Sports is the reason I got into music. When I was in the fifth grade, our coach came to class and said, “I want everyone who’s interested in playing football to go to the library.” So I took off, but he looked at me and said, “You’re too small. You need to go down the hall to the band room.” I was all bummed out because I thought the band was geek territory. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what was the coolest instrument, and I picked the saxophone. Later on I got a bass and started playing with my dad in the house, but I didn’t really hit my stride until I was at Abilene Christian University. That’s where I learned I could sing. Still, I got booted out of the rock bands because all I wanted to do was sing Eagles songs. Most of my friends were out chasing rock; I was chasing country.
Singer Ronnie Dunn, of the country group Brooks and Dunn, was born in Coleman and graduated from Port Isabel High School. Brooks and Dunn’s debut album, 1991’s Brand New Man, contained five number one hits. The group is currently on tour promoting its latest release, Tight Rope.
