Willie Nelson

Austin MusicSeptember 13, 2021September 17, 2021

The Royal Rule: Listen or Leave

The party was far from over in a room across the courtyard of the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center in March 2011, but the namesake of this Darrell K Royal Songwriters Homecoming sat in an otherwise empty amphitheater with his wife, Edith. Everyone at the party wanted to say hi to the iconic Texas […]

Texas Music HistoryJune 15, 2020May 13, 2021

Waylon Jennings: Nashville Rebel

“Mainly what I learned from Buddy was an attitude,” Jennings said. “He taught me that music shouldn’t have any barriers to it.”

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Your Bookshelf Can Look Way More Impressive – Order Now

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.