Words and Voices

Brian Burns, Saturday April 11th

2009-03-12T06:49:00.000-05:00

Brian Burns has, for many years, been regarded as one of Texas’ top performing songwriters, his work having been covered by a number of legendary artists. But over the past few years, Brian has emerged as one of his state's most powerful and engaging performers. His songs explore both the poignant and the humorous sides of humanity, drawing out the things we’ve all felt and wish we could have said. The warmth, wit, and eclecticism of his performances captivate audiences night after night.

Brian grew up in Central Texas listening to the western ballads of Marty Robbins and the “progressive country” music of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Early on, he developed an appreciation for musical depth, along with a knack for “the story”. As his passion for music grew, he began to explore a variety of styles ranging from pop to reggae. At age 16, Brian hit the road on a musical journey that would eventually find him sharing stages with some of America’s top performers.

Brian’s Texas roots remained an integral force in his life and work. After his first million-or-so miles of rough road and half-a-lifetime of impressive musical accomplishments - yet not much to show for it, Brian planted those roots firmly back in Lone Star soil. “Music’s not a choice I made, I believe the choice made me,” declared Brian in the title cut of his debut solo album, “Highways, Heartaches, and Honky-Tonks”, a 1997 work which summarized his musical mission up to that point. His second album, 1999’s “Angels & Outlaws”, produced the venomous, yet humorous Texan anthem, “Welcome To Texas (Now Don’t Forget To Go Back Home)” which dominated FM heavy rotation lists in the nation’s largest country music markets for many months. But “Angels & Outlaws” also met critical acclaim and enlightened a discriminating listening audience to a more intellectual and introspective side of Brian Burns.

Brian's 2001 release, "The Eagle & The Snake: Songs Of The Texians", presented an epic collection of classic, contemporary, and original ballads based on the history, folklore, and culture of Texas. "The Eagle & The Snake" was heralded by reviewers as a masterpiece shortly after its release, and went on to become an established Texas classic. The album’s first single, “I’ve Been Everywhere (In Texas)” spread like wildfire throughout Texas and achieved unprecedented success, charting nationally for five weeks on R&R (Radio & Records). The single, "Evangelina" remains in the Top 10 of the Texas Music Chart.

Nothing ignites a young mind's historical interest more effectively (and infectiously) than songs and stories that bring past events stirringly back to life. Over the summer of 2003 Brian adapted "The Eagle & The Snake: Songs Of The Texians" into an educational program for 4th and 7th-grade students of Texas history. This program has become the state's premier educational presentation for K-12 Social Studies curriculum enhancement, taking Brian's musical and storytelling talents into elementary and intermediate schools throughout Texas.

Brian's latest album release, "Border Radio", introduces a collection of 12 new Brian Burns compositions and 5 exciting new cover songs. Border Radio was recorded between December 2004 and July 2006. Even though all recording was done in a stationary setting, virtually all of the production decisions were made where Brian listens to music the most – out on the highway.

More and more people are discovering Brian Burns, “The Last True Texas Troubador", an artist who, for many years, was considered one of Texas’ best-kept secrets. The Terry Awards, a long-standing institution recognizing excellence and accomplishment in Texas music, has presented Brian its “Top Solo Artist” award. Rockzilla.net, a popular online electronic community dedicated to Texas Music, voted Brian “Texas Artist of The Year” for two consecutive years. Brian performs an average of 300 shows a year including solo performances and songwriter shows with some of the country's top performing singer/songwriters.

Gypsy Fire, Saturday March 14th

2009-03-07T06:46:00.003-06:00

Too folk to be Irish and too Irish to be folk. That’s what THEY say. It seems we are neither here nor there. We have been described as the “Grateful Dead on Guinness and and almost sober.” Others have decided that we were what you sound like if you cross Harry Chapin with The Clancey Brothers or was it Gordon Lightfoot with Tommy Sands. In performance we have been described as a “Celtic Alice Cooper meets the Rocky Horror Picture Show”.
Charlie Stacey is a prolific songwriter with a catalog of 170 songs and counting. He has been performing almost 50 years, the past 20 primarily as a singer/songwriter and the past 15 with Cynthia and an amazing group of musicians under the banner of Gypsyfire. They have played Irish bars, listening rooms, folk clubs, and State Park amphitheaters from New Mexico to Washington D.C., the Texas Rio Grand Valley to West Virginia. The rest of the time Charlie works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at the Navajo Nation’s Shiprock (NM) Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program. In a life before psychotherapy, Charlie spent 23 years in broadcasting as a TV news cameraman. Many of his story-songs came from places visited and people met as he traveled the world.
Cynthia Whiddon Green grew up in deep east Texas, West Virginia, and the Washington D.C. area. She grew up with both the traditional music of these regions and the music of her ancestral home in the Highlands of Scotland. She has overcome years of classical voice training to return to her musical roots and provides the lead vocals on much of the music she brings to the band. In a parallel universe she teaches English and communications to high school students on the Navajo Reservation. In a life yet to come she hopes to pursue her love of Medieval Studies, in particular translating and working with writings of and about the Northern Saints of Medieval Scotland.

Austin's Back! Saturday October 11th

2008-09-14T11:34:00.005-05:00

Barring any more catastrophic hurricanes, Austin Cunningham will be performing at the October 11, 2008 Words and Voices at The Blue Frog Grille in Marshall, Texas.

Exploring the lives and emotions of the characters he brings to life is how Austin Cunningham describes his formula for success. "When I write a heartbreak song, for example, I dont want to just say, oh so and so broke my heart, and leave it at that," he says. "I want to get behind the motivation of the breakupwhat was going on in the characters mind and heart theres always more to the story than meets the eye, and thats something I want to try to capture when I write. I also like to try to put a positive spin on thingsmaybe add a little inspirational twist." His interpretations of life have appealed to such artists as The Judds, Dolly Parton, Tracy Byrd, Kathy Mattea, Tanya Tucker, and Reba McEntire among others who have cut his songs. His last two singles have been featured in motion pictures. The Where The Heart Is soundtrack includes the single "Grow Young With You" (Coley McCabe), and his song "Beautiful" (Jennifer Paige) was featured in the Winona Ryder/Richard Gere movie, Autumn In New York. Other cuts include "From The Ashes" (Martina McBride), "Im Your Man" (Jason Sellers), and "Dancin With Angels" (SHeDAISY). His Christian cuts include recordings by Susie Luchsinger, Roy Clark, Ken Hollaway, and Lisa Daggs among others. Cunningham is a recipient of the coveted Johnny Mercer Award for "Emerging American Songwriters," which is given annually to one writer each from New York, LA, and Nashville.

Only 3 Shows Remaining in 2008 Season!

2008-08-14T13:36:00.003-05:00

Kevin Welch, Saturday July 12, 2008

2008-06-15T19:49:00.008-05:00

Join us in welcoming back Dead Reckoning recording artist Kevin Welch to the Words & Voices series in historic downtown Marshall, Texas. Kevin played the series in 2004, and to this date, his was one of the series' most successful. Mark this date on your calendar because you will not want to miss this intimate musical experience with one of music's greatest songwriters and storytellers.

Kevin Welch’s catalogue of music stretches well over two decades and reveals a brilliant performer and songwriter whose style and vision continue to help define great American roots music. Welch’s five critically acclaimed CDs blend folk, rock, blues and bluegrass with an earthy voice and poignant storytelling rich with romance and honesty.

Welch left his native Oklahoma when he was 17, traveling extensively before settling in Nashville in 1978. His musical talents found a home at Sony Tree, where he established himself as a staff writer, deftly penning songs for artists as diverse as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Garth Brooks, the Judds, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs, among others.

Despite his success in writing for others, Kevin Welch’s compositions were best expressed in his own voice. In 1990, Welch recorded and released his self-titled debut, Kevin Welch, on Warner/Reprise. Western Beat followed in 1992 also on the label.

With two CDs under his belt, several years of first-hand experience in Nashville’s music industry, and a group of tight-knit and extremely gifted artists, Welch helped launch Dead Reckoning Records in 1995 along with Kieran Kane, Mike Henderson, Tammy Rogers and Harry Stinson.

The label was in the forefront of do-it-yourself record labels and cottage industries that have sprung up in the music business since and has no doubt inspired countless artists to forge their own way. As part of Dead Reckoning, Welch released Life Down Here On Earth in 1995 and the AAA radio favorite Beneath My Wheels in 1999. The label, operated by the artists, has released 21 well-received albums worldwide.

In 2002, Dead Reckoning Records joined forces with Compendia Music Group, a well-respected music group with released from a wide array of artists including Joan Osborne, Kansas, Gene Watson and Robert Palmer. The partnership will help maximize Dead Reckoning’s marketing, distribution and promotion.

Welch’s latest release Millionaire was recorded in Nashville and Denmark and released in 2002 on Dead Reckoning Records/Compendia Music Group. The CD features The Danes, a group of rockin’ multi-instrumentalists Welch discovered in Denmark. Millionaire also features the song “Glorious Bounty” that Welch was especially proud to record because it was co-written by his 21-year-old son, Dustin Welch.

Often referred to as an Americana Stalwart and Roots Music Troubadour, Welch’s stellar releases and unforgettable live performances have allowed him a loyal and dedicated fan base all over the world where he tours extensively. He is a longtime favorite nationally and internationally in the best listening rooms and premiere music festivals.

With each release, Welch continues to dig deeper and push the envelope on American roots music. There is no doubt that Welch’s generous musical legacy and broad-minded independence and philosophies on combining music and business with integrity will continue to enrich the genre of roots music and inspire generations of artists.

Jeff Black, Saturday August 12th, 7:00 pm

2006-06-26T02:14:00.000-05:00

Jeff Black will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices concert series on Saturday August 12th, 2006. For reservations, call 903-934-9902.

Jeff Black, Saturday August 12, 2006, 7:00 pm

2006-06-26T02:08:00.000-05:00

For more information, see http://www.jeffblack.com

A tin lily is just what it says—and much more than it seems. A thin piece of metal shaped in the petals of a delicate flower, it's designed to take a soft glow, often from a candle, and give it more shine. It's a hard element that does what it can to spread something as ethereal yet as essential as light.

Jeff Black's songs do much the same thing. They start in a personal place, often hidden back in the darkness, yet they always strive to illuminate. He's a burly, bare-knuckled, blue-collar son of the Missouri plains with dark Irish blood who digs into tough topics with a gentle heart. There's nothing predictable about a Jeff Black lyric other than it will be sung robustly and it will head towards hope instead of dwell on despair.

Black's fourth album, Tin Lily, is as hard to pin down as his previous work, where he has collaborated with everyone from rock experimentalists Wilco to Americana favorite Iris Dement to progressive bluegrass stalwart Sam Bush. As usual, Black found an inspired collection of musicians to collaborate with him on the self produced Tin Lily.

Mandolinist Sam Bush, who's last album was named after his cover of Black's song "King of the World," joins former Johnny Cash bassist Dave Roe, former Steve Earle drummer Craig Wright and guitarists Will Kimbrough, who's currently working with Rodney Crowell and Jimmy Buffett, and Kenny Vaughan, who performs with the likes of Kim Richey and Lucinda Williams among so many others. Engineered and mixed by Billy Sherrill, the song cycle on Tin Lily exemplifies the duality that make Jeff Black such a compelling, vital and important performing songwriter.

"Black is an artist of substance," wrote Billboard in a review that compared his piano ballads to Randy Newman and his rockers to Bruce Springsteen. Paste magazine adds, "The search for spiritual sustenance and lasting meaning underpins Black's reverent, battling-the-darkness-andwinning songs."Image Of Band He concedes that, while he doesn't want to offer in-depth explanations of what his songs mean, "I love songs about freeing the spirit, about minimizing the struggle the best you can, about treating your individuality as something that's precious and important," he says. "Those are the topics I come back to because those are the ideas I keep examining within myself." But Black is too complicated to make it easy. His songs take unexpected turns, cursing and snarling at points, showing their lust and their desire as well as their determination to remain bound for glory.

The disc opens with "Easy On Me," a rolling, blues-inflected warning of sorts whose narrator makes an unapologetic plea "Hey I know what you want from me/but I've given all that I can give/you believe what you believe/but I think I need my soul to live." Black knows the way of the heart when it's filled with love. But there's no greeting card sentimentality here. Songs like "Hollow Of Your Hand" and "Heaven Now" depict love in the real world, where it is often tempered by the trials and tribulations of everyday life, "We leave the ground to reach for something true/take all these hand me downs and make them new/rave on beyond the waiting and let it go/she's so beautiful." The swaggering rock of "Libertine" leans toward the altruistic meaning of the word with total abandon. The soulful piano jam / thump shuffle of "Free At Last" proves that the piano is indeed a rock instrument and that soul music by definition should always be categorized by the source and not necessarily the retail bin.

Washed in the spirit and built on simple truths, his songs are ambitious epics performed with brawny passion. Irony does not reside here; Black's compositions ring out with the unadorned truth of the moment they were conceived. His desire to dig deeper, to cut to the marrow is another hallmark of Black's writing. He knows the world is painted in more subtle shades than black and white, so he writes songs with a painter's eye for nuance and detail. His songs delve into complex emotional territory with a simplicity that often belies the craft that goes into their making.

As anyone who's seen his moving, funny, and unpredictable concerts already knows, He never plays the same show twice, pulling from his commercial catalog Birmingham Road Arista 1998 Honey And Salt Blue Rose 2003, B-Sides And Confessions Volume One Dualtone 2003," and the new music on Tin Lily, he responds to the moment and to whatever voodoo is floating through the air shared by a unique collection of people on any given night with the stories and songs that transcend the role of a singer/songwriter and his instrument. What makes a Jeff Black record or show exciting is that, as a listener, you know the singer is there not to perform for you, but to take you on a journey with him.

Austin Cunningham Saturday June 17th, 7:00 pm

2006-06-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

To see photos of Austin's previous appearance at The Weisman Center, click here:

http://www.munexp.com/siteMOL/GalleryGroupCB.cfm?galleryId=3B5070 (photos courtesy of Ron Munden)

For more information, see www.austincunningham.com

Austin Cunningham will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Presents Words & Voices on Saturday June 17th, at 7:00 pm. Please call 903-934-9902 for reservations and further information.

Exploring the lives and emotions of the characters he brings to life is how Austin Cunningham describes his formula for success. "When I write a heartbreak song, for example, I don’t want to just say, ‘oh so and so broke my heart,’ and leave it at that," he says. "I want to get behind the motivation of the breakup…what was going on in the character’s mind and heart… there’s always more to the story than meets the eye, and that’s something I want to try to capture when I write. I also like to try to put a positive spin on things…maybe add a little inspirational twist." His interpretations of life have appealed to such artists as The Judds, Dolly Parton, Tracy Byrd, Kathy Mattea, Tanya Tucker, and Reba McEntire among others who have cut his songs. His last two singles have been featured in motion pictures. The Where The Heart Is soundtrack includes the single "Grow Young With You" (Coley McCabe), and his song "Beautiful" (Jennifer Paige) was featured in the Winona Ryder/Richard Gere movie, Autumn In New York. Other cuts include "From The Ashes" (Martina McBride), "I’m Your Man" (Jason Sellers), and "Dancin’ With Angels" (SHeDAISY). His Christian cuts include recordings by Susie Luchsinger, Roy Clark, Ken Hollaway, and Lisa Daggs among others. Cunningham is a recipient of the coveted Johnny Mercer Award for "Emerging American Songwriters," which is given annually to one writer each from New York, LA, and Nashville.

Marshall News Messenger Article 4/12/2006

2006-04-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

This text is from a commentary written by Marshall News Messenger publisher Phil Latham on April 12, 2006.

When you can hear 'voices and it is a really good thing

|By PHIL LATHAM, PUBLISHER|
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

I was embarrassed when Christi Wright took the microphone Saturday night and announced that the Marshall original concert series "Words & Voices" was kicking off it's fourth season.

Three full years of concerts before this? How could it be that I had never been to a single one? To be sure, I had thought about it a number of times, seen acts advertised that I wanted to attend.

But, when push came to the second Saturday night of the month, I was usually doing something else. That is, when I actually remembered it in time to go. There were a few recliner Saturday nights when I remembered about the time the show would have been over.

But there is plenty of time to sit in your recliner when you get to heaven. I figure heaven is a celestial sea of pink recliners. Some people will sing in the heavenly chorus, some people will play on the heavenly harp. Me, I'm gonna sit in the heavenly pink recliner.

Saturday, though, I was determined to go and hear Wynn Varble sing. I figure Words & Voices is something like church, once you start going, it becomes a good habit.

And, amen, brother I intend to get the habit.

It is possible that, like me before Saturday, you have never heard of Wynn Varble. The name doesn't roll off your tongue like, say, Twitty.

Indeed, I didn't have the slightest idea what I would be listening to, other than I knew the focus of the entire concert series is about singer-songwriters who have "voice." The word "voice" here does not refer to the quality of the sound that comes out of the mouth, but the quality of the thoughts that come out of the brain.

Wynn Varble has "voice" the way his native Georgia has kudzu. The supply seems absolutely endless and ever-expanding.

He put that "voice" on display Saturday night and, despite his jokes about it, his voice was more than tolerable, too.

But what sets this concert series apart is that the music is all about the words. I grew up with rock'n'roll and people screaming into microphones and, well, I still like that, too. I admit it.

Over the years, though, it is people like Varble who have most attracted my attention, people whose songs mean something and if you listen you can understand just what that meaning is.

Varble played for nearly two hours and there wasn't a throw-away song in the bunch. He had come directly from a show at the Master's Golf tournament and (not surprisingly) had sold out of CDs there. I went to his Web site (www.wynnvarble.com) and was disappointed to see he had only one CD for sale on the site. Varble has enough good material for at least half-dozen great CDs.

Indeed, country artists from Garth Brooks to Lynn Womack to Brad Paisley have recorded his songs. Any country music fan will recognize the No. 1 song, "Have You Forgotten?" recorded by Darryl Worley and written by Worley and Varble.

Varble sang so many original songs that I found myself wondering if he was going to interrupt his set and ask us to wait while he wrote another one. I'm guessing not too many days pass in-between new songs.

And it was all right here, available in Marshall.

The problem is that there weren't many folks who were there to listen to the show.

Words & Voices is meant to be an intimate setting, and it would ruin it to have 500 people jammed in somewhere. On the other hand, at least three times the number of people could have shown up and it still would have been perfectly intimate.

This is not a money-making venture for Ms. Wright and Grady Lee, who do all the work because they love music and they love the "voice." With the number of people who show up, I'm surprised that it is not a money-losing venture.

But I'm not writing this column to drum up dollars for anyone. The fact is I realized how much I had been missing in three years of not attending these concerts and I would like to save the masses of you out there from missing a real opportunity that we have in our own city.

I should mention that the show started not with a whimper, but with a bang and the powerful singing of Katie Rae Davis from Carthage. Katie Rae is only 14 years old and I cannot guarantee that she has a "voice" yet, but, by golly, she has one heck of a singing voice. We will be hearing from this young lady and I predict that one day soon she'll be the headliner at Words & Voices and not the opening act.

These concerts happen just like clockwork, the second Saturday of every month. Get out of your recliner and come down. I promise, you will hear "voices."

Wynn Varble will be performing live at The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices on Saturday April 8th, at 7:00 pm. 903.934.9902 for reservations

2006-03-29T22:24:00.000-06:00

Wynn Varble, Saturday April 8, 2006

2006-03-19T15:10:00.000-06:00

www.wynnvarble.com

You won't want to miss this show! Wynn Varble is coming back for his 3rd April in a row!

Here's what you need to know to share with your friends!

Warner/Chappell staff writer Wynn Varble admits he must have been destined for a career in country music. Wynn was raised in the small town of Ellenwood, Georgia, where music was a central part of his life. He recalls his father’s collection of country LP’s and the hours he spent listening to the legends: Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Bob Wills, and Jimmie Rodgers, whom Wynn credits as being his primary musical influences. He says he did just about anything to hear the newest country record – even if it meant trading in his big brother’s rock albums and catching trouble for it afterwards!

Wynn picked up a guitar for the first time when he was 15 and taught himself to play. He remembers picking out his first original melodies soon after he mastered basic chord progressions. The creative sparks started flying, and Wynn formed a bluegrass band when he turned 16. After graduating high school, Wynn started on the path to musical success playing the club circuit. His talent playing bluegrass landed him gigs from Austin to Ft. Lauderdale; during this time he was perfecting his skill not only as a guitarist but also as a songwriter.

In 1982, Wynn visited some friends in Nashville. He spent several months writing with an up-and-coming singer/songwriter named Dave Gibson. It was this collaboration that proved to be Wynn’s ticket out of the club scene and into the Nashville music community.

Varble completely relocated to Nashville in 1992. Gibson introduced him to Cliff Williamson, then-director of Starstruck Writers Group, and Wynn was signed to the publisher in 1994. After Starstruck was sold to Warner/Chappell Music, Wynn joined the Warner/Chappell writing staff.

Wynn had his first #1 song "Have You Forgotten" with Darryl Worley in 2003. The song has been nominated for SONG OF THE YEAR by the CMA Awards.

Wynn’s songs have been cut by a range of great artists, including Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Darryl Worley, Montgomery Gentry, Jason Sellers, Gary Allan, Trace Adkins, Clint Daniels, Kevin Denney, Tracy Byrd, The Kinleys, Chris LeDoux, Danni Leigh, Mark Chesnutt and Sammy Kershaw.

2006-02-13T13:26:00.000-06:00

The Ginn Sisters will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices on Saturday March 11th, 2006, at 7:00 pm. Please call 903.934.9902 for reservations.

The Ginn Sisters, Saturday March 11th

2006-02-13T13:18:00.000-06:00

Think acoustic Sheryl Crow with Emmylou Harris on harmonies. Think Damnations, Dolly Parton, Indigo Girls, Eliza Gilkyson, The Dixie Chicks. They perform mostly originals, with select covers by Bob Dylan, Mickey Newbury, Ian Tyson, Dire Straits and others.

Tiffani sings lead, plays guitar, and writes the songs. She has been on stage as a singer, dancer and actor since her earliest days. Her writing reflects her upbringing: Country, Folk, and Blues woven with delicious melodies, compelling characters and universal experiences. She sings with a powerful and athletic voice that can sparkle, smolder, and drive.

Brit sings harmonies and plays flute. Her harmonies blend seamlessly and beautifully. They range from traditional to quirky and are always just the right ingredient. Her virtuoso flute playing, honed by years of formal study, lends an instrumental expression that is both masterful and instinctive.

Both of these women bring remarkable talents and skills to the table, but it is the combination that creates the magic that is The Ginn Sisters. They stand out, turn heads, and shine a little brighter.

"Generally Happy", produced by Darcie Deaville and recorded at Cedar Creek Studio in Austin (birthplace of the Dixie Chicks' "Home") is their critically acclaimed debut CD. It was recorded "live in the studio" with excellent musicians and stripped down production. Their packed house CD release party at the venerable Cactus Cafe established them as rising stars in the milky way of talent that is Austin.

Audiences really respond to The Ginn Sisters. Their rare combination of talent, beauty and charm is a big hit at festivals, concerts, fairs, rodeos, parties, and listening rooms.

Upon hearing "Bartender's Advice to the Urban Cowboy Blues": "That's a great song! Can I hear another one?"~~Willie Nelson

" 'Ginn Juiced' The Ginn Sisters - singer/guitarist Tiffani and her flute-playing sis, Brit - come from the tiny Texas town of Schulenburg, and they sound like they would. Their songs are piped in from the back roads of Texas, where the only think you can get is AM radio. They offer authentic country, the bluest of grass and touches of Appalachian folk, all wrapped around Tiffani's lovely vocals and Brit's sharp sense of melody. Don't miss 'em in a small place, like when you passed on seeing the Dixie Chicks..."~~Malcolm Mayhew, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Tiffani, lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter, has that same kind of rich, twangy voice that has made Natalie Maines so popular, and when Brit (who plays flute) adds those harmonies, it sends chills up and down the spine. Apart from the Bob Wills' classic 'Faded Love', all songs are originals and range from sweet ballads like 'Hugo' and 'Glare of Contempt' (haunting flute on this) to sexy blues romps like 'Ramblin' Ones' and 'So Long Gone'.~~Alan Cackett, Maverick Magazine, UK www.maverick-country.com

"Brit and Tiffani Ginn must be fending off comparisons to cherub-faced versions of the Damnations, but their jubilant sisterhood is powerful to say the least. Darcie Deaville produced this gem, 13 rootsy pearls, including a bluegrass version of "Faded Love" and fabulous sibling harmonies on "Blue Monday". (Margaret Moser, The Austin Chronicle, vol.23 no.42)

"...Knocked down by your music and your talent and killed by your vocals!...quite all your songs are musical gems. Thank you so much for sending this CD. It is one of the very good surprises of these last weeks and I sincerely hope it will bring you all the recognition you deserve. Thanks again for the wonderful gift you made me by sending me your CD."~~Mike "The Frenchie" Penard, DJ

As Eddie O'Strange from Blue Smoke Music Company in New Zealand points out, "Austin must be an amazing place--so many wonderful albums like yours keep coming from your city." Not only do the albums keep coming from the city, but now the bands are coming from Austin too. The Ginn Sisters are taking this show on the road!

"They have quite a few things going for them, one them being the blood tie that blends their harmonies together, another is that Tiff really can write a distinctive, off-beat song...plus she has a strong, appealing voice and is as versatile with it as her classically trained sister is on flute."
~~John Conquest, 3rd Coast Music (June 2004)

2006-02-01T06:03:00.000-06:00

Sisters Morales will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices on Saturday February 11, 2006, at 7:00pm. For reservations, call 903.934.9902.

The Sisters Morales, Saturday February 11th, 2006

2006-01-16T20:24:00.000-06:00

The February installation of The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices is a cooperative effort with The Marshall Regional Arts Council and is being billed as one of the MRAC's Notable Events. Call now to reserve your spot in the audience. Reservations can be made by phoning 903.934.9902. We hope to see you there!

Sisters Morales were born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, spent the past 12 years in Houston, Texas and now live in the Hill Country-San Antonio area. They grew up around a musical and very Mexican family, which contributed to their diverse tastes in music.

They sang in Spanish before they sang in English. Their first performances included singing with mariachis in Mexican restaurants.

They went their separate ways after high school to pursue their own careers, which gained them individual notoriety and awards, but most importantly their own styles.

In 1989, Roberta went to visit Lisa to sing background vocals for a band Lisa put together. Within a month they knew combining their talents would allow them to create a unique sound. Both women are accomplished musicians and songwriters, each reflecting what she has gone though in her life, and both voices are very different, but their harmonies are strong and tight and sound as if they’re made up of the same voice.

The incredible talents of their band members round out the Sisters’ sound. David Spencer is one of Texas' finest guitar players. He also plays steel guitar and trades mariachi-style leads on acoustic with Roberta. Vicente Rodriguez keeps the backbeat solid and also adds percussion. Cornbread adds to the bottom end.

With a lot of hard work and determination the Sisters have built quite a following. Their performances are always described as "energetic, emotional and rockin".

Their awards:

1998 Best Folk/Acoustic (although they're a rockin band) -Houston Press

2001 & 2000 Best C & W -Houston Press (five nominations)

1995/1996 Best Country and Western

1995 Best Song "Teardrops"

1992 Best Visiting Band in Austin -Third Coast/Texas Music City News

1990 Best Duo -Public News (Houston)

They've shared stages with:

Willie Nelson

Rodney Crowell

Kasey Chambers

Walte Hyatt

The Gourds

Joe Ely

Allison Kraus

Charlie Robison

Merle Haggard

Delbert McClinton

Dixie Chicks

Patty Loveless

Greg Trooper

Kim Richey

The Mississippi All-Stars

Willis Allan Ramsey

Wayne Hancock

Steve Forbert

Brooks & Dunn

Pete Anderson

Sister Hazel

Leroy Parnell

Alan Jackson

Junior Brown

Kelly Willis

Dale Watson

Subdudes

Shake Russell, Saturday January 14, 2006

2005-12-03T21:55:00.000-06:00

Shake Russell will be playing live at The Weisman Center Presents...Words and Voices on Saturday January 14th, 2006. Showtime is 7:00 pm. Call 903.934.9902 for reservations.

Shake Russell, Saturday January 14, 2006

2005-12-03T21:48:00.000-06:00

From Bar Harbor, Maine to Santa Fe, New Mexico; from Los Angeles, California to Nashville, Tennessee, one can mention among Texas songwriters, the name “Shake Russell” and be virtually assured of interest, pleasure and joyful recognition.

Shake and his still frequent partner on the legendary duo “Shake Russell and Dana Cooper” continue to perform over 200 dates a year. Shake also pursues a strong solo career as well.
Shake’s songs have been covered by artists ranging from Waylon Jennings; “Deep in the West”, to Ricky Skaggs; “You’ve Got a Lover”, and his co-written compositions with Clint Black; “Put Yourself in My Shoes”. These songs are known in households, not only all over Texas, but also across America and around the world. Shake Russell is a two-time recipient of the BMI “Million Air” award for Clint Black’s recording of “Put Yourself in My Shoes” and “One More Payment”.

Shake plays for audiences of 2,000 or more, as well. This was the case in recent shows Shake has done with Dana Cooper in Conroe, Texas; opening for Ricky Skaggs; the LaPorte BayDay Fest, as well as headlining the Memorial Day weekend show at the Kerrville Folk Festival. When Shake and Dana play the old quarter in Galveston, or Mulligan’s in Houston, every seat in the club is reserved or sold out for weeks. Whether he is donating his performance at a benefit concert, or packing them in at festivals for thousands of dollars, Shake writes and works hard. He pays his sidemen. He shows up on time. He gives a great show. He drives home, often hundreds of miles to the gig and back, then goes out a night or two later and does it again.
Shake, who is from Blue Springs, Missouri, got his first instrument, a Sears trombone at the age of eight. He then got a bass guitar and copied rock and roll for five years. Then the plug was pulled and that upside down guitar began to play Elizabeth Cotton, Woody Guthrie and, most importantly Shake Russell’s own songs.

Stops in Chicago, San Francisco and New York figure in somewhere before his migration south to Texas.An apprenticeship with the legendary John Vandiver (who later partnered in later years on duo dates with Shake) evolved from John’s hiring the young and untested Shake as a bass player (and high school contemporary of Dana Cooper in Kansas City in the mid 1970’s). Shake joined John’s band, the Ewing Street Times, based out of Austin. They later emerged on to the Houston scene, where Dana joined him to a multitude of sold out shows in every venue. A fruitful association with the “Ewing St. Times Band” with John Vandiver and Michaels Mashkes helped the Shake Russell music take full form, performing at coffee houses, college concerts, clubs and festivals throughout the United States. Shake first lived in Austin for several years in the 70’s before moving to the Montrose area of Houston and forming the Shake Russell band.
The Montrose scene in Houston was a strong confluence of talent in it’s own right. This provided a forum for many musical artists later and more strongly associated with Austin than Houston, including Lucinda Williams, Nanci Griffith, Townes Van Zandt, David Rodriguez and Vince Bell. It was and remains a definite “satellite” of the Austin scene, which provided gigs for Austin acts like Uncle Walt’s Band, and performers from Dallas like Ray Wylie Hubbard and others of the “Golden Age” of singer-songwriters. These performers focused in clubs in Austin such as Emmajoe’s, the Alamo Lounge and later the still present Cactus Café and Waterloo Ice House. Houston then had it’s own mojo, where clubs like Fitzgerald’s, Rockefeller’s, Corky’s and the still going Anderson Faire, and now, the Mucky Duck provide the listening audiences and a livelihood for those who ply their trade over the highways of Texas. The songwriters in their wit and in their work celebrate those same highways.

2005-11-07T20:01:00.001-06:00

Jeffrey Steele and Katie Rae Davis, "Silver Wings", Saturday November 5, 2005.

2005-11-07T20:01:00.000-06:00

Jeffrey Steele, Saturday November 5, 2005.

Jeffrey Steele Closes 2005 Season

2005-11-07T17:56:00.000-06:00

Well, we did it. We closed the 2005 season of The Weisman Center Presents...Words and Voices in style. Katie Rae Davis of Carthage opened the show, and we expect her to return one of these days as the headliner!

Even after dealing with lost luggage at the Shreveport airport, Jeffrey Steele entertained one of the largest crowds ever on Saturday night for more than three hours. The music, as always, was enchanting, and the crowd, well, captivated.

Recently named the Nashville Songwriters Association International's Songwriter of the Year for 2005, Jeffrey played song after song, while sharing the stories behind the ideas and the creation of each one.

We hope to see you all in 2006, and here are the scheduled dates for the Words and Voices series:

January 14
February 11
March 11
April 8
May 13
June 10
July 8
August 12
September 9
October 14
November 11

2005-09-27T20:42:00.000-05:00

Jeffrey Steele will be performing live at The Weisman Center Presents...Words and Voices Saturday November 5th. Call 903.934.9902 for reservations.

Jeffrey Steele Command Performance

2005-09-27T20:15:00.000-05:00

For the first time in the history of our Words & Voices series, an artist is returning for a command (and I do mean command) performance in the same season! Although most people in the audience at Jeffrey's June 2005 show commanded that he return in July, schedules and obligations prohibited it until now! Originally scheduled for Saturday November 12th, Jeffrey's show will now take place one week earlier on Saturday November 5th. The following week, he will be in New York City for Country Music Week. Make your reservations now by calling Rob or Deb at 903-934-9902. The day the date was changed, the show was already at 75% capacity. Check out Jeffrey's web site at www.jeffreysteele.net, and see the June 2005 entry below to read more about him and his music.

Bill Passalacqua, Saturday October 8th

2005-09-15T22:44:00.000-05:00

Austinite Bill Passalacqua is a top notch songwriter, a dynamic performer and a compelling story-teller. He has toured extensively, played clubs and listening rooms of all kinds, including the Cactus Café (Austin), Schuba*s (Chicago), Off Broadway (St. Louis), The Crypt (NYC) and The Bunker (Auckland, NZ). His three C.D.s have received air play across the U.S. and in over a dozen other countries and have been favorably reviewed in 6 languages. He has toured with and/or opened for some of the luminaries in the folk music world: Fred Eaglesmith, Tom Russell, Slaid Cleaves, Peter Keane, Cliff Eberhart, Carrie Newcomer, Will Kimbrough, Michael Fracasso, etc... Passalacqua has also written with some of today*s finest writers including Slaid Cleaves, Jeff Talmadge, Elizabeth McQueen, Greg Klyma and Tiffani Ginn.

Passalacqua covers much of the ground that is described as "Americana", from bluegrass to blues. He writes with a freshness and vigor that is uncommon in those styles. Topically, the lyrics range over the landscape of love, politics, food, drink, dogs, and beyond.

Known for his incisive wit and word play, Passalacqua has become a favorite in political circles. His most recent release, "Peace of My Mind," is a collection of politically charged songs that has served as a tool and as inspiration for forces on the left end of the political spectrum. Twice he opened for Ralph Nader in the 2000 election, singing his "Inside Trade" to 5000 people at the Berger Center in Austin.

In Austin, he fronts "The Racket", in Illinois, he often fronts the "Poss Family Band", an 8 piece family bluegrass/americana outfit, but on the road he is mostly a solo act. While he is comfortable playing in bars, coffeehouses, resorts and ski-lodges, the natural habitat of Bill Passalacqua is the "listening room".

2005-08-20T21:50:00.000-05:00

Chris Calvert and Connie Mims will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices on Saturday September 10th, 2005. Showtime is 7:00 pm, and you can make reservations by calling 903.934.9902.

Calvert and Mims, Saturday September 10th

2005-08-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

http://www.calvertandmims.com

Craig Calvert & Connie Mims have been performing and writing together and separately since they met at Lamar High School in Houston, TX. Their artistic careers began when they co-founded the Houston, Texas-based folk/rock group, “Wheatfield” which later became the group known as “St. Elmo's Fire”. Both bands toured coast-to-coast and abroad, performing at such venues as The Kerrville Folk Festival, Armadillo World Headquarters, Texas Opry House, Liberty Hall and The Troubadour, in addition to enjoying a large fan base throughout the national college club circuit. They appeared in the PBS series Austin City Limits and co-wrote, toured and performed two original rock ballets, “Caliban” and “Rasputin” with the Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Chicago Ballet Companies. Calvert & Mims have teamed up once again to perform both memorable songs from the Wheatfield/St. Elmo's Fire era, along with their more recent compositions. Their unique mix of songwriting styles and vocal blend, coupled with a genuine love of performing enables them to connect with the audience from the first note. Since reuniting, they have enjoyed successful gigs at house concerts and festivals throughout Texas. In November 2004 they released a long-awaited CD of the music of Wheatfield, recorded during their early years at Sugar Hill Recording Studios, Houston, and re-mastered at Moonhouse Studio, Austin. These studio recordings feature original tunes such as “Cardinal” and “Lori's Song”. The CD also features some live recordings from the group's appearance on the PBS Series Austin City Limits such as “The Lady Has No Heart”, “Waxahachie “Woman’, and other memorable favorites.

2005-08-20T21:29:00.000-05:00

a fun collage of past and future guest performers!

2005-07-22T19:10:00.000-05:00

Chris Collins will be performing at The Weisman Center Presents Words and Voices Saturday August 13th at 7pm. Tickets (903) 934-9902

Chris Collins Saturday August 13, 2005

2005-07-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

A summer trip through the Canadian Rockies inspired Chris Collins to return to the musical roots that he nurtured during his teenage years. Chris learned to play guitar on his own, using a beat-up old guitar that he borrowed from a friend. He found himself inspired by the music of John Denver, Dan Fogleburg and James Taylor, and he earned extra money for college by playing cover songs. Time has a way of making us put some things aside, and Chris was no exception. He spent the next several years of his life raising his family and enjoying life. But, in the summer of 2000, music re-entered the life of Chris Collins during a trip through the Canadian Rockies. He bought a guitar in a small Canadian town, and by the end of his Rocky Mountain holiday, Chris had written several songs. His guitar has never been far away from him since those special moments in the mountains, and Chris has proven himself to be one of the most talented troubadours of our time.

Since returning his focus to his music, Chris has been selected twice as a Top Ten Regional Singer/Songwriter at the Kerrville Folk Festival in both 2002 and 2004. He was a 2004 Finalist at the Wildflowers Songwriters Competition, and was also nominated for Song of the Year and Producer of the Year for the My Texas Music Awards in 2003. Chris is a Featured Artist for the month of September on the 2004 mytexasmusic.com calendar. In the In the Fall of 2005 Chris will be performing with the Midland Odessa Symphony He co-founded the Houston Association of Acoustic Musicians and has been the host of a popular radio music show on KPFT-Houston since 2003. Chris has also established a name for himself in the state of Colorado, where he performs each October at the annual John Denver memorial week in several concerts and events, including John Denver’s Windstar Foundation, and he will be headlining his own concert there in October, 2005. On top of all of his professional performance credits, Chris is co-owner of A Songwriters Studio in Houston, Texas.

The music of Chris Collins is guaranteed to make you smile, tap your toes, and bring back memories of a simpler time. Whether he is singing songs from his original album “Alberta Skies”, or paying tribute to the artists who inspired him by sharing their music with his audience… Chris has a special way of making each person feel like the song he is singing is being sung just for them. He is one of those artists who doesn’t come along every day, and his musical mark will be the legacy he will share with everyone who is lucky enough to listen to him.

2005-05-15T13:55:00.000-05:00

Jeffrey Steele will be appearing live at The Weisman Center on Saturday June 11th, 2005.

Click here for photos of Jeffrey's performance: http://www.munexp.com/siteMOL/GalleryGroupCnoSlide.cfm?galleryId=3B5161

Jeffrey Steele, June 11th, 2005

2005-03-31T20:42:00.000-06:00

For more information, see www.jeffreysteele.net

Jeffrey Steele Discography
(translation: songs he’s written for other artists)

Gone / Montgomery Gentry

Help Somebody / Van Zant

Something To Be Proud Of / Montgomery Gentry

These Days / Rascal Flatts

Chrome / Trace Adkins

I’m Tryin’ / Trace Adkins

Couldn’t Last A Moment / Collin Raye

Speed / Montgomery Gentry

When The Lights Go Down / Faith Hill

Unbelievable / Diamond Rio
My Town / Montgomery Gentry

The Cowboy In Me / Tim McGraw

Without You / Keith Urban

Tip Your Hat / Marty Stuart
If That Ain’t Country / Anthony Smith

Speed / Montgomery Gentry

Born in Burbank, California, Jeffrey Steele adopted his dynamic last name to pay tribute to his father, an aspiring songwriter who made his living cutting and processing steel, after his father's death in 1987. It was at the family steel shop where Jeffrey spent most of his time as a kid, working and playing guitars, listening to Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson into the late hours. The family shop was around the corner from the famous Palomino Club in North Hollywood’s industrial section, where Jeffrey and his father would listen to the music of Ray Price, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash. Jeffrey would even enter the Monday night talent show from time to time. Jeffrey’s older brothers and sisters introduced him to the sounds of the Beatles and Motown legends. It soon became Jeffrey’s mission in life to listen to every record ever made, and discover the intrinsic passion and fun in all music.

By 17, Jeffrey was on the road playing with different groups, and began writing songs. He played back-up for local acts such as Cliffie Stone, Red Simpson, Hank Thompson and Rose Maddox. Jeffrey also became a sought after session singer in Los Angeles, the highlight of which he says was singing a demo in a bathroom with Smokey Robinson.

After starting various bands with the hopes of landing a record deal, Jeffrey met guitar slingers Larry Park, his brother Cary, and drummer Hugh Wright, and formed “Boy Howdy” in 1988. They immediately became a fixture in the Los Angeles country circuit, raking in several awards, and finally landing a record deal with Curb Records in 1991. The band’s first major “break” came with the release of “A Cowboy’s Born With a Broken Heart.” Other hits that followed included, “She’d Give Anything to Fall in Love” and “They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore”--songs that took country radio by storm.

Boy Howdy toured all over the world for eight years before parting ways in 1996, having won ACM band of the year in 1990, gracing the legendary Opry stage, and fulfilling their dreams.

After Boy Howdy, Jeffrey relocated to Nashville, TN where he has written hits for Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Montgomery Gentry, Diamond Rio, Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts and many more. He has received numerous songwriting accolades such as BMI and NSAI’s 2003 Songwriter of the year, and BMI recently awarded Jeffrey for over 20 million airplays.
As an artist, Jeffrey is performing on his own and with his band. Whether it’s an intimate club show, or an audience of thousands, Jeffrey remains a riveting presence. He is an artist that will always find a way to play his songs for people, because making that connection is his mission in music.

2005-03-19T19:55:00.000-06:00

Anthony Smith will be appearing live at The Weisman Center on Saturday May 14th, 2005, at 7:00 pm. Call 903.934.9902 for tickets.

http://munexp.com/siteMOL/GalleryGroupC.cfm?galleryId=3B5135

Anthony Smith, Saturday May 14th, 7:00 pm

2005-03-18T19:52:00.000-06:00

For more information, see www.anthonysmith.com

The minute he picks up his guitar and launches into a hardcore honky tonker like "Impossible To Do," there is no question to which side of the musical spectrum Anthony Smith falls. The singer/songwriter has spent years etching out his own little niche of cool, wedged somewhere firmly between the classic sounds of retro country, the funk of R&B, the raw edge of rock, and the smooth grooves of the blues, and he serves it up in spades on his forthcoming decidedly country Mercury Nashville debut.

Those thinking they've heard Anthony's name are probably right. . .he's the writing talent behind recent hits like George Strait's "Run," Trace Adkins' "I'm Tryin'," Montgomery Gentry's "Didn't I," and several other cuts by major artists. His debut is steeped with the kind of material that has had stars lining up to cut his tunes. Now ready to step out on his own, he offers up a distinctive new voice for the country Millennium -- to a genre in dire need of some fresh, new stylists. From the first few slow, moaning strains of "Who Invented The Wheel," which kicks off the record, there is no doubt the boy is bona fide.

Music has been an important element in Anthony's life from the time he was old enough to pick up a guitar. He remembers staring in awe at his father's baby blue Fender as if it were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, and was plunking out tunes of his own at 6 or 7. As his love for music grew, so did his curiosity, and soon he was discovering the music of Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Johnny Paycheck, Vern Gosdin, Keith Whitley and, on the other side, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney and Michael McDonald.

Moving to Kentucky in his early 20s, Anthony became part of a house band called Sneaky Pete at the Soundstage club, honing his performing skills and whetting his appetite for bigger and better things. After playing in his own band for a few more years, he made the move to Nashville, something he had always envisioned doing. "I always used to tell people during those early years -- 'I won't be here long, I'm going to Nashville,'" he recalls. "It was just something I always knew I eventually had to do."

Upon moving to Music City, Anthony began meeting fellow writers and making contacts and was soon invited to play at a writers night at the Broken Spoke, which turned into an extended gig. He began to garner interest from publishers in town and was soon turning the heads of labels as well. When Mercury Nashville head Luke Lewis heard one of his demos, he immediately offered the writer a home.

Anthony quickly went to work with longtime friend and musical protégé Bobby Terry on his debut. "Bobby produced the album. He was key to this whole thing. I wasn't intimidated by him. . .he's my best friend, so I could tell him whatever I wanted. We're musical soulmates. He's the first person I ever met who understood me and could translate the music in my thoughts to tape. He's amazingly talented -- he plays every instrument on the record and stayed true to my vision."

That vision is crystal clear on songs like Anthony's debut single, "If That Ain't Country," a funky, quirky, swampy romp full of slappin' backbeats and grooving guitars that takes listeners on a tour through the backwoods and bayous where its hillbilly heartbreaker runs free. "I wrote that with Jeffrey Steele," recalls Anthony. "We wanted to write something with that kind of weird approach, sort of a hillbilly version of the Beatles 'Come Together' in a way, a little 'Deliverance-y,' kind of twisted hillbilly thing."

Another cut, the gentle, flowing "Up To The Depth," is a unique song Anthony says he could almost see a band like Aerosmith do. He loved the intensity of rock acts like Aerosmith and AC/DC growing up and seeks that energy in his own music as well. "Who Invented The Wheel" addresses the opposite extreme, with its narrator slowly and methodically winding his way through the path to who's responsible for his unbearable heartache, desperate to find someone to take the rap. And "Hell Of A Question" showcases every inch of ache and desire in Smith's gravelly, voice.

As Anthony prepares to take that next leap himself and share his music with the rest of the world, he is thrilled to have the chance to deliver his unique lyrical messages in his own voice, each one wrapped in its own distinctive, sonic package. For him, it always has been and always will be about the music. "Every time I write I try to reach for something that hasn't been done before," says Smith. "I try to reach for a new way of saying something every time. . . truly want to create something unique."

ANTHONY SMITH DISCOGRAPHY

Song Title - Artist

Cowboys Like Us - George Strait
Run - George Strait

Chrome - Trace Adkins
I’m Tryin’ - Trace Adkins
Metropolis - Trace Adkins
Kill Myself - Tim McGraw
Kristofferson - Tim McGraw
Think I Will - Faith Hill
Without You - Lonestar
Carrying On - Montgomery Gentry
Didn’t I - Montgomery Gentry

Did Just Fine - Montgomery Gentry
The Fine Line - Montgomery Gentry

My Worst Fear - Rascal Flatts
Who Invented The Wheel - Trisha Yearwood
When I’m Gone - Josh Gracin

Metropolis - Sammy Kershaw
Stitches - Sammy Kershaw
What Brothers Do - Confederate Railroad
Still One Outlaw - Confederate Railroad

2005-03-17T11:07:00.000-06:00

Wynn Varble will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday April 9th, 2005.

Wynn Varble, April 9th, 2005

2005-03-15T20:32:00.000-06:00

For more information, www.wynnvarble.com

Warner/Chappell staff writer Wynn Varble admits he must have been destined for a career in country music. Wynn was raised in the small town of Ellenwood, Georgia, where music was a central part of his life. He recalls his father’s collection of country LP’s and the hours he spent listening to the legends: Merle Haggard, Hank Williams, Bob Wills, and Jimmie Rodgers, whom Wynn credits as being his primary musical influences. He says he did just about anything to hear the newest country record – even if it meant trading in his big brother’s rock albums and catching trouble for it afterwards!

Wynn picked up a guitar for the first time when he was 15 and taught himself to play. He remembers picking out his first original melodies soon after he mastered basic chord progressions. The creative sparks started flying, and Wynn formed a bluegrass band when he turned 16. After graduating high school, Wynn started on the path to musical success playing the club circuit. His talent playing bluegrass landed him gigs from Austin to Ft. Lauderdale; during this time he was perfecting his skill not only as a guitarist but also as a songwriter.

In 1982, Wynn visited some friends in Nashville. He spent several months writing with an up-and-coming singer/songwriter named Dave Gibson. It was this collaboration that proved to be Wynn’s ticket out of the club scene and into the Nashville music community.

Varble completely relocated to Nashville in 1992. Gibson introduced him to Cliff Williamson, then-director of Starstruck Writers Group, and Wynn was signed to the publisher in 1994. After Starstruck was sold to Warner/Chappell Music, Wynn joined the Warner/Chappell writing staff.

Wynn had his first #1 song "Have You Forgotten" with Darryl Worley in 2003. The song has been nominated for SONG OF THE YEAR by the CMA Awards.

Wynn’s songs have been cut by a range of great artists, including Garth Brooks, Lee Ann Womack, Brad Paisley, Darryl Worley, Montgomery Gentry, Jason Sellers, Gary Allan, Trace Adkins, Clint Daniels, Kevin Denney, Tracy Byrd, The Kinleys, Chris LeDoux, Danni Leigh, Mark Chesnutt and Sammy Kershaw.

Wynn will be playing the Weisman Center Presents…Words and Voices show on Saturday April 9th, at 7:00 pm. Contact The Weisman Center at 903.934.9902 for tickets.

2005-02-17T11:04:00.000-06:00

Austin Cunningham will be appearing live in an encore performance at The Weisman Center Saturday March 12th, 2005.

Click here for photos of Austin's show.

http://www.munexp.com/siteMOL/GalleryGroupCB.cfm?galleryId=3B5070

Austin Cunningham, March 12th, 2005

2005-02-15T11:02:00.000-06:00

For more information, see www.austincunningham.com

Exploring the lives and emotions of the characters he brings to life is how Austin Cunningham describes his formula for success. "When I write a heartbreak song, for example, I don’t want to just say, ‘oh so and so broke my heart,’ and leave it at that," he says. "I want to get behind the motivation of the breakup…what was going on in the character’s mind and heart… there’s always more to the story than meets the eye, and that’s something I want to try to capture when I write. I also like to try to put a positive spin on things…maybe add a little inspirational twist." His interpretations of life have appealed to such artists as The Judds, Dolly Parton, Tracy Byrd, Kathy Mattea, Tanya Tucker, and Reba McEntire among others who have cut his songs. His last two singles have been featured in motion pictures. The Where The Heart Is soundtrack includes the single "Grow Young With You" (Coley McCabe), and his song "Beautiful" (Jennifer Paige) was featured in the Winona Ryder/Richard Gere movie, Autumn In New York. Other cuts include "From The Ashes" (Martina McBride), "I’m Your Man" (Jason Sellers), and "Dancin’ With Angels" (SHeDAISY). His Christian cuts include recordings by Susie Luchsinger, Roy Clark, Ken Hollaway, and Lisa Daggs among others. Cunningham is a recipient of the coveted Johnny Mercer Award for "Emerging American Songwriters," which is given annually to one writer each from New York, LA, and Nashville.

2005-01-17T11:00:00.000-06:00

Rebecca Henricks will be appearing live at The Weisman Center on Saturday February 12th, 2005.

Rebecca Henricks, February 12th, 2005

2005-01-15T10:55:00.000-06:00

For more information, see www.starstruck.org

She may not be a household name yet, but singer songwriter Rebecca Henricks has been singing her way into the hearts of people across America for many years! Her dynamic personality and interesting life story captivate a diversity of audiences.

Rebecca began singing gospel at the age of 5 with her family, performing for churches throughout Texas. By age 11, she was writing her own music and began singing country music as well.

Years later, Rebecca married Astronaut Tom Henricks, who flew on 4 Space Shuttle missions. The media exposure enabled Rebecca to share her experiences and music through national television, newspaper interviews and personal appearances. Her story leaves you with a unique and rare look into the life of an Astronaut's wife. Being an exceptional songwriter, Rebecca wrote the crucial lyrics to "A Heart At Peace" for the families of Columbia, STS-107.

Rebecca sings country, gospel, and patriotic music at festivals, opry's, churches, revivals, schools and conferences. Her music has been described as "outlaw country" and is a unique mixture of soul and bluegrass with a distinct Texas flavor.

Rebecca debuts her first country/western CD appropriately titled "Stagecoach Road." It features a collection of classic country styles, from upbeat bluegrass to heart felt ballads. Her songs are full of thoughtful lyrics, humorous stories and heart touching sentiments. Rebecca's music and concerts take you on a ride full of laughter, maybe some tears and leave you ready to two-step the night away!

2004-12-17T10:54:00.000-06:00

Ken Gaines will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday January 8th, 2005.

Ken Gaines, January 8th, 2004

2004-12-15T10:51:00.000-06:00

For more information, see www.kengaines.com

A new breed of singer/songwriter is emerging in the U.S. today and Ken Gaines is one of the most talented and prolific. He has worked hard to become a powerful and poetic writer and a seasoned, dynamic performer. A live concert with him is an evening of songs about all of us as human beings; our hopes and dreams, our sacrifices and savagery, our lusts and lunacies. “In the course of a concert, I would like to make you laugh, and cry, and ultimately think about what we are, and what we may become. That is my passion.”

“I look for those venues that are surrounded by a spirit dedicated to quality. Those audiences are very precious to me.” His first release, No One Else, a live concert album, is an example of that spirit. In a review in Austin's Music City Texas, Betty Elders describes it as:

“…capturing the essence of a little known performing environment, the house concert, and of the folksinger—the story, the song and the listener’s response. A crystalline representation of Gaines’ supple voice, proficient guitar-playing, and thoughtfully crafted story-telling, with one voice, one guitar and one microphone. It creates both immediacy and you-are-there intimacy.”

His latest release, “Real Men” is more a product of the studio yet it too maintains the energy and edge of a live performance. 16 songs long the CD is a mini concert and an excellent example of what it’s like to hear Ken and his partner, Wayne Wilkerson live on your home stage.
Currently based near Houston, Ken is a respected force in the vital Texas music scene. He’s a regular participant at the Kerrville Folk Festival both onstage and as a host for one of the major “campfire” songcircles that are an integral part of Kerrville.

For the past five years he has been producing and hosting a songwriters’ series at Houston’s legendary Anderson Fair. These Thursday night productions have become a must for traveling artists from all over North America who are breaking into the Texas territory, as well as a way to hear many of Texas’ singer/songwriters. “Talk about a great way to keep your edge as a performer. I love these shows!” says Ken. “Each night is a different mix and allows me to bring out a different aspect of my performance as well as the opportunity to interact with so many talented people.”

Other musical endeavors include scoring the feature film Blue Days Lost and co-writing 2 children’s musicals, Noah & the Ark, and Journey of the Wise Men, both of which were produced by the Excellent Theater Company of Houston. During his 1995 Northeast tour, Ken made a stop in Vermont to record and donate his song, “Noah Nelson”, for inclusion in The Silverwolf Homeless Project, a well received cd dedicated to increasing awareness and funds to aid the homeless. This cd featured Ken along with Ani DiFranco, John Gorka, Greg Brown, Cheryl Wheeler, Jon Ims, Bill Morrissey, Patty Larkin and others.

Ken is a proud member of MyTexasMusic.com where you can find him and more than a hundred other Texas musicians.

2004-10-17T10:50:00.000-05:00

Lucky Boyd will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday November 13th, 2004.

Lucky Boyd, November 13th, 2004

2004-10-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

Lucky Boyd is one of those honest performers who bring a plethora of talents to his craft. His song-writing carves out a wide path through the Texas music genre, spinning diverse tales of broken hearts, American pride, feeling the blues, poking fun at life, or just rocking the night away at a roadhouse bar.

Musically, his original songs and arrangements sprawl across a limitless expanse as wide as the Lone Star State. His influences of southern rock, country, Gulf Coast blues, rootsy folk music and even gospel blend into his own unmistakable sound ("Texa-billy" per his manager) that has helped him garner a strong regional following. His talents are being noticed, and in a big way. The Lucky Boyd Band won two of six major awards at the 1999 Acoustic Jammy Awards in Houston, with Boyd being named Best Male Vocalist and slide guitarist Gary Ragan being named Best Musician. Boyd's band was among 20 finalists nationwide who submitted a live recording of one original song to attempt at placing in the finals. The band was also a featured performer at Galveston's 2001 Mardi Gras - with Boyd penning Galveston's Official 2001 Mardi Gras song, "Houston, We Have A Party".Boyd, who was born in Port Arthur, Texas, has lived in the state his entire life. He got his start gigging as a solo artist in the Fort Worth area, and has been performing in clubs from Austin to Houston since the early 1980s. Boyd has shared the stage with the likes of Ricky Van Shelton, David Allen Coe and The Marshall Tucker Band. He hosted an acoustic open-mike jam session Thursdays at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café in Galveston from 1996-99, and now currently hosts the Lone Star Open Mic in Galveston every Wednesday (the Open Mic is sponsored by Boyd's own innovative website, "mytexasmusic.com"). Lucky is a featured performer at the Seabrook Music Festivals as well as other events throughout the state. He currently plays sold-out Galveston shows regularly with Texas music stars Shake Russell & Dana Cooper. He released his debut CD, titled Let's Go, last year on Campsite Records, and can be found on two compilation CDs out of Houston; Standing Room Only, Volume 1, and SRO Live III.

Lucky's music has been requested from countries as far away as Australia, Spain, Holland and Germany, with more international recognition right around the corner. When he isn't working on his music, Boyd also takes time to help those in the community less fortunate. In 1998, Boyd spearheaded an effort that allowed the installation of 700 air conditioners in the homes of low-income residents of the Gulf Coast area, as part of a state social agency program, and continues to this day serving as the Deputy Director of Community Action Council.

While Lucky Boyd is the driving force behind his music, he will be the first to tell you that he is fortunate to have found four confident, versatile players (The Tollbooth Violators) who perform with him on stage and add a unique character and flavor to the band's sound.

Greg Barr, on bass guitar and backing vocals, was elected to Canada's National Capital Music Hall of Fame in 1995 for his work as a musician and rock critic in Ottawa, Ontario. Barr holds down the rhythm with his thick bass lines and adds a jazz-influenced flair to Boyd's arrangements.

Gary Ragan, on slide and lead guitar and backing vocals, was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and brings a swampy, groove-laden sound and air-tight, melodic riffs to the project.Ray Payne, on percussion, adds the vital ingredient rarely seen in most "texa-billy" bands. His precise tempo and eclectic flair make him one of the most watched members of the band.Billy Joe Donnelly, on special effects guitar/harmonica rounds out the sound with his blend of classic rock guitar and one-of-a-kind pizazz that you won't hear again for a long time to come.
At a concert, Lucky Boyd will bring an audience to tears with a shimmering, delicate ballad, or his hilarious satirical outlooks on everyday life, then have them shouting and stomping along a minute later with a twangy, country-blues rocker.

Lucky Boyd's music glides through the subconscious with the ease that your feet slide into a well-broken-in pair of snakeskin cowboy boots, leaving a satisfying feeling that lingers after the last chord has been played. As his name suggests, the only thing standing between Lucky Boyd and national recognition is a lucky break!

2004-09-17T10:40:00.000-05:00

Clover and Rachel will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday October 9th, 2004.

Clover and Rachel, October 9th, 2004

2004-09-15T10:38:00.000-05:00

For more information, see www.backattheranch.biz

Members of the trio Back At The Ranch aren’t running for political office. But they are on the campaign trail.The local roots music group has spent the past few weeks trying to generate a word-of-mouth buzz about their pet project, a concert series they call Oh, Brother, Where’s the Music? In an effort to bring roots music to area small towns they have put up posters, been guests on radio shows and have told everyone in their hometowns of Navasota, Rockdale and everywhere in between about the show on Thursday at the Brosig Auditorium.Last weekend, the group went a step further. Inspired by the grassroots political campaigns of the 1930s, Back At the Ranch members Clover Carroll, Rachel Carroll and Matthew Menke hopped aboard the bed of an old Ford truck to spread their musical propaganda. The trio played and sang their unique blend of folk, bluegrass and Western swing music as their parade of one circled around Washington Street in downtown Navasota. The spectacle drew a few people out of shops and cafes and provoked a couple of friendly honks and waves, but mostly it was for the band’s own entertainment.“We wanted to do this to bring attention to our concert but really it was just something fun to do,” said bass player Rachel Carroll. “That’s the neat thing about independent music — you can do whatever you want to do.”Husband and wife duo Rachel and Clover Carroll, who incorporate comedy into their live performances, began performing roots-based folk music together five years ago, with Clover picking on acoustic guitar and Rachel on a monstrous stand-up bass. The two moved to Austin, as many musicians do, to try to crack the competitive music scene there. After two years in Austin, Clover was laid off from his day job. Gigging in Austin didn’t quite pay the rent, so the Carrolls moved back home to Milam County and released their first album, Texas Routes, in July 2001. The duo has performed at festivals around the country including the Old Settlers Music Festival in Dripping Springs, The Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas and the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.The Carrolls recently added ace fiddle player and Navasota resident Matthew Menke to the lineup and dubbed the trio Back At The Ranch.

Back At The Ranch's Clover Carroll (front), Rachel Carroll (back left) and Matthew Menke prepared for their show-on-the-road last Saturday in downtown Navasota to promote their performance this Saturday at Brosig Auditorium. The trio is planning additional performances in Conroe, Madisonville, Cameron, Buffalo and Hempstead in pursuit of small-town audiences.
With a new member and a new name, the Carrolls have a new project. As they wrap up production on a new album, the group is keeping busy with the Oh, Brother, Where’s the Music? concert series. The name is a play on the 2001 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, which featured a celebrated soundtrack that marked the beginning of a bluegrass/roots revival in popular music.Menke said the band hopes to expand the series, taking it to small towns throughout the area.“We are trying to take roots music to small towns,” he said. “There are a lot of people in small towns that don’t know where they can get this type of music or they do know but they just don’t want to drive to Austin or Houston for it.”Menke said shows are being planned in Navasota, Conroe, Madisonville, Cameron, Buffalo and Hempstead. Depending on its success, larger acts will join the lineup.“In small towns there really is a very limited amount of entertainment,” Menke said. “This is not just music it’s comedy and theater and little bit of everything. I think small town people are starving for that kind of entertainment.”

2004-08-17T10:37:00.000-05:00

Austin Cunningham will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday September 11th, 2004.

Austin Cunningham, September 11th, 2004

2004-08-15T10:35:00.000-05:00

2004-07-17T10:34:00.000-05:00

Bill Passalacqua will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday August 14th, 2004.

Bill Passalacqua, August 14th, 2004

2004-07-15T10:32:00.000-05:00

2004-06-17T10:29:00.000-05:00

Matt King will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday July 10th, 2004.

Matt King, July 10th, 2004

2004-06-15T10:23:00.000-05:00

Singer/songwriter Matt King lives in a world of contrasts. One inhabited simultaneously by conspicuous consumption and creeping poverty, sprawling suburbs and decaying rural communities, by embattled corporate chieftains and quietly struggling workaday Americans. King walks a winding path between these extremes, bringing a photographer's eye to his vivid musical portraits. Yet his lens is not given to the cinematic fantasy and marketing hyperbole that has spilled into seemingly every corner of society. Rather, he strips away the artifice of contemporary culture to reveal what is, at times, a sobering reality.

His perspective draws on the determination of Appalachian forebears who endured the iniquities of coalmines and timber companies, but with a broad vision that looks askance at agri-giants in the Plains states and mass merchants on Main Street. His music is rooted in this timeless struggle-an American tenor struck in different keys by Steinbeck, Guthrie, Dylan and John R. Cash. Even upon such formidable foundations, however, King is a solitary structure if for no other reason than the alarming absence of such sentiment in millennial American music.

"As I was walking down Hard Luck RoadI met a farmer with a heavy loadHe said, Gonna dig in the dirt, gonna sow a seedAnd one good crop is all I need."

"People sometimes make choices because they think they have no choice," King says, perhaps speaking of the characters in his songs. "We back ourselves into corners, or we're backed into corners, and the decisions we make about what to do or believe…I'm interested in those decisions." In many ways, these hard choices speak to that which is most basic and human, yet they are rarely examined in the news or entertainment media. "If it's not glamorous or titillating or depraved," he says, "it's not on the screen. But that doesn't mean it's not important."
Matt King's music exists in and explores the broad expanse between those ratings-getting extremes. He sees the debt-ridden farmers, the single mothers, the drunkards and the spiritually hungry. "I'm walking a tightrope," he says, "keeping a tension between being cynical and just painting a picture the way I see it. There's a whole world out there yearning for something more. The only way I know to give back, to fight for what certain people have always fought, is through music."

"The devil doesn't need to use an axeTo split the night or break my backHe steals my sleep with fear and lossA hungry woman and an angry boss."

"The people I grew up with are riding D-9 Caterpillars, or they've got a kid and two jobs, or maybe they're a computer tech," King says, "but I don't see a lot of places in the mainstream they can relate." He speaks of those for whom incessant stock market reports are but a cruel reminder that there is no retirement fund, and little if any savings. Where is their American Dream?

"This music is about the human condition," he continues. "We're very attracted by that of the spirit. And yet we're deeply enamored of what we're made from-trying to maintain youth and beauty, and sucking the marrow out of both ends."

When that pressure needs release, King sends his characters in search of the same balms we all seek. He isn't afraid to have a little fun in his songs, or laugh at his problems. "Have I introduced you to my demons?" he smiles. "I confront them in my music, and find that they're not that big and scary after all. Well, that's everybody, just on different levels."

"I have tasted Eden's appleAnd there's venom in my veins."

King's perspective is informed by a life journey that has opened his eyes to iniquity obscured by mass media's shiny veneer. His people are "salt of the earth from western North Carolina," he says. "It's not anything terribly unique. It was a sad little family-a very broken family. But I don't want to make more out of it than was there. Music was a refuge. I could disappear."
Eventually, Matt's escape became his reality. He signed with Atlantic Nashville in the late nineties, writing and recording two albums that generated midlevel charting singles and a few nice reviews. And yet that brush with success was prelude to a dark time of divorce, alcoholism and near financial collapse. "I lived the sins most people try to sweep under the rug, burned through them and got to the other side," he says.

"I was buying everything that was sold to me," he admits. "One day a voice was like, 'You have been asleep for thousands of years.' And that was when everything changed. But it took a lot of personal tragedy to get to that place."

His eyes finally opened to the empty promises and shallow dreams spoon-fed through the flickering screens of our profit-driven culture. "What if you bought that thing you can't live without and it made you happy?" King asks. "What if you were actually satisfied? If the machine's promises came to pass, it would crumble. That's how you know it's a lie. And that's what this music is about.

"I went through the machine and came out emotional sausage on the other side. But I also came out with something to say. This is just one man's view, but for once I'm being true to myself."

Sweet Mama Cotton, June 12th, 2004

2004-05-15T10:21:00.000-05:00

When Marcy Rae went to a blues festival in Crosby, Texas, in 1992, she had no idea that she would return as Sweet Mama Cotton. But there was little doubt that she would be playing and singing the blues. Marcy, born and raised in the chilly outpost of Fargo, North Dakota, has spent her musical career preparing to play the blues. Her many years of piano training and performing in bands from California to Israel brought her to Texas, home of some of the hottest blues in the world.

Marcy’s musical interests are diverse, but all these influences have combined to produce a musical approach that is inclusive of all forms of music. Her blues repertoire includes standards such as “Stormy Monday” and “Down Home Blues”, as well as classics from the jazz/blues era of Bessie Smith and Sippie Wallace. She also rocks out on Chuck Berry style tunes and some funky dance tunes like “Shaky Ground”. Her diverse background has expanded her repertoire to include classic standards, folk, rock, and country music as well as blues.

And mixed in with the wide variety of cover material is a healthy dose of original music. Marcy’s originals also cover a variety of styles, including “Cloudy Texas Skies”, a Stevie Ray Vaughn-type song; “Voodoo Daddy”, a rockin’ celebration of romance; and “Down to Memphis”, a rockabilly style ode to a blues mecca.

Ms. Rae has had the privilege of working with a number of well-known and interesting musical groups. She sang with the University of Michigan Choral Union, a 300-voice choir that performed with the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra. Since her professional debut as a musician, she has played on bills with Ray Campi and the Rebels, Jackson Browne, The Blasters, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Rose Maddox. She also spent some time as keyboard player for The Drifters on a tour through the South.

While living in Houston, Marcy has shared the stage with many of the Blues Legends of Texas, including Pete Mayes, Texas Johnny Brown, Trudy Lynn, Lavelle White, Jimmy “T-99” Nelson, Oscar Perry, Clarence Holliman, Carol Fran, Earl Gilliam, Grady Gaines, Trudy Lynn, Carolyn Blanchard, and Mark May. She has also been invited to perform with Bob Margolin and Pinetop Perkins on several occasions, and at the all-star jam band at the W.C. Handy Awards.
Whether as a solo artist on keyboards and vocals or with the awesome Sugar Daddies, her blues band, Marcy Rae, aka Sweet Mama Cotton, presents a confident statement of affirming blues. As her “motto” states, Marcy plays “new Texas blues with respect for tradition”.

Grady Lee, Lloyd Shelby, Linda Kirkpatrick, May 8th, 2004

2004-04-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

LINDA KIRKPATRICK

I have been writing Cowboy Poetry for several years now. My mom is from Philadelphia and my dad is from Texas. They met during World War II, married and my mother got to live the dream that many city girls were wishing they could do….she married her cowboy and made her home on a remote Texas ranch. Then I came along and try as she might to dress me in dresses, her little girl became Daddy’s cowgirl. My whole life has involved cowboys in one way or the other. I try to focus my poetry on the Women of the West and the lives of women ranchers. The group that I belong to is called "The Cowboy Sunset Serenade." It is made up of me, Linda Kirkpatrick, Frank Roberts and Joe Wells. The program is about the history of the cowboy, the west and women of the west. We perform at schools, state parks and retirement centers. We have also performed at the National Cowboy Symposium at Lubbock, Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Alpine, Folklife Festival in San Antonio, Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo in Austin and anywhere else we can get someone to listen. Frank Roberts sings Cowboy Songs while Joe and I do Cowboy Poetry.

LLOYD SHELBY

“This cowboy doesn’t know of another poet or picker working harder, or more devoted to bringing what cowboy was, and is, to the American people. Lloyd embodies the western genre as it embodies him.” Curly Musgrave, WMA Male Performer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year 2002.“Do you hear the distant rumbling of the thunder? You can if you listen to the Rainman. Drawing the listener into his world, Lloyd Shelby breathes life into the characters of this magnificent album of Western poetry. It serves as a classic example of the genre and will stand for generations. Come to where the visions of the past are as real as you and I. Listen…hear the thunder…smell the rain.” Debra Coppinger Hill – Host and Executive Producer of “Love of The West”, Academy of Western Artist Cowgirl Poet of the Year 2002.

GRADY LEE

Grady Lee has been playing his own style of Texas music since the nineteen sixties. Grady's musical influences include Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, Jimmie Buffett, Bob Dylan and many other singer-songwriters. Grady has worked as a headline act as well as opening for other musicians and groups including Robert Earl Keen, Shake Russell, Steve Fromholz, The Austin Lounge Lizards, Kimmie Rhodes, Charlie Robison, and Trout Fishing in America. Grady was the resident cowboy singer at the George Ranch Historical Park in Richmond, Texas for 6 years and performed for corporate events as well as wedding receptions and various other types of events. Grady performed during Texian Market Days at the George Ranch where as many as 10,000 visitors a day may pass through. Grady also performed at the Campfire Christmas event, which was listed as one of the best Christmas events in the country by the New York Times.

Harlem Slim, Saturday March 13th, 2004

2004-02-15T10:16:00.000-06:00

Harlem Slim plays & sings solo acoustic delta blues and piedmont ragtime/blues in the traditional styles of Robert Johnson, Johnny Shines, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Elmore James, and Muddy Waters. He has captivated audiences at Antone's during the SXSW Music Festival, Navasota Blues Festival, and numerous other venues. Three tracks from his debut CD "Delta Blues & Piedmont Ragtime" have been licensed to Fox Motion Pictures for use in film and television, and he has shared the stage with Dave Davies of The Kinks, Al Di Meola, Eric Johnson, and many other legends in a variety of genres. The concert "Live at The Stafford Opera House" was televised on the Clear Channel Entertainment Network television station nightly for the entire month of April 2002. There are currently 6 critically acclaimed Harlem Slim CDs and a 2 hour Concert Video which are available world-wide. The CD "Delta Thug" was #9 of the Top 10 CDs of the year 2000 for radio airplay at PBS stations in Australia, and a track from his latest release "King of The Delta Bluesmen" stopped a city bus at a busy intersection in London during rush hour. The CD "King of The Delta Bluesmen" was selected as #7 of the Top 10 Acoustic Blues CDs for 2002 by Smokestack Lightnin'. Harlem Slim claimed third place in "The Best Slide Guitarist Poll" for PBS listeners in Australia.

2004-01-17T10:13:00.000-06:00

Kevin Welch will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday February 14th, 2004.

Kevin Welch, February 14th, 2004

2004-01-15T10:07:00.000-06:00

“…there’s gonna be two dates on your tombstone, all your friends will read ‘em, but all that’s gonna matter is the little line between ‘em…” – Life Down Here On Earth, Kevin Welch

Kevin Welch’s catalogue of music stretches well over two decades and reveals a brilliant performer and songwriter whose style and vision continue to help define great American roots music. Welch’s five critically acclaimed CDs blend folk, rock, blues and bluegrass with an earthy voice and poignant storytelling rich with romance and honesty.

Welch left his native Oklahoma when he was 17, traveling extensively before settling in Nashville in 1978. His musical talents found a home at Sony Tree, where he established himself as a staff writer, deftly penning songs for artists as diverse as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Garth Brooks, the Judds, Del McCoury and Ricky Skaggs, among others.

Despite his success in writing for others, Kevin Welch’s compositions were best expressed in his own voice. In 1990, Welch recorded and released his self-titled debut, Kevin Welch, on Warner/Reprise. Western Beat followed in 1992 also on the label.

With two CDs under his belt, several years of first-hand experience in Nashville’s music industry, and a group of tight-knit and extremely gifted artists, Welch helped launch Dead Reckoning Records in 1995 along with Kieran Kane, Mike Henderson, Tammy Rogers and Harry Stinson.

The label was in the forefront of do-it-yourself record labels and cottage industries that have sprung up in the music business since and has no doubt inspired countless artists to forge their own way. As part of Dead Reckoning, Welch released Life Down Here On Earth in 1995 and the AAA radio favorite Beneath My Wheels in 1999. The label, operated by the artists, has released 21 well-received albums worldwide.

In 2002, Dead Reckoning Records joined forces with Compendia Music Group, a well-respected music group with released from a wide array of artists including Joan Osborne, Kansas, Gene Watson and Robert Palmer. The partnership will help maximize Dead Reckoning’s marketing, distribution and promotion.

Welch’s latest release Millionaire was recorded in Nashville and Denmark and released in 2002 on Dead Reckoning Records/Compendia Music Group. The CD features The Danes, a group of rockin’ multi-instrumentalists Welch discovered in Denmark. Millionaire also features the song “Glorious Bounty” that Welch was especially proud to record because it was co-written by his 21-year-old son, Dustin Welch.

Often referred to as an Americana Stalwart and Roots Music Troubadour, Welch’s stellar releases and unforgettable live performances have allowed him a loyal and dedicated fan base all over the world where he tours extensively. He is a longtime favorite nationally and internationally in the best listening rooms and premiere music festivals.

With each release Welch continues to dig deeper and push the envelope on American roots music. There is no doubt that Welch’s generous musical legacy and broad-minded independence and philosophies on combining music and business with integrity will continue to enrich the genre of roots music and inspire generations of artists.

T h e C r i t i c s S p e a k

“His songs are diamonds, finely etched character studies and hard-won personal insights that win over – and even inspire – just about everybody who hears them.”
- The Associated Press

“If Van Morrison has a Nashville equivalent, Kevin Welch is it.”
-USA TODAY

“A wonderful writer who splits his time between tall tales and matters of the heart, Welch dips into country, folk, rock and blues…”
-Arizona Republic

“And the Western beat goes on…making British folk sound home on the range. Kevin Welch jangles a warm romanticism…”
-San Diego Tribune

“Welch is emerging as a great American songwriter. Alternately rootsy, rocking, spiritual and contemplative, what Welch delivers is something akin to the spirit of Springsteen melded with Hiatt and an added dash of Southern flair.”
-Chicago Tribune

“Welch still writes rolling melancholy melodies, and his voice still has its sandy charms. His secret is that for all of his years on Music Row, he’s a soul singer at heart, and a fine one too.”
-No Depression

“…Welch is best known as a performer and writer, one whose skillful blending of country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll, coupled with lyrics both smart and heartfelt, continues to shape and define the music known as Americana.”
-Tulsa World

2003-12-17T10:05:00.000-06:00

Darden Smith will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday January 10th, 2004.

Darden Smith, January 10th, 2004

2003-12-15T10:02:00.000-06:00

"I don't cry for the wasted years

Or the twisted roads that got me here

I have been to the end of the earth

And I know what standing still is worth

In a Perfect Moment when the stars aligned

Love don't travel in straight lines

And every day of my life Has led me to

This Perfect Moment with you "

"Perfect Moment" from Darden Smith's Sunflower

It takes a certain amount of inner courage and vulnerability to strip away the things you think will please others and learn to live in the "perfect" moment". It is that moment and place where the view from the bottom starts to take on new meaning and change happens. Many albums that endure have found their genesis in that zone. Five years ago, Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter Darden Smith was without a label deal, had been through a divorce and was wondering what had happened to a "beautiful" life that, only a few years prior, was enjoying personal, critical and commercial success. Beginning in the mid-80's, Smith made a handful of strong albums that took him on a circuitous path from being a rootsy indie Texas singer-songwriter to major label artist, as well as other more transitional efforts. When everything began crashing down in the mid-90's, Smith had to do some serious self-assessments about what he was doing with his career. It was time to take responsibility for his artistic voice or do something else with his life. The epiphanies that resulted became the underlying subtext for Sunflower, Smith's most fully realized and intimate work to date. "At a certain point you have to make the record that you hear in your head. There's no guarantee that it's going to sell anyway, so you might as well do what you want to do -- much as anyone will let you. Fortunately, I'm at the stage where I have complete freedom," adds Smith. "I think if your not out there risking something, people aren't going to be as identified with what you have to say."

2003-10-17T10:01:00.000-05:00

Albert and Gage will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday November 8th, 2003.

Albert and Gage, November 8th, 2003

2003-10-15T09:58:00.000-05:00

In Austin, Texas—a town overrun with idiosyncratic singer/songwriters and egocentric guitar heroes—Christine Albert & Chris Gage have a six-year track record of making beautiful music together. Over the course of four duet albums, the duo have demonstrated that disparate backgrounds do not preclude musical soulmates from finding one another.
Their "Burning Moonlight" album led an Austin Chronicle reviewer to exclaim, "(The songs are) beautifully framed by the duo's intertwined, yearning vocals, leaving a glow as luminous and bright as moonlight itself." And the Houston Press noted, "From George Jones and Tammy Wynette to Richard and Linda Thompson, male-female duets are one of popular music's most delightful permutations. And the Austin-based duo of Christine Albert and Chris Gage easily slot right in with the best."

Says Christine of her partner, "Musically, I like to go in lots of different directions"—from country songs to French chansons—"and Chris goes right along with me. It's not just that he plays bluegrass or folk or blues, but that he plays it all with so much integrity."
"After being a sideman for several years I was ready to start my own band again", recalls Gage. "I wasn't sure exactly how that would manifest, and then I met Christine. What we brought out in each other was magical."

Onstage, Albert's slender, dark beauty contrasts strikingly with Gage's craggy good looks. How gracefully they complement each other is easily apparent. Although they have functioned as a duo for just six years, both musicians' individual pedigrees are far more extensive.
Gage is a journeyman musician and South Dakota native who literally began touring in a station wagon at age 15. In the mid-Seventies and early Eighties he led the popular midwestern country-swing Red Willow Band, and from there graduated to an eight-year tenure on piano with guitar virtuoso and country star Roy Clark. After moving to Austin in 1991, Gage began commuting to San Antonio to take the reins as musical director for the Fiesta Texas theme park.
But it was during (and following) his next incarnation, as bandleader for West Texas alt.-country singer/songwriter Jimmie Dale Gilmore, that he began to carve out his own place in the Austin scene as an in-demand session player and accompanist. It was with Gilmore that Christine first heard Chris play and in 1997 Albert & Gage was formed. The duo later toured as an opening act for Gilmore and as members of his ensemble.

Christine Albert's French grandmother lived in Paris and her mother was born in Switzerland, so perhaps it's inevitable that the occasional Edith Piaf song migrates into her sets of original material and carefully chosen covers. Indeed, she recorded an entire album of lovely (albeit improbable) Franco-Lone Star fusion entitled Texafrance in 1992; and a 2003 sequel—Texafrance-Encore!—was released, appropriately enough, on Valentine's Day.

Christine herself cut her musical teeth in northern New Mexico, in the chic environs of Santa Fe and in the rough-and-tumble biker bars out along the Turquoise Trail. Along with fellow New Mexico chanteuse Eliza Gilkyson, Albert re-located to Austin in 1982 and began to distinguish herself as a singer-songwriter in a town where the bar for such artists is set very high indeed.
She has released five solo albums, including Texafrance, The High Road and Underneath the Lone Star Sky. In 1996, she was voted Female Vocalist of the Year in the Kerrville Music Awards poll associated with the prestigious Kerrville Folk Festival and has appeared on Austin City Limits, both with Gilkyson and on her own show. A longtime community activist, Albert is also known for her work on behalf of survivors of sexual assault.

The duo’s most recent release is "Albert and Gage at Anderson Fair", a live album recorded at the venerable Houston folk club and mixed and edited at their own MoonHouse Studio. When not on the road, Albert and Gage also stay busy producing outside artists. Their artist-owned label MoonHouse Records will be expanding in 2004 with releases by fellow Austinites Cowboy Johnson and Michael Austin.

2003-09-17T09:56:00.000-05:00

Charley Stefl

2003-09-17T09:53:00.000-05:00

Tim Krekel and Charley Stefl will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday October 11th, 2003.

Tim Krekel and Charley Stefl, October 11th, 2003

2003-09-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

TIM KREKEL

Tim Krekel is an American original. He’s dedicated himself to creating music that is a real testament to life, love and, mostly, rock & roll. Tim’s gifts to the music world are plentiful. He has a warm, personal vocal style and has perfected his own distinctive guitar style. He is a master craftsman of songs that "get across with fire and conviction and without a trace of pretension". (CD Review) Tim’s approach is straight-up rock & roll and nothing short of phenomenal. Rolling Stone said, "Krekel unleashes a monster riff".

Tim is based in his hometown, Louisville, KY. He also spends a good deal of time in Nashville, where he is on the creative team at Bluewater Music. At home, he’s been called the "Prince of Louisville Pop"--and he has a community of loyal fans to prove it. The "Krekkies" know that the best ticket in town is to a Krekel show. Filmmaker Morgan Atkinson even has a documentary about Tim in the making. It’s titled, appropriately, Local Hero.

Tim has enjoyed success on many levels: He’s earned acclaim by writing hit songs for numerous artists, toured the States and Europe a few times, and collaborated live and in the studio with many performers. He also found time to record several critically acclaimed albums of his own prolific brand rock and roll tunes that are as about as infectious as they come.
Tim’s songs have been recorded by artists such as Rick Nelson, Lonnie Mack, Jerry Reed, Dr. Feelgood, Shakin’ Stevens, Canned Heat, Kathy Mattea, Jason & the Scorchers, Vern Gosdin, BJ Thomas, Delbert McClinton Aaron Tippin, Deana Carter and Kim Ritchey. Many artists have had great success with Tim’s songs. Crystal Gayle had a number one hit with Turning Away in 1984. Patty Loveless also went to number one with You Can Feel Bad, a song Tim co-wrote with Matraca Berg and that also earned Tim a BMI Country Award in 1997. Cry on the Shoulder of the Road, another Krekel/Berg penned tune was a chart topper for Martina McBride. Kim Richey’s version of Come Around, a song she co-wrote with Tim, was used in the 1999 Kevin Costner film, For Love of the Game.

There have been many people who have been thrilled to play with Tim Krekel. Some of them are well-known, but it’s also important to emphasize that Tim regularly encourages other musicians to join him for a song: His humility onstage makes it easy for those performers to do their best. They might be a little more nervous if they realized that Tim has played with performers like Jimmy Buffett, Billy Swan, Bo Diddley, Delbert McClinton, Skeeter Davis, Steve Forbert, Tracy Nelson, Pam Tillis, Marshall Chapman, Lonnie Mack, and Sam Bush. Tim has appeared with Mark Germino on Late Night with David Letterman. He has also performed on NPR’s Mountain Stage with Matraca Berg. Speaking of public radio, Tim is a favorite of the pioneering Louisville station WFPK. He was named among their Essential Artists A-Z in 2000. Four of Tim’s tunes were voted among the 2001 Greatest Songs All Time by WFPK listeners.
Tim was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1950. He became interested in music early and his first lessons were on the drums. He began taking guitar lessons at age 10 or 11, when it dawned on him that "the guitar player was up front getting all the attention, [like] Rick Nelson". He was singing and playing his guitar for audiences by the time he was 12, gigging in Lebanon, Kentucky, at places like The Golden Horseshoe and Club 68. He began to write his own songs in high school, although he was reluctant to share them with anyone for a few years.
Tim’s first band was an eight-piece basement band called, cleverly, The Octaves. He continued to sharpen his skills and, by the late 60’s, he was in a popular Louisville band called Dusty. It was around this time that two of Tim’s peers, Steve Ferguson and Terry Adams, went off and started NRBQ then came back to Louisville with a record contract. For the first time, Tim thought seriously about music as a profession and realized what he had to do. He and Dusty moved to New York, where they played gigs for a few months while Tim got more serious about writing. After about six months, Tim decided he’d be happier pursuing his career closer to home and moved back to Louisville.

Around that time, Tim made friends in Nashville and was soon playing gigs there. He even did some recording for Jack Clement. It wasn’t long before Tim got a road gig with Billy Swan (who had a huge hit with I Can Help). That band toured the States and Europe for a year. Billy went back to playing with Kris Kristofferson, and Tim resumed gigging around Nashville. One night, Tim performed in a showcase where Chet Atkins and a friend were in the audience. The friend turned out to be Jimmy Buffett’s manager. He and Chet were quick to recommend Tim to Buffett who needed a new guitarist. Tim was hired by Buffett and was his lead guitarist for a couple of years in the late 70’s and again in the 80’s. During his first stint with Buffett, Tim played on the Son of a Son of a Sailor album and appeared with him on Saturday Night Live, as well as in the 1978 film, FM. They also toured with the Eagles who were enjoying immense popularity at that time.

Tim was offered the opportunity to make his own record and decided to leave the band to pursue his own musical vision. His first solo effort, Crazy Me, was released in 1979; however, the Capricorn label folded a mere three months after the albums debut.It was the first album ever produced by Tony Brown and was a critical success. Tim continued to write, perform and play with other musicians. He recorded his next album, Over The Fence, with The Sluggers, and it was released in 1986. Rolling Stone called the Sluggers "a roots-based guitar band that matters". Tim and the Sluggers toured the country for a few years performing with folks like Carl Perkins, the Blasters and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

In 1993 Tim found himself a bit frustrated with the music industry and with some concern over what direction his career should take. Again, he moved back to Louisville. Rejuvenated by his return to familiar surroundings, Tim remembered why he began to make music in the first place. He started a new band, The Groovebillys, and pursued music with a renewed vigor.

CHARLEY STEFL

Charley Stefl came to Nashville by way of Texas in 1984 with hopes of becoming a professional songwriter not only of country music, but of bluegrass, folk, rock and blues. He had worked the clubs of Austin since the ‘70s where he became a big fan of such songwriting greats as Townes Van Zandt, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle, George Ensle and Guy Clark, but his greatest thrill came in 1978 when Bill Neely asked him to sit in with him and Kenneth Threadgill for several evenings at a now defunct club on Red River. His songwriting heroes had all moved to Nashville by the mid-‘80s, and after playing the Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Writers show in 1982, Stefl decided to follow them.

First, however, he and his family made a detour to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he became involved with the local music scene while finishing his M.A. Ed. At Western Kentucky University. “I was privileged to have my own live Saturday night radio show on WKYU-FM called “The Local Folk”, which featured many of my favorite artists such as Jonell Mosser, Jim Buchanan, Gary Hayes, Byron House and Jimmy Raley. They all had a huge influence on me, and I will always be grateful for their participation.”

Once in Nashville, Stefl gave himself five years to get a song cut. He played the clubs and worked several jobs, pumping gas at West End Amoco and teaching Spanish at Father Ryan High School. Three years into his self-imposed time limit, while playing the Monday open-mic writer’s night at the Bluebird Café, he met Garth Brooks who had also recently moved to Nashville. They decided to write some songs together, and when Brooks was signed to Capitol Records a year and a half later, he recorded “Every Time That It Rains”, co-written with Stefl and Ty England. Writing at Major Bob Music, within a few years, Stefl had cuts by The Marshall Tucker Band (“Walk Outside The Lines”, co-written with Garth Brooks), MidSouth (“Give What It Takes”, co-written with Gene Ellsworth and Brad Rodgers), George Jones (“The Visit”, co-written with Ellsworth and Rodgers) and Lee Ann Womack (“The Fool”, co-written with Ellsworth and Marla Cannon-Goodman). “The Fool” was Womack’s first #1 single.

He felt highly honored when Nanci Griffith asked him to translate the Julie Gold song, “From A Distance” into Spanish for the 1992 Olympics. It was not used that year but was featured on the One Voice CD for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, with vocals by Nanci Griffith, Raul Malo and Donna Summer.

Cuts followed by Chad Brock, Eddy Arnold, Jill Johnson of Swedish pop music fame, the Del McCoury Band and Bobby Osborne of the Osborne Brothers. Stefl has a new Del McCoury cut entitled “Man Can’t Live On Bread Alone”, co-written with Gene Ellsworth and Brad Rodgers and a new Kevin Denney cut, “That’s How I Was Raised”, co-written with Tony Ramey and Trent Tomlinson.

In addition, this year, Stefl recorded his own CD at Direct Image Studio in Nashville, produced by Kenny Royster, featuring ten new songs, one previously recorded by the Del McCoury Band entitled “All Aboard”, “The Fool”, previously recorded by Lee Ann Womack, and a Townes Van Zandt song, “Nothin’”. I had to do a Townes song in his memory. He had such a profound influence on me and was such a good friend during the last twelve years of his life, that I felt that it was necessary to do one of his songs, so I did my favorite, “Nothin’”.

The CD, entitled And The Wheels Turn…, featured thirteen of Stefl’s songs he has written or co-written over the last ten years. In addition to singing, he plays harmonica, his Taylor 510-CE guitar and some mandolin.

2003-08-17T13:35:00.000-05:00

Hayes Carll will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday September 10th, 2003.

Hayes Carll, August 9th, 2003

2003-08-15T13:25:00.000-05:00

Hayes Carll is, by his own admission, a bit of a gambler. And judging from the 28 year-old singer-songwriter’s stage presence, he must have one hell of a good poker face. Whether he’s facing an intimate listening room audience or a packed dance hall of noisy, potentially hostile patrons hungry for the headliner, it’s always the same Hayes: shambling more than walking on stage like a guy who’s just woken from a restless sleep with a horrible hangover, reaching for an acoustic guitar when a pot of black coffee seems more in order. “This guy,” you invariably think, “is a mess.” That’s when he shows his hand, and you find you’ve been hustled.“I like to watch him,” offers Hayes’ friend Ray Wylie Hubbard, a rumpled hustler of a troubadour in his own right, “because it’s kind of like watching two trains heading full speed toward each other on the same track: it’s just a matter of time. But he’s always very in control, even though sometimes he doesn’t give that appearance. He walks on that stage, and he just owns it — like it’s his time, his stage, and he has total control and keeps your attention his whole set. And I admire that.”That’s no mere blurb or nod of approval from one Texas songwriter to another; it’s a dead-on portrait of the artist as a young man: off the tracks with a clear sense of purpose. As Hayes declares in “Wish I Hadn’t Stayed So Long,” from his second album, Little Rock, “I’m gonna burn down all my bridges, grab a car and drive away.” That’s not reckless; that’s a man with a plan.“I’ve kind of been searching this out for a long time,” muses Hayes, reflecting on the oft curious and at times downright puzzling path he’s followed in his life and career thus far. “I’d live wherever I could or do whatever job I could to find the material and find the point of view for the songs, and to be successful at it. And all in all, it’s working out pretty good. I’m a pretty content human being … with not a whole lot more demons than your average, twisted folk singer.” At the moment, said twisted folk singer is sitting on his porch in Conroe, Texas, a little town a mere five minutes north of The Woodlands, the affluent Houston suburb where Hayes grew up. Considering that it wasn’t that long ago that Hayes couldn’t escape The Woodlands fast enough, his current proximity to home suggests a prodigal son settling down — complete with a 14-month-old son and a fiancé — after a few good years of devil-may-care rambling. Truth is, both the man and his career have never been more on the move.“This has actually been my busiest year,” says Hayes, who recorded the bulk of Little Rock in January 2004 and spent the rest of the year playing just shy of 200 gigs across not only his native Texas but the rest of the U.S. and up into Canada. All of those shows found him still faithfully working his 2002 debut, the acclaimed Flowers and Liquor. Now that Little Rock is finally ready for its public, he’s chomping at the bit to really hit the road.“That first record came out two-and-a-half years ago, and that’s a long time to wait,” says Hayes. “It drove me nuts for a while, because I want people to see my new songs and what I’ve done or where I’ve gone, and it’s just hard to keep handing out the same product. It’s still me, but it’s from a different part of my life and I’m ready for them to see a new part.”To wit, while the bulk of Flowers and Liquor offered a whisky-soaked snapshot of Hayes’ life right out of college, living amongst the “rednecks and outlaws” that populated Crystal Beach, Texas on the Bolivar Peninsula, Little Rock is all about where he is now.“When you’re young, it’s hard to think of original ideas other than loneliness, alcohol and sex,” Hayes says of his debut, with a hint of the deadpan self-deprecation that makes his stage banter as entertaining as his songs. “I can’t say that I’ve really evolved all that much since then — I still sing about alcohol — but I don’t want ‘Flowers and Liquor’ to be my anthem or something that I have to be singing for years down the road. I’d like to evolve a little as a writer, and this time around, there were just some other interesting things to sing about.”Recorded in Nashville with producer R.S. Field (Billy Joe Shaver, Buddy Guy), Little Rock kicks off with the aforementioned “Wish I Hadn’t Stayed So Long,” a wry and gritty rocker of a Dear John letter to Crystal Beach, Nashville, Austin and other stops along the way that the young songwriter should have no qualms about singing for the rest of his life. Not every artist is good or lucky enough to turn out their very own “Guitar Town” quality anthem this early in their career (if ever), but Hayes pulls it off with the same casual, broken-in comfort of his live performances. The rest of Little Rock similarly rises to the occasion, from the good time roll of the title track (an affectionate nod to Hayes’ home away from home, Arkansas) to the greasy blues of “Chickens” (co-written with Hubbard). “Long Way Home,” a bittersweet tribute to a talented musician friend of cut down in his prime by a heroin overdose, would do Hayes proud in a guitar pull with Steve Earle and Guy Clark, as would the outlaw’s lament, “Rivertown,” co-written with Clark himself. “I was certainly nervous about it,” admits Hayes of sitting down to write with the dean of Texas songwriters, “but he was extremely gracious and totally a craftsman and disciplined about it. I tend to write more stream of conscious style, and just give lines a certain feel but not put much emphasis on each word, but with him it was like every single syllable had to have a meaning and a point. It was really eye opening.” It was a hunger for eye-opening experiences that led Hayes to where he is today, and continues to fuel his muse and wanderlust. The son of an attorney father and an attorney/school teacher mother, Hayes could have very easily ended up taking a briefcase to work every day instead of a guitar. Fortunately, a discovery of songwriters like Bob Dylan and fellow Houston-area native Lyle Lovett led Hayes to pick up guitar in his teens. By the time he graduated, he was itching to get as far away from The Woodlands as possible. “Far away” ended up being tiny Hendrix College in Arkansas, just a state away. But it was far enough.“I grew up in the suburbs, a pretty one-color, right-wing affluent town, and I always knew there was something else out there,” says Hayes. “I had to go out and find it, and for some reason Conway, Arkansas seemed like a good place to start. So I ended up there, and I’ve just kind of followed that path since I got out of there. The idea that there are other things than suburbs in the world, and other people than the ones who drive Mercedes.”After graduation (he majored in history and minored in theater), Hayes spent a summer picking corn in Iowa, spent another six months in Croatia visiting his best friend from college and tried, unsuccessfully, to survive in the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin. But his home for the better part of three years was a remote cabin in Crystal Beach, 40 miles from the nearest town. “It was a lonely time and a weird time of my life, but it was good creatively,” he says. The denizens of Crystal Beach offered rich pickings for song inspiration (as Flowers and Liquor attests), but the low-paying bar gigs he was able to pick up in town left a lot to be desired. Luckily, a ferry ride across the bay to Galveston led to his discovery of the Old Quarter Acoustic Café.“The Old Quarter was where I kind of got into the legitimate music scene,” says Hayes. “That’s where I met Sisters Morales [whose Lisa Morales would produce Flowers and Liquor], Ray Wylie, Willis Alan Ramsey … all those guys came through there on the circuit, and I was kind of the perennial opening act for everybody.” After the release of Flowers and Liquor on Compadre Records, Hayes became the opening act of choice for any number of Lone Star legends not just at the Old Quarter but at venues across Texas. That exposure has since made Hayes a rising marquee name in his own right in Texas and beyond — a status certain to continue to rise with the release of Little Rock. But rest assured that when fame really catches up to Hayes’ talent, the rendezvous will be on his own terms. After his one-album deal with Compadre, Hayes was set to sign a five-record contract with a nationally established “major” independent label (one home to many of his heroes), but he ultimately decided to release the record on his own. “I’m up to my ass in debt,” he admits, “and it would have been a huge financial relief not to worry about that for the next 10 years, but at the same time, I just couldn’t see spending the next 10 years of my life not controlling what I have.”Some might call that a gamble. But don’t count on Hayes folding his cards and leaving the table anytime soon. As Ray Wylie Hubbard says, this is his time, he owns it, and he’s just getting warmed up. “It’s up and down, and it’s not always an easy life,” he admits of the singer-songwriter game, “but in the big picture, I can’t complain. I know that most of the people I meet would rather have my job than theirs — and I’d rather have my job than theirs, too. I’m doing what I never thought I’d be able to do, but always wanted to do, you know? I’m living that dream.”

2003-07-17T09:47:00.000-05:00

Jesse Dayton will be appearing live at The Weisman Center on Saturday August 9th, 2003.

Jesse Dayton, August 9th, 2003

2003-07-15T09:43:00.000-05:00

"Who says Elvis is dead? I've seen him and he's goin' by the name of Jesse Dayton." -- The Seattle Rocket

"Dayton is a star waiting to happen."-- The Houston Chronicle

"More hooks than your grandad's tackle box."-- The Chicago Tribune

"It's been ten years, when Steve Earle and Dwight Yoakam emerged, since country music launched a new artist this powerful." -- MOJO London, England

"Like the Possum (George Jones), Dayton is the possessor of a tear-stained voice, a lost soul sensibility and probably a high degree of familiarity with the kinds of places mama warned you about."-- The Austin American Statesman

Jesse Dayton might be the most promising country debut since the Mavericks' From Hell To Paradise."-- New Country

2003-06-17T09:41:00.000-05:00

Brandy Clark will be appearing live at The Weisman Center on Saturday July 12th, 2003.

Brandy Clark, July 12th, 2003

2003-06-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

Few writers are as fortunate as singer/songwriter Brandy Clark, whose life experiences have already provided a mother lode of song ideas deep enough to last a lifetime. Reared in Morton, Washington, a town of only 900 people in the shadow of Mount St. Helens, Clark’s upbringing left such a profound impact on her life that her lyrics can’t help but reflect where she came from. Her life, complete with a mother and father who supported and encouraged her in all her creative endeavors, a brother who was equally creative and a somewhat eccentric convertible-driving grandmother living next door, all provide rich fodder for her songs.

Brandy's exposure to a diverse array of music also made an impression on her creativity. "We listened to everything from Patsy Cline to Phantom of the Opera, and my dad listened to Air Supply and Fleetwood Mac. People are astonished at some of the music I know, simply because that’s what I grew up with. Plus, my grandmother exposed us to her music, too. Once a week she’d take us up to a view point, where you could see Mt. St. Helens, she was obsessed with the volcano, even before it blew. She would take us in the convertible she still has today and she would play her favorite 8-tracks. One we used to listen to all the time was Magic Organ, which was Floyd Cramer playing all these songs like ‘Little Brown Jug’ and ‘Top of the World.’"

Clark started penning songs at an early age, and she now laughs about the experience. "When I started writing songs as a little girl, I wrote about things I knew absolutely nothing about like love and heartbreak. I thought all songs should be like ‘Crazy’ and ‘I Fall To Pieces,’ so that’s the kind of songs I tried to write. My mom really encouraged us to be writers, and she even paid us minimum wage to go into our rooms to write. Looking back on it, I think she just wanted quiet so she could watch soap operas. But she always used to tell us ‘You should write what you know’."

Clark abandoned her music for a time in high school, devoting her energies instead to sports, eventually attending college on a basketball scholarship at Central Washington University. She soon found that wasn’t what she was destined to do, so she quit basketball and moved back home, obtaining an associates degree from a community college. During that time, the teenager found out about the music business program at Belmont University, so she enrolled and moved to Nashville. Upon graduation, Clark landed a job with Leadership Music, a job which led to her eventual publishing deal.

Publisher and Leadership Music alumnus Stephanie Cox was in need of someone to teach her Peachtree Accounting, which Brandy was proficient in, and soon found herself teaching Cox the basics, although she was careful not to let Cox know she was an aspiring songwriter. "I never wanted to be unprofessional by letting her know I was a writer, but I guess she found out anyway," Brandy confesses. "One day when I was over there she asked ‘Why haven’t you played songs for me?’ I told her I didn’t want to overstep my bounds. Then she asked again, ‘When are you going to play me songs?’ I asked her if she had a guitar, and when she said she did, I said ‘right now'."

Not only did Cox like what she heard, but she also encouraged the young tunesmith to devote herself to writing full-time. Tabitha Daly, executive director of Leadership Music, had also been pushing her to meet another alumnus who was a hit songwriter, Beckie Foster. "We really hit it off, and Beckie wanted to know how we could work together. I told her I also really wanted to work with Stephanie, so Beckie and Stephanie went out for coffee, and worked everything out to co-op my publishing."

Of Clark’s writing, her two publishers have nothing but praise. "Brandy is a writer/artist whose enormous talent is matched only by her intense commitment to her craft," contends Cox. "Her passion and determination are balanced with an intuitive wisdom from which her original ideas and insightful perspectives are born. She unwittingly raises the bar for everyone around her."

Foster echoes that sentiment: "Brandy has the ability to paint vivid little scenes of life with her lyrics, which make her songs very poignant and evocative, and that’s what I love about her writing."

When asked what it means to her to be a songwriter, Brandy muses, "I’m really proud to get to write on forms next to ‘Occupation’, songwriter. For some reason, that feels really good." Songwriting to her also means leaving something of lasting value to this world. "I want to write songs that speak to a generation, that people remember that time by. But I want to have staying power too, as much staying power as you can have in this business. I want to write songs that matter to people. I would love to write something that singers love to sing forever."

Sisters Morales, June 14th, 2003

2003-05-15T09:28:00.000-05:00

Lisa and Roberta Morales represent the best of family harmony. Blessed with voices that are individually unique and blend the way family harmonies should, they compliment each other perfectly. Born and raised into a very musical Mexican family, their cultural heritage has always been a big part of their original music. Sisters Morales offer appearances in three formats: an acoustic trio, a 5-piece contemporary Tex-Americana band, or an all-Spanish traditional Mariachi program. They also offer workshops and seminars regarding their cultural and musical roots. Recent tours with Texas country rock legend Joe Ely and the internationally acclaimed Los Lobos have elevated Sisters Morales' profile throughout North America.

2003-04-17T09:28:00.000-05:00

Mike Plume and Jenny Orenstein will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday May 10th, 2003.

Mike Plume and Jenny Orenstein, Saturday May 10th, 2003

2003-04-15T09:23:00.000-05:00

Jenny

Jenny Orenstein is a singer songwriter from Toronto. After attending the Berklee College of Music in Boston and spending time in Colorado she eventually found herself in Nashville, TN where she has spent the past 8 years until recently when she moved back home to Toronto. She continues to be a staff songwriter for Bluewater Music Publishing in Nashville. She has had songs in television shows as well as being recorded and released by artists in Europe. Jenny has toured both Canada and the United States (including opening slots for Leo Kotke, Blue Oyster Cult, and Howie Mandel!). Her current record, "Astroturf" was released in September 2002 and she has just finished a new album called "Red Letter Day" which was recorded in Calgary.

Mike

I was born in Moncton, New Brunswick on May 28th 1968 and from that day on I did pretty much what everyone else did you know. I went to school, I hated school, I played hockey, I loved hockey. I thought I'd play professional hockey ..etc etc blah blah blah shave and a hair cut. two bits.

But then in March of 1985 I bought my first guitar.

Then, I moved to Bonnyville, Alberta, in August of 1985. Where I played football, more hockey and more importantly, more and more guitar.

From 1987 thru 1993, I toured all over western Canada in various rock and roll bands.
But for the most part, I just roamed around with my guitar and learned a truck load of songs..and I was slowly becoming confident as a songwriter.

I put out my first album in 1993, and from then til now it's been at least 20 guitars, a ton of miles, a boat load of shows, a handful of records and more fun, laughs and friends than anyone should be allowed...so there.

I now live outside of Toronto, Ontario, with my wife Jenny and our Dalmation, Lucy.

2003-03-18T09:19:00.000-06:00

Dennis Gaines will be appearing live at The Weisman Center Saturday April 12th, 2003 at 7:00 pm.

Dennis Gaines, Saturday April 12th, 2003

2003-03-16T09:14:00.000-06:00

For more than two decades, Dennis Gaines has defined Texas through the power of his wit and wisdom. A prolific writer, Dennis has produced more than 75 poems and stories during the past ten years. Material for his work is drawn from personal experience. He uses the fortunes and misfortunes that befell him during his years working the land on a South Texas ranch. His direct experience as a working cowboy, coupled with his insights into the nature of men, have resulted in substantial contributions to the lore and legend of Texas. Enthusiastic audiences throughout Texas and the world have enjoyed his discerning observations.

During his career as storyteller, poet, and friend, Dennis has been honored as:

The Texas State Representative Poet at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.
Featured guest on the Texas Country Reporter.
Featured guest in Americana Digest.
Featured guest in Southern Living magazine

Nominated Multiple Times at the Academy of Western Arts in the categories of:
Best Poet
Best Comedy
Best Storyteller
Best Cowboy Poetry Album

Winner of the prestigious Academy of Western Arts Award in the Best Comedy category.
Recipient of the coveted Will Rogers Memorial Award from The Academy of Western Arts.
Dennis has directed his substantial talent, intellect and energy into writing, verbalizing, and recording those things that make Texas unique. His distinctive flair, creativity and talent in plying his craft drives an appreciation of Texas and her people far beyond our borders. For that, we are grateful.

The Weisman Center Presents...Words and Voices

2003-03-15T09:12:00.000-06:00

The Weisman Center Presents…Words & Voices is a monthly live music series created to provide the music and arts lovers of Marshall, Texas, and the surrounding area with the opportunity to listen to live music in an intimate, historical and smoke-free environment. The Weisman Center is a more than one-hundred-year-old landmark north of Peter Whetsone Square in downtown Marshall and is the flagship building in what has become a city-wide effort to refurbish and reinvigorate the once-vibrant Main Street city center.

Begun in April 2003, The Weisman Center Presents…Words & Voices has presented some of the nation’s most talented singer/songwriters and storytellers to an ever-growing and dedicated audience. An audience which has grown through simple, grass roots word-of-mouth testimonials. An audience which has grown, not only outside of Harrison County, it has grown to draw new visitors to Marshall from Shreveport, Louisiana, and from Dallas, Houston and Austin, Texas. All without an advertising budget.

Since the beginning of the series, the Words & Voices audience has been given the opportunity to hear songwriters tell of how they came to write some of the songs they have recorded as well as songs that have been recorded by other artists. Due to the intimate setting – the audience capacity is seventy-five people – most patrons have commented that they feel like they are sitting in their own living room enjoying a great concert. Some of the outstanding performers we have enjoyed thus far include Kevin Welch, Hayes Carll, Brandy Clark, Tim Krekel, Jesse Dayton, Wynn Varble, Darden Smith, Christine Albert and Chris Gage, Charley Stefl, Mike Plume and Jenny Orenstein, Dennis Gaines, and Sisters Morales. No matter the style of music that you enjoy, you will love the understanding you gain from being inside the live music experience.

We hope to see you and some of your friends there. Shows are always the second Saturday of the month and are scheduled from January through November. Tickets are available at The Weisman Center (903.934.9902) in Marshall. They are $10 each.