The Musical Tapestry of Texas: Past and Present

Send us a textJoin me, as we explore the life and music of one of Texas's all but forgotten legends. Known primarily for his innovative sax solos on R & B and early rock and roll songs like "Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown" by the Coasters, he was actually a master of many styles and genres. He played Soul music with Aretha, including his solo on Respect, recorded with some of jazz music's greats, and could really let loose on some down and dirty blues. Listen to his musical journey as we sample some of his greatest moments and hear the back story to these classic soulful songs.

Send us a textListen as we explore the troubled life and eloquent music of one Texas's original singer/songwriters Townes Van Zandt. Though he came from a wealthy, prestigious family Townes lived an almost bohemian lifestyle, dedicated to his music and his decadent vices. His dark, almost brutal lyrics have been a touchstone for generations of artists and fans. Hear the backstory of this influential icon and Texas music legend.

Send us a textIn this episode we explore the extraordinary life and career of Roy Orbison. From his humble beginning in Wink Texas to his chart-topping hits, Roy has defied the odds and has become one of rock music's greatest legends. We all know the classic songs but now we can discover the stories behind these timeless tunes. With equal measures of tragedy and success, Roy lived a roller coaster life. His story is the story of rock and roll, from its very beginning up through the late eighties and includes almost every major artist of each era. From Elvis and the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, everyone was touched by the legend they simply called "The Voice". 

Send us a textOn this episode we explore the life and music of the Texas Troubadour, Ernest Tubb. From his humble beginnings in Crisp, Texas to becoming one of the elder statesmen of country music, Ernest was, and continued to be an inspiration for all those who followed. His innovative use of electric guitar in country music, his four-decade career with the Grand Ole Opry, his famous record store and it's Midnight Jamboree all pale in comparison to his heartbreaking, timeless music. Join me for a deep dive into the music of this legendary Texas icon.

Send us a textIn this episode we take a look at the incredible life and career of Billy Preston. He worked with everyone from Little Richard to Sam Cooke to Ray Charles and played a big role on albums with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Band, and Eric Clapton to just to name a few. Listen to this anthology of modern music told through the lens of one of its seemingly forgotten pillars, Billy Preston.

Send us a textI'm going to make a change to the current podcast format and separate the historical segment on Texas Music Legends from the interviews and live performance of current artists. This will allow me to release much more content without waiting for segments that blend perfectly together.  I'm still dedicated to including both types of material but feel this will be a much more efficient solution moving forward. Please give me your thoughts on this, or on any other matters pertaining to the podcast by emailing me directly at [email protected]. Please take a minute and review the show on your podcast host, so that more people can discover it as well.  I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for all your support.

Send us a textOn this episode I review the year in music, discussing and playing clips from my favorite albums of the year in several different genres including Blues, Rock, Country/Americana, Indie,/Alternative Music, EDM, Jazz and more  . To listen to complete versions of the songs discussed here and dozens more listen to the Spotify playlist at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/52ZB3a6bp3MVL7WgnuCNRv?si=85b98e79ac844891

Send us a textIn this special episode, we look at ten more songs that were recorded in studios across Texas. From Blue October to Johnny Ace, Lydia Mendoza, Sublime, Explosions in the Sky, Willie Nelson, Kirk Franklin, Roy Head, Clifton Chenier, and more we examine some of the most interesting songs to come out of the Lone Star State. 

Send us a textIn this episode, I take a look at some incredible music that surprisingly was all recorded here in Texas. From Robert Johnson to Selena and Pantera, this episode delves into the back story of some of the amazing music that's been created here in the Lone Star State. We'll look at George Jones, Bobby Fuller, Harry Choates- the Godfather of Cajun Music, Lefty Frizzell, and many more. Hear samples of these classic songs and some of the interesting covers that they inspired. 

Send us a textExplore the life and music of Western Swing pioneer Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. From his early days as the son of a sharecropper to the zenith of his musical career and Hollywood cowboy, Bob lived a full robust life.We also have a great interview with singer/songwriter Season Ammons who tells us about her life, career, and musical inspirations. She closes the show with an new original song called "Finally".