Texas Music History

What's New

Texas Music History

What Makes Texas Music Special?

0February 20, 2020

Austin Music Texas Music History

The Great 1996 Dead Austin Club Crawl

0February 18, 2020

Featured Music Texas Music History

Chasing the Ghosts of Texas Music

0February 18, 2020

Shop Texas Music History

Ghost Notes: Pioneering Spirits of Texas Music

0January 19, 2020

Austin Texas Music History

East Side Stories

0December 30, 2019

Austin Music Texas Music History

Willie at 70 (17 years ago)

0December 16, 2019

Music Texas Music History

“Professor” Jackson: Diboll musician who mentored Harry James

0September 15, 2019

Music Texas Music History

GETO BOYS AND D.J. SCREW: Where the Dirty South Began

0June 9, 2019

Texas Music History

Milton Brown, the Edison of Western Swing

0December 22, 2018

Music Texas Music History

A Legend Grows In San Marcos

0September 8, 2018

Gospel Music Texas Music History

Blind Willie Johnson chapter from “Ghost Notes”

0July 5, 2017

Texas Music History

Bobby Ramirez: Everybody’s Brother

3February 15, 2017

Music Texas Music History

The Punk Rock Alamo: Pistols in S.A.

0January 6, 2017

Texas Music History

The House That Freddie King Built

2December 28, 2016

Music Texas Music History Uncategorized

Sister Bobbie Nelson’s Amazing Grace

2December 27, 2016

Music Texas Music History

Townes Van Zandt: Poet.

0December 24, 2016

Gospel Music Texas Music History

Reviews for “Washington Phillips and His Manzarene Dreams”

0December 4, 2016

Gospel Texas Music History

Signed copies of Washington Phillips book/CD $25

0October 13, 2016

What's New

Michael’s New Book Is Here

Order [Ghost Notes]: Pioneering Spirits of Texas Music. “Ghost notes” is a musical term for sounds barely audible, a wisp lingering around the beat, yet somehow driving the groove. The Texas musicians profiled here, ranging from 1920s gospel performers to the first psychedelic band, are generally not well known, but the impact of their early contributions on popular music is unmistakable. This beautiful Tim Kerr-illustrated collection provides more background on the Texas from which these artists sprang, fully formed.

All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music (North Texas Lives of Musician Series) available in paperback and Kindle editions. A lavishly illustrated collection of 42 profiles of Texas music pioneers, most underrated or overlooked. All Over the Map: True Heroes of Texas Music covers the musical landscape of a most musical state. The first edition was published in 2005 to wide acclaim. This second edition includes updated information, a bonus section of six behind-the-scenes heroes, and fifteen new portraits of Lefty Frizzell, Janis Joplin, and others, spanning such diverse styles as blues, country, hip-hop, conjunto, gospel, rock, and jazz.