few of the “So Many Honky Tonks” that decorate the true country landscape, and establishes roots at the Americana homestead that is “Dragon Fly.”

Produced by Ted Russell Kamp (Shooter Jennings) and Executively Produced by Warren Izard, the album also features a bevy of world class players who have graciously lent their time and talent to support the new project. Artists of note include Marc Ford (The Black Crowes), Audley Freed (The Black Crowes, Cry Love, Peter Frampton), Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams, Jewel), Kenny Vaughn (Steve Earle, Marty Stuart, Rodney Crowell), Michael Webb (John Fogerty), Jason Sutter (Chris Cornell), Ron Dziubla (Royal Crown Reveue, Ricky Martin), and Gia Ciambotti (Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt).

The rollicking title track was released to radio on February 23, 2010 and early commendations for the album are already rolling in. “I’ve been drowning in a sea of cookie-cutter music. Thank you Shy Blakeman for throwing me a life preserver [with] LONG DISTANCE MAN,” says Kelley Peterson of KHKX/KMCM/KQRX in Odessa, Texas.

Blakeman will be promoting his new album today during a performance at the Kinetic Entertainment “The Early Bird Gets The Music” showcase at Annie’s West, 706 W. 6th St. Austin, Texas. He has also been invited to perform for the CMT Awards after-party in Nashville, Tenn. Scheduled for June 9, 2010, this unofficial wrap-up to the CMA Music Fest activities will be hosted by Cowboy Troy, the 2006 and 2007 co-host of “Nashville Star.”

For more information visit www.shyblakeman.com

Texas Music Superstars Drawing Rave Reviews

Sam Moore — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:14:30 +0000

(Editor’s note: I could not help but share the following I found on CMT’s web site. It appears that the Texas superstar concert series, featuring George Strait, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack – previously announced on TMJ – is causing quite a reaction around the country. The following is from a performance this past Friday night in Memphis.)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Approaching the four-hour mark at George Strait’s Thursday night concert (March 4) at Memphis’ FedEx Forum, I kept thinking, “This is where ‘The Cowboy Rides Away’ will bring down the house and bring up the lights.”

After all, he’d already played “Amarillo by Morning” and about 20 other tunes. But Strait was in no hurry, going on to deliver “I Saw God Today,” “Give It Away,” “River of Love,” “Living for the Night” (apparently true), “Troubadour” and his first-ever hit, “Unwound.” Then he came back for a three-song encore.

Thus, fans of traditional country music got their fix when he wrapped after an hour and 45 minutes, while Reba McEntire had already offered about 80 minutes of hits and Lee Ann Womack graced the stage with a brief but engaging 30-minute set. (Strait called them “two of the greatest country performers ever.”) It was just before 11:30 p.m. when the balconies emptied out, yet Strait stayed onstage to personally greet the folks who had floor seats. At that late hour, if you headed west on I-40 right after the show, you really could have made Amarillo by morning.

Strait’s stage was situated in the middle of the arena, surrounded by rows of small folding chairs, squished together. (Being 6 feet 2 inches tall, I couldn’t fit into one without my shoulders pressing into my neighbors’ arms and my knees grinding into the chair ahead of me, so I watched the show from the nosebleed section.) Strait prefers in-the-round concerts where the band essentially stays put and the singer walks to a new corner of the square stage after every song or two. There’s no backdrop at all. Of course, the cameras follow the singer around, so if you watch the show on the big screens overhead, it’s sort of like catching a very special episode of Austin City Limits.

Strait walked the perimeter of the stage upon his much-heralded arrival from a barricaded path from backstage. It’s a rather regal proceeding because he is, after all, King George. He kicked it off with “Twang,” then shuffled through newer hits (“I Hate Everything,” “Wrapped”), modern classics (“Check Yes or No”) and enduring fan favorites (“Run,” “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”). He also indulged himself with tunes that brought modest applause but that he clearly relished singing (“Honk if You Honky Tonk,” Merle Haggard’s “Seashores of Old Mexico,” the anthemic “If It Wasn’t for Texas”).

But you’d think the seats were hot the way people jumped up at the opening bars of “The Fireman,” followed by “Ocean Front Property” and “Heartland.” He dedicated “I Ain’t Her Cowboy Anymore” to all the lonesome cowboys before pulling out a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, “She’ll Leave You With a Smile.” Clearly, “Where Have I Been All My Life” is a sentimental favorite for the singer (and occasional songwriter, this tune included). Meanwhile, the ladies loved seeing themselves captured on the big screens during “How Bout Them Cowgirls.”

Strait mentioned that his son, Bubba, wrote “Arkansas Dave,” a story song that should go over well when the tour continues on to Little Rock this weekend. He also dug into his new album, Twang, for “Gotta Get to You.” But when the cluster of women in front of me heard those distinctively twangy opening bars of “The Chair,” they uniformly leaped to their feet and hollered, “There it is! There it is!” These are the moments when it’s fun to sit in the upper reaches of a venue because on beloved songs like “The Chair,” you really can hear the whole place singing along.

McEntire’s elaborate tours in the ’90s are famous for production value and endless costume changes, and her recent tour with Kelly Clarkson was a high-tech extravaganza. Because of that, the bare-bones approach on this outing is unusual for her. Fortunately, she has the material to make up for it, with an even longer career on the country charts than Strait. She launched her portion of the show with her first No. 1 hit, a modernized version of “Can’t Even Get the Blues” but didn’t follow any sort of timeline. “The Fear of Being Alone” led to “Strange,” while “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” prompted a new number, “I’ll Have What She’s Having.”

For the longtime fans who wore out their copies of Rumor Has It, McEntire’s strong rendition of “Falling Out of Love” was especially satisfying. That title pretty much encapsulates the theme of her early hits, and she can still effectively turn a word like “go” into a 12-syllable warble. After two new tunes (“I Keep On Loving You,” “Nothing to Lose”), she condensed three signature hits into a medley: “Somebody Should Leave,” “For My Broken Heart” and “Does He Love You.” Lee Ann Womack came out for the dueling diva showdown, and when they stood side-by-side at the climax of the ever-dramatic ballad, flash bulbs illuminated the place. Yet at every corner of the stage throughout the night, McEntire was impeccably lighted.

Unlike Strait, McEntire is surprisingly talkative onstage (despite a long list of songs to get through), and her banter is well-rehearsed. She gave the crowd insightful introductions to “I Want a Cowboy,” “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” and “Because of You,” while “Consider Me Gone,” “Why Haven’t I Heard From You” and “Is There Life Out There” speak for themselves. The singer received a “surprise” visit around this time, too, and if you’re seeing the tour in the coming weeks, don’t miss her encore.

Womack wasn’t shy about opening the night with “San Antonio Rose” and later offered a sultry, bluesy take on Patsy Cline’s “She’s Got You” that was well-suited to the Memphis vibe. Naturally, she played quite a few hits, too. This is her first tour since the release of “There Is a God,” a ballad about life’s simple pleasures. With a lineup like this, many traditional country fans would easily agree with her.

EYB Up for ACM Best New Artist

Sam Moore — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:37 +0000

Maybe it just seems like all the best new acts in the country are coming from Texas. Miranda Lambert, Pat Green, Jack Ingram and many more trace their successful roots to Texas music. The Eli Young Band is doing nothing to change that.

The Denton-based quartet is up for the Top New Vocal Band award from the Academy of Country Music. The winner will be announced during the ACM Awards later this year.

Fans can vote for EYB. Simply go to www.voteacm.com. Votes are allowed for just one more week, ending March 12.

Young Texas Music Star Goes from Shoe Sales to Songwriting

Sam Moore — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:00:34 +0000

In 2001, Jackson Doyle was living in Florida and selling shoes. Who knew that in less than 10 years, he would be living in Texas and heading his own band, Jack County.

Doyle’s journey to country success has not been the typical one for Texas musicians. After graduating from high school, he began playing bass with his church choir. He then moved to Wyoming, where his passion for music really started to develop. Then came his time selling shoes in Florida.

“By a series of strange circumstances, I ended up in Lavon, Texas, playing bass for a band and living on this guy’s floor,” Doyle said. “I was a terrible bass player, but I think they saw my passion and decided to give me a shot. At 21 years old, that first year playing music, I made a whopping $5,700!”

Doyle found his early influences in music – Tom Petty, Credence Clearwater, Bad Religion, Pennywise – helped him in his newfound role as alternative rock bass player. Then something happened that once again changed the direction of Doyle’s life: the rock band he had played for fell apart. He was suddenly an out-of-work rock bass player with thousands of dollars in debt.

For the next two years, Doyle worked seven days a week. He found solace in the late evening hours, writing songs. He felt the only direction to go was up. He took a chance, followed his heart, and created a sound that fans believe is truly exceptional.

So nine years after trying to convince women that red pumps would be a good purchase, Jackson Doyle is a country singer-songwriter, with gospel and alternative rock influences.

“I think it’s just good old American music,” he commented, “songs about love, loss, the good days, the bad days. Sure, we get classified as country music. But nowadays, I think country music is in a sort of an identity crisis. We’re like ‘70s country meets John Mellencamp.”

For Doyle, this means the creation of Jack County, and his first CD, “Lonesome Radio.” The songs are not overly complex. They are reminiscent of classic country clichés, nice melodies and foot-tapping hooks.

“I am most proud of a new song I’ve written called ‘Eyes Closed,’” said Doyle. “It is a story about my teenage years – knowing it all, but not knowing a thing. I think it just means a lot to me. That song really makes me smile.”

This is an example of where he gets inspiration for songs: personal experiences, things he sees his friends and family going through, life in general. “I wrote a song about a barbecue grill the other day. There’s no telling where that one came from.”
One of the biggest advantages Doyle sees to living in Texas, as opposed to Florida, is he is surrounded by musical heritage and influence.

“Townes, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, and on and on. There’s so many great artists that have called Texas their home. Growing up in Florida, it’s not like that at all. It seems like everyone moved off and then got famous.”

Jackson Doyle would not mind in the least following that pattern.

“My goal is to provide a way of life for myself, the guys in the band, and my family,” he said. “I love writing, I love performing, and I love traveling. I would love to be able to wake up every day and do those things and make a solid living. Scraping by is not the best way to live; and I hope I can look at my account some day, and not have to worry about money – as much as least.”

Doyle had several mentors who helped him get started. Today, he looks to Fort Worth singer/songwriter Kurt South for help and direction. Doyle is still young, but not too young to give advice for those looking for their start in music.

“I think not giving up is always the best advice,” he said. “When the rubber meets the road, you’ll find out if playing music is something you want to do as a career or a hobby.”

For Doyle, that is the true beauty of music. It can be enjoyed in any facet, “in an arena, a honky tonk, or even just a back porch.”

“Lonesome Radio” is currently available on iTunes. For more information on Doyle and Jack County, visit www.jackcountymusic.com.

Miranda Lambert Ready to Start a New Tour

Sam Moore — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:15:36 +0000

Texas music star Miranda Lambert brings her “Roadside Bars And Pink Guitars” Tour to her fans this Spring. Gearing up on March 18th in Beckley, WV, the tour will make stops in at least 22 cities and more to be announced. This is Lambert’s first official headlining tour. She will be joined by David Nail, James Otto, Randy Houser and Wade Bowen among others.

In addition to her own headlining tour, Lambert will take part in the prestigious Lilith Fair Tour and joins an A-list lineup including Kings of Leon, Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band and Norah Jones, performing at this year’s Bonnaroo Music Festival in June.

“In the last 5 years, I have learned so much from all the amazing artists I’ve toured with,” said Lambert. “Now it’s my turn to venture out and do more shows of my own. I’m happy that there are a lot of great new artists who are willing to come out and support my tour.”

Fans, critics and peers agree it’s time for the award-winning Texas singer/songwriter to take center stage. Recent performances have garnered such praise as “one of modern country’s most formidable talents” from The Oklahoman and from the Dallas Morning News “She can command a stage as good as any of the genre big boys.”

Last week, Lambert, who’s latest single “White Liar” from her album REVOLUTION recently hit #1, taped an episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition, which airs this spring and was a presenter at the Grammy Awards, where she was also nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her self-penned song “Dead Flowers.” While in Los Angeles as part of Brad Paisley’s “American Saturday Night” Tour, she will tape two upcoming shows for the Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (air dates TBA.)

The three-time GRAMMY nominee received rare perfect reviews for REVOLUTION from countless publications including 4 stars from Rolling Stone and USA Today, an A from Entertainment Weekly and exuberant praise from SPIN, NY Times, Washington Post and more. Many claimed REVOLUTION the “Best Album of 2009” in any genre including NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Amongst the many accolades, the Nashville Scene Critics Poll voted Miranda Lambert’s REVOLUTION as the year’s best album and her “White Liar” as the year’s best single; they also named her Female Vocalist of the Year and runner-up Artist of the Year.

ROADSIDE BARS AND PINK GUITARS CITIES INCLUDE:
Beckley, WV
Ft Worth, TX
Wichita Falls, TX
Kennewick, WA
Medford, OR
Duluth, GA
Orlando, FL
Airway Heights, WA
Florence, AZ
Cincinnati, OH
Akron, OH
Kalamazoo, MI
Amarillo, TX
Belton, TX
Houston, TX
Jonesboro, AR
Bossier City, LA
Stillwater, OK
Spencer, IA
Mankato, MN
Davenport, IA
New Braunfels, TX

For more information on Lambert’s upcoming events and schedule or for pre-sale ticket information visit www.mirandalambert.com

The Truth Is

John South — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:11:04 +0000

By John South

On the back porch of a house in a small Texas town, a little girl sat and dreamed of playing guitar and being a singer. She made up songs – singing through the day. She listened to the music of Joni Mitchell – she wanted to be just like her, to sing just like her. She also found inspiration in the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Jeanie Sliva grew up loving music – any music other than country music.

Then, as fate would have it, a friend invited her to travel to Nashville; that’s when she “heard” country for the first time. Actually she had heard country music all her life, she heard it in a different way. She realized that she had a new musical direction to explore.

In 2000, Sliva concentrated on a song for a group like Boys to Men. She spent an entire year working on the song and received a single song contract. She had a bite from Sony in NY for Mandy Moore, but the song went no further.

The question they asked, however, shocked her, “Do you have anything else?” Sliva learned a very valuable lesson at that point in her music career – the importance of having a song catalog. She has dedicated herself since to developing her craft and her songs.

Sliva tells us that she learned another very valuable lesson from her early experience in Nashville. She went into the process of writing country songs thinking that writing country was easy. She found that that certainly wasn’t the case. It fact, she found the writing of country to be humbling.

Having fallen in love with Nashville, the city as well as the music, Sliva took advantage of many of the opportunities to learn about the craft. She has attended several of the songwriter workshops offered in Nashville which she has found extremely insightful about the craft of writing music. She has also attended the pitches to producers to see what others are writing.

The song critiques were the hardest part of writing songs for Nashville. Though she felt she had a pretty good product, Sliva found through her first song critique how difficult writing a quality country was going to be. Nashville offered up its own version of tough love. But she persevered and rewrote, and rewrote. The efforts are reflected in her new album, Truth Is…

One of the efforts that Sliva has found fulfilling in her effort to develop her craft is to join organizations like the Austin Songwriters Group and the Nashville Songwriters Association International where she is a member of the North Texas Chapter. In each organization, she finds the kind of social networking, learning and inspiration that helps her move forward in her craft.

How do you describe Sliva’s music? Is it country? Is it pop? Is it folk?

If you look at her current musical influences, K. D. Lang, Alison Krauss, Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams, and Keith Urban, you would think that she is country; however, like most Texas musicians, Sliva is the amalgam of many different musical approaches. You hear a lot of country, but you still hear the Joni Mitchell and Lucinda Williams influence. You also feel the pop influences of the Beatles, the Stones and others from her earlier musical development. Overall, though, you hear a well-developed musical talent.

Sliva’s new album, Truth Is…, illustrates how much the combination of a hardworking songwriter, a group of talented musicians and impressive producer can accomplish. Each track is well-polished with each vocals and instrumentation supporting each other. The producer, Patrick McGuire out of his studios in Arlington, TX, assembled the perfect set of musician for Sliva’s album:

Rocky Dribble – acoustic and electric guitars, banjo
Milo Deering – dobro, fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar, pedal steel and lap steel
Lou Carfa – acoustic and electric bas
Brent Dacus – drums, percussion
Roland Elbert – piano
Joey Carter – piano, percussion
Brad Neher – piano and B3 organ

Supporting Sliva and the instrumentalists is Andrea Wallace providing the backup vocals.

The album, itself, is well-composed – each song supporting the others. Sliva brought together 12 significant examples of her work. The opening work, The One You Keep, starts off with a guitar riff that immediately draws you into the song and the album. The song provides a good foundation for what is to follow.

Softer, the second track, Take You There, provides an intimate conversation between the singer and her love. You really feel like the singer is talking directly to you. The chorus is the vocal equivalent of the singer reaching out to take you by the hand and walking with you down to the place that she finds special.

Stolen Moment highlights the yearning of one who can’t quite catch the heart of the one she desires. This is another example of Sliva’s softer works. It is highlighted by the steel work of Milo Deering which really emphasizes the yearning in the singer’s heart.

Sweet Memories is one the best offerings on the album. From the lyrics to the instrumentation this song really highlights the qualities of the artists. The fiddle and steel work help to develop the emotion of the singer. You feel her pain, her desire to really hold on to someone that she’s lost.

The fifth track, I Can’t Let It Go, follows with some of the same emotion that Sliva developed in Sweet Memories – love lost. You can feel the pain in the singer’s heart as she continues to reach out to her lover trying to recapture the lost love.

Beautiful Girl is one of Sliva’s more recognized pieces. It won the September, 2006 “Song of the Year” competition in the Pop category. The song reminds you of your early days of being in love, when you could not keep your girl out of your mind, or out of your heart. An interesting aspect of this song is that the reference to “beautiful girl” is how you view her beauty in your mind. She may not have that Swedish model kind of beauty, but in your heart she is someone that you can’t live without – “there’s no one like her in this whole wide world. “

I’d Give Anything also explores the love the artist feels for her love. She is reaching out try to find a way to bring her love back. You’ll enjoy the production work on this track. In combination with the melodic tones of the singer, the producer has added in harmonics and strong reverb in parts of the song to really emphasize the sense of loss.

Your Choice presents a sharp approach to the music led by the percussionist and fiddle work. Each instrument is played with something of a staccato attack to illustrate the singer’s hurt as she’s tries to pull the pieces of her life back together after her lover made his choice. The fiddle, in particular, guides you through the work, taking you up and down with the singer’s emotion.

Truth Is is a very elegant song, again, one of the best tracks on the album. Lyrically very romantic, it reminds you of the classic country tunes that graced the halls of the Ryman Auditorium in the day. With the exquisite piano work of Roland Elbert and the heart wrenching steel work of Milo Deering, Sliva presents a strong performance with lyrics and music that opens her heart and pain to the listener.

The album finishes strongly with Heart of Gold, an acoustic version of I Can’t Let It Go, and Heaven Bound. Each shows another dimension of the musical talent of Sliva. In the first two songs, she shows the difficulties of love, being in love and staying in love. In Heaven Bound, Sliva changes directions slightly by taking us through an internal journey of searching for self. The answer is not just religion, but in how we treat our fellow man. Andrea Wallace adds a strong spoken part in the middle of the song that drives the point home, “Coretta Scott King quoted her husband at a speech in 2003 where she said, Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” That’s where the “Truth Is.”

Overall, Truth Is is an excellent debut album for Sliva. Her songs take us through the emotional thread of love – love found, love struggling and love lost. McGuire blended the elements of Sliva’s song in a manner that each instrument and each voice adds something to the composition. When asked what she thought of the finished album, Sliva just smiled (that same proud smile that you give your child when they accomplish something great). Anyone listening to Sliva’s album will get that same sense of pleasure.

You can learn more about Jeanie Sliva on her MySpace site, and on Sonic Bids. The album is available on iTunes and at CD Baby.

LaRue Has Red Dirt on His Boots

Sam Moore — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:02:29 +0000

When I was growing up in Shreveport, LA, my family used to go to a little section of Kisatchie National Forest for day trips. The area was known as “Red Dirt.” We had miles of hiking trails, and it was the closest thing to a mountain that I saw until we finally went to the Smoky Mountains.

Today, “red dirt” has a different meaning for me. It’s a sound, it’s a style, it’s a group of musicians. And it is a lot of fun.

One of the leaders of the Red Dirt music movement is Stoney LaRue. And whether he is at home in Oklahoma, or traveling throughout the country, this Texas music fan favorite is always belting out the tunes that help make Red Dirt music popular.

“I was singing as long as I can remember,” LaRue said during a recent TMJ interview. “I grew up in southeast Oklahoma with my grandparents. When I turned 21, I got my first job singing in a bar.”

Nothing about LaRue is ordinary. Even the way he got that first job is a story in itself.

“Three of us lived together and wrote songs,” he said. “The boys got a job performing. They got me to sing some songs. Later that evening, while I was at the urinal, the bar owner saw me and offered me a singing position. I haven’t had a job since!”

What exactly is Red Dirt music? It’s hard to define. According to LaRue, it is not any one particular style of song, but more of an understood thing.

“It’s not really a place, but more like the air, the vibe, the good old boy, the hippie, the redneck, the free will, the truth, all that style of writing. My own songs range from country and rock to soul. It is not so much a genre as it is an idea, to give music to the people who need it, like Woody Guthrie did,” he said.

So Red Dirt can mean different things to different people. And LaRue reaches a lot of those people. One night may find him in a small honky tonk, and the next night could place him in front of a concert hall full of screaming fans.

“I like every level of playing music, from playing to your dog to playing to thousands of people,” LaRue commented. “They get it at different levels. Clubs have people who look forward to Friday, cashing their check and listening to music, while there are other people who look forward to a concert for months.”

LaRue enjoys both environments. My music could turn them on to something completely different.”

Different moments give him different thrills. Regardless of where LaRue is playing, he says he doesn’t limit himself to the stage. His music, his environment, his memories often take him somewhere else.

“It will bring me back to a certain moment,” he said. “It’s amazing how it opens a portal for an onslaught of emotions. There’s a lot of different places I go on stage.”

Songwriting is as important to performing for LaRue. He has been working recently with a unique co-writer: his 7-year-old daughter. She’s been bitten by the bug. They have started on a song called “I Love Butterflies.” He wants to record it and have her perform it live.

LaRue said, “Songwriting is totally a reflection of who you are as a person. It is an inward look to stay outward. It’s therapeutic, really. People like to see the emotion. I have seen artists who are songwriters, and they deliver it like they meant to write it.

“Sometimes I can hear somebody say something, and I can write around it. It presents itself when it needs to be written. I try to latch on to those moments, and that line. I just sit down, focus on the idea from start to finish, and with the melody try to put some fantastic music behind it.”

LaRue’s music is indeed fantastic. You can hear a little Willie or Merle, then swear you hear the CCR influence. And that is what comes with the Red Dirt movement: it’s not a genre, it’s an idea.

—————————————————————————————
Stoney LaRue will appear Thursday night at Winstar Casino, just over the Oklahoma state line on Interstate 35, as part of their Red Dirt music series.

Eli Young Staying Busy During the Holidays

Sam Moore — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:01:42 +0000

It’s been a busy 24-hour period for Texas music stars Eli Young Band. And the weekend is not over yet.

The New Year’s holiday began Thursday night, as EYB headlined a show for New Year’s Eve at the Verizon Wireless Theatre in Houston.

“It’s only one of a handful of times in ten years that we have actually played a New Year’s Eve show,” said bassist Jon Jones. “We had a great time.”

When that show ended, the guys had to pack up and head north on Interstate 45. This was to fulfill their role as Grand Marshals in the Dallas Comerica New Year’s Day Parade.

“It’s a real honor,” said lead singer Mike Eli. “I think the hardest part was performing on a shaky stage,” he said as the band got off their float. “But we only had to play a couple of songs, so it wasn’t bad at all.”

Eli has another date to keep this weekend. He will perform the National Anthem Saturday prior to the kickoff of the Cotton Bowl, being held for the first time in the new Cowboys Stadium.

EYB has a few days off from live performances, before they play again at the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma on Thursday night. Between performances, the guys are busy working on their new CD, which guitarist James Young said should be released sometime in the Spring.

“I have to get used to saying this Spring instead of next year,” said drummer Chris Thompson. “I keep forgetting that this is now 2010!” Don’t worry, Chris. A lot of us have that problem.

Pat Green Looks to the Future

Sam Moore — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:52:05 +0000

I was watching KXAS-TV, the NBC affiliate in Dallas, last night, when an interesting story came on about Pat Green. Anchor-reporter Meredith Land interviewed the Fort Worth native, asking what he expects to happen during the next ten years.

“I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing music,” Green said. “I’ll just slow down to a slow crawl.”

Green has had 15 songs hit the top country charts during his career. He has also had several Grammy nominations. He believes the next decade will present a challenge for record labels, as they shift from selling full albums to selling individual songs.

“I think the recording industry is going to see a change, the same way it changed when it went from tapes and cassettes to CD’s, and from records to tapes,” he said.

Green is not a big fan of the current country music scene. He is hopeful that north Texas will produce a talent base that shifts country music, perhaps away from the current pop country.

“I guess it’s a cycle,” he commented. “Music goes through these times where it’s really plastic and not fun to listen to. Everything sounds like a commercial for something that’s really cool. Then it goes back to being organic and something that’s more heart felt.”

Green sees the Dallas metroplex catching up as far as having more good places to hear music. But he hopes Dallas does not become the next Nashville. As for his suggestion for the next ten years?

“I guess my advice for anyone looking forward to 2020 is to take more pictures, between here and there, so you can at least have some memories of it.”

And who does he see as the act with the biggest potential for the next ten years? No surprise here, the Eli Young Band.

Last Drifting Cowboy Dies

Sam Moore — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:58:03 +0000

Bill Lister played rhythm guitar. For the last year of Hank Williams’ life, Lister was the rhythm guitarist in the icon’s “Drifting Cowboys” band. Tuesday, Lister became the last to go.

The 86-year-old musician died Tuesday in San Antonio. He was a native of Brady, TX.

Lister was known as radio’s tallest singing cowboy. That came from the fact that he was 6 feet, 7 inches tall. Until just a few months ago, Lister still performed. He would play every night on a Caribbean cruise that originated from Galveston.

Lister’s wife was responsible for one of Hank Williams Jr.’s most enjoyable hits. In 1988, she found a demo of Hank and the Cowboys singing “There’s a Tear in My Beer.” No one until then knew the recording existed. Lister gave it to Williams’s son, who took it and made it a number-1 duet with his father.

Bill Lister is survived by one son.

Hendrix Shares Holiday Song with Friends

Sam Moore — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:53:32 +0000

If you are looking for something to put you in the holiday spirit, look no further than Terri Hendrix. The Texas music sensation has put out her song “Christmas in August” on a website for fans. To here the tune, go to: http://terrihendrix.bandcamp.com/track/christmas-in-august

“Christmas in August” was originally released in November 2008. If you have a holiday song you would like to share, please let us know.

Womack Joins Strait Tour

Sam Moore — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:08:43 +0000

The King of Country Music George Strait has added award-wining and platinum recording artist Lee Ann Womack to his previously announced arena tour with Entertainment Superstar Reba McEntire. The tour kicks off in early 2010 and continues through late Spring.

“I can’t imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire — and now I’m not imagining!” Womack added jokingly, “I’m trying to figure out what to wear…cause you can’t out-starch George and you sure can’t out-spangle Reba!”