How 'Muddy' Is Red Dirt?
October 28, 2010, 3:55 pm
Recently reporters from the Texas Music Chart's panel of radio programmers were asked their opinion regarding Nashville releases of duets featuring popular Texas recording artists and whether these recordings should be included on the chart. Below is Katie Key's (chart editor) original inquiry followed by my response. Please feel free to post your opinion...
Katie Key:Read more
Rosehill's new approach to an old formula pays off on White Lines And Stars
August 2, 2010, 3:57 pm
White Lines and Stars - Rosehill
Cypress Creek Records
Being involved in the music industry in such limited capacity as I am, very little is more gratifying than experiencing the growth of a young artist or band. When I first met Blake Myers and Mitch McBain, they were just baby musicians. Baby musicians in the sense that they were just beginning to find themselves musically and just beginning to venture past the breakwater into the vastness of the business of music. Back then, circa 2003, they were known as Texas High Life. Another young group playing for tips and beer around several small venues in Southeast and Central Texas. Promise could be heard, talent was at hand. You could see how feverishly they were paddling around the waters. The only thing that was missing back then was a little direction. A rudder to guide them. Here, some seven years later, a chance meeting with Radney Foster gave them that direction. A slight change in...Read more
Red Dirt Hurricane Festival of Festivals
May 31, 2010, 1:42 pm
Hello and happy summertime, music lovers!! The summer festival season is in full swing now and hopefully you all have had an opportunity to get out and enjoy some beautiful weather and awesome live music while celebrating everything from spicy crustaceans to sweet summer fruits. It seems just about every city, town, hamlet and burgh has some sort of fest honoring their local claim to fame. Some can sound a bit strange and off the wall. Here are a few of my favorites...
June 11-13 - San Elizario BILLY THE KID FESTIVAL... In 1876, Billy the Kid visited San Elizario! In June 2010, learn the historical truths behind this event as the historic breakout of Billy’s friend from the old El Paso County Jail is re-enacted.
June 12 - Cross Plains 12th ANNUAL BARBARIAN FESTIVAL... Cross Plains,Tx is the hometown of Robert E. Howard, creator of Conan the Barbarian! Will there be an Arnold sighting??
...Read more
Death of the Ghost Track
April 26, 2010, 9:52 pm
One of my first memories of listening to recorded music was hearing the legendary saxaphonist Boots Randolph on my dad's old 4-track reel-to-reel player. Dad was a fan of Boots, pianist Floyd Cramer and New Orleans jazzman Pete Fountain. We listened to a lot of Yaketky Sax and Last Date on Saturday mornings. Back then, I won't say how far back, you could order 4-track tapes from The Columbia House Record and Tape Club 12 for a penny. Unfortunately after Floyd and Boots there were still 10 tapes left to order so, a lot of Bobby Vinton, Tony Orlando and Percy Faith Strings also made it onto the tape deck.
My older brothers were into music too. Vinyl of course. Stereophonic LPs. Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, the Who, Beatles. The usual suspects. Me and my younger brother could only afford 45s. I got in huge trouble for buy...Read more
Remember that old story about bringing a knife to a gunfight?
April 12, 2010, 1:27 pm
Good Monday all!! I suppose the biggest news from the past week in Outlaw Americana Music is the acquittal of Billy Joe Shaver on aggravated assault charges. As many of you may know Billy Joe Shaver is a 70 year old Texas Music Hall of Fame inductee who was charged in connection with the shooting of Billy Coker outside a bar near Waco in 2007. Alledgedly, Shaver shot Coker after the two verbally tangled and postured as one is want to do when they have been drinking in a Lorena, Tx roadhouse. Shaver claims Coker intimidated him by stirring his ice cold adult beverage with his pocket knife and proceeded to wipe it on Billy Joe's shirt. Shaver must have been in a good mood that day because I would have thought he would end it right there, but he says he decided to 'let it go'. Things escalated after Coker learned that Shaver's then wife, Wanda, had been married to Coker's cousin. This is were events get sketchy. ...Read more
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