Some TEXAS MONTHLY Stories on Music
Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis »
by Jeff McCord [December 2008]
Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis »
An extended interview with Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis.
by Jeff McCord [December 2008]
Warren Hood »
A web-only interview with the Austin violinist.
by Jeff McCord [November 2008]
Charlie Jones »
38, concert promoter, Austin
[February 2008]
Number One With a Bullet »
Miranda Lambert likes guns, but there’s more to her than that, just as the sultry pouts on her album covers don’t tell the whole story of an East Texas girl who always wanted to be Merle Haggard.
by John Spong [October 2007]
Ray Benson »
Ray Benson on Wills, weed, and the Wheel.
Interview by Evan Smith [October 2007]
Singing Gospel »
The gospel according to Yolanda Adams.
Interview by Katharyn Rodemann [August 2007]
Sounds Like Teen Spirit »
Each year, some 55,000 talented high school musicians try out for 1,500 chairs at the Super Bowl of band geekery: the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention in San Antonio. Once upon a time, I made the cut.
by Cecilia Ballí [June 2007]
Let There Be Lightnin’ »
Twenty-five years after his death, Sam Hopkins is still one of the most influential bluesmen in history—that much we know. But we don’t know nearly enough about who he was.
by Michael Hall [June 2007]
The Songs Remain the Same »
And for these 8 one-hit wonders, including Balde Silva, of Toby Beau, that’s a good thing: Thanks to wildly successful singles they released many years ago, what might have otherwise been forgettable careers are anything but.
by Michael Hall [March 2007]
75 Things We Love About Texas »
Including: the sopa azteca at El Mirador, in San Antonio; the spring-fed pool at Balmorhea State Park; the humidity; elbow room; free advice at White Rock Lake, in Dallas; county courthouses; boots-and- jeans-clad Academy Award–winner Larry McMurtry; and—seriously— quail hunting.
[April 2006]
Since She’s Been Gone »
The L.A. life of a girl from Burleson (or, You can take Kelly Clarkson out of Texas . . .).
by Skip Hollandsworth [May 2005]
Return to Splendor »
From humble Oak Cliff roots did a hip intellectual giant grow. In this oral history, friends and fans remember the late Grover Lewis, one of the great magazine writers of our day.
by Katy Vine [March 2005]
He’s Daniel Johnston, And He Was Gonna Be Famous »
He was, for a while, and look what happened: Today one of the great songwriters in the alternative-rock universe is a 44-year-old manic-depressive living with his parents in Waller. And the worst thing about it is, he’s about to be famous again.
by Michael Hall [February 2005]
Almost Famous »
Senior editor Michael Hall on musician Daniel Johnston and writing about mental illness.
Interview by Katherine Sands [February 2005]
Paradise »
Musician Ian McLagan survived the British rock explosion of the sixties. Now he lives in Austin, a place he loves to
call home.
by Charlie Llewellin [August 2004]
His Mickey Mouse Ways »
In a world full of evil dudes pretending to be good guys, Waylon Jennings was a good guy pretending to be an evil dude and never quite succeeding.
by Dave Hickey [June 2004]
It's a Family Affair »
For all her talent and poise, Beyoncé didn't become the biggest star in the world without help. And she got plenty of it from the people who know her best.
by Michael Hall [April 2004]
The Voice of America »
Is Clear Channel, the San Antonio-based radio behemoth, as patently evil as everyone says? Don't touch that dial.
by S. C. Gwynne [April 2004]
Spoon at a Fork »
According to Time, the Austin rock-pop trio Spoon "just might be your next favorite band." But Britt Daniel and the boys have been burned by such pronouncements before, so this time they're carefully considering their options—and, as always, putting their music first.
by John Spong [April 2004]
King of the Accordion »
You may never have heard of Ramòn Ayala, but to his four generations of fans in South Texas and Mexico, he's music royalty. He revolutionized norteno, a genre that reigns along the border, and—after more than one hundred albums—is till going strong.
by Cecilia Ballí [April 2004]
Guitar Man »
"I'm the one who introduced guitar boogie-woogie in this country, with a song I called 'Gatemouth Boogie.' It was a big hit."
As told to Katharyn Rodemann [April 2004]
War Record »
"The Dixie Chicks recorded 'Travelin' Soldier,' one of the first songs I wrote, and it did great until the girls got embroiled in that crazy media-frenzy."
As told to Stayton Bonner [April 2004]
The Profiler »
Senior editor Michael Hall talks about Beyoncé and this month's cover story, "It's a Family Affair."
by [April 2004]
The Song Writer »
"My next assignment was supposed to be teaching English at the Academy at West Point, but I didn't go. I got out of the Army and went to Nashville instead, and I think Johnny Cash was probably the biggest reason."
As told to Stayton Bonner [April 2004]
The Bush File »
Read twenty more letters about executive editor Paul Burka's article, "The Man Who Isn't There."
by [April 2004]
The 100 Best Texas Songs »
Two are by Willie. Which songs, exactly? And what about the remaining 98? You'll have to check our list to find out.
by Jeff McCord and John Morthland [April 2004]
The Ballad of Billy Joe Shaver »
If the Corsicana native is the best songwriter in Texas, perhaps it's because he knows his material. Hardscrabble upbringing. Sinful behavior. Redemption. Personal tragedy. Profound sorrow. And, finally, more redemption.
by Michael Hall [December 2003]
Buried Treasure »
Secret Santas, take note: Here are my picks for the state's most underrated or underrecognized CDs of the year.
by John Morthland [December 2003]
Independent's Day »
With the record business in the doldrums, what's a talented, ambitious band to do? If you're Austin's Grupo Fantasma, you make it on your own.
by Jeff McCord [May 2003]
O Sister, Where Art Thou? »
History makes no mention of what was one of the most popular all-female country acts ever. Yet the story of the Goree Girls-inmates who banded together in the forties at Texas' sole penitentiary for women—is worth a listen.
by Skip Hollandsworth [May 2003]
Girl Talk »
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth discusses this month's feature "O Sister, Where Art Thou?"
[May 2003]
Blue Notes »
Goree prison unit inmate Hattie Ellis had a short-lived recording career, but her music made a lasting impression.
by Skip Hollandsworth [May 2003]
Prodigal Son »
After years of ignoring Woody Guthrie's time in Pampa, residents of the tiny Panhandle community are finally singing "This Land Is His Land."
by John Morthland [March 2003]
Snakey »
They may not be songs about Texas, but Tony Joe White wrote Rainy Night in Georgia and Polk Salad Annie while living in Corpus Christi. Currently on tour opening for Joe Cocker, the Louisiana native chats about old times, his new record label, and the Texas musician who first inspired him to play guitar.
Interview by Eileen Schwartz [December 2002]
Tanya »
She was a country music sensation at age 13. Now, Tanya Tucker, a native of Seminole, talks about her life and her love of music 30 years later.
Interview by Eileen Schwartz [December 2002]
Get Your Groove Back »
A new book on dance halls explains why Texans are itching to go boot-scootin'.
by Joe Nick Patoski [August 2002]
With Envy »
Pat Green’s fans—and they are legion—love his songs about the joys of Luckenbach and Lone Star beer. His critics—also legion—think his lyrics are trite. But no matter how you feel about him, there’s no denying that he’s the hottest country music act in Texas. And that he has made the state cool again.
by Skip Hollandsworth [June 2002]
Green's Day »
Executive editor Skip Hollandsworth talks about Pat Green and this month's cover story, "With Envy."
by Skip Hollandsworth [June 2002]
Mack McCormick Still Has the Blues »
His cache of unpublished interviews and unreleased recordings is unrivaled—but both collector and collection are showing signs of age. Who will save the legacy of the man who saved Texas music?
by Michael Hall [April 2002]
"Cheap! Cheap!" »
To change the way recording contracts are created, the Dixie Chicks are taking their act to the courtroom.
by John Spong [January 2002]
A Long, Strange Trip »
The life of Roky Erikson—one of the most influential Texas rock and rollers of all time—has been one calamity after another. His family and friends have taken care of him with the best of intentions, but you know what they say about the road to hell.
by Michael Hall [December 2001]
Shaggy »
Tuning in to Shaggy.
by John Morthland [September 2001]
Daddy's Little Girl »
LeAnn Rimes was a marshmallow-cheeked
thirteen-year-old when she made it big. Now, five years later, she is locked in bitter legal battles with both her estranged father and her Nashville record company, and her life and career are collapsing around her. Can America's country princess get back
on track?
by Skip Hollandsworth [May 2001]
The Slow Life and Fast Death of DJ Screw »
He was one of the most influential cultural figures in Texas–a generous godfather to a generation of rappers, an entrepreneur of Houston's mean streets, the master of a scene fueled by codeine cough syrup and hip-hop beats. When he overdosed in November at the age of 29, it was easy to dismiss him as yet another musician who succumbed to his own success. But his story is more complicated than that.
by Michael Hall [April 2001]
Tennison, Anyone? »
Chalee Tennison wants to reclaim old-time country music.
by John Morthland [April 2001]
The Beat Goes On »
How are Texas' top two symphonies staying financially viable and relevant to young audiences? One concert at a time.
by Chester Rosson [March 2001]
T Bone, Well Done »
He's produced albums for the likes of Roy Orbison and Elvis Costello for years, but now Fort Worth's T Bone Burnett is writing songs again and composing music for movies and plays. At 53 he's on a creative roll and, as he says, "Never bored."
by Katy Vine [March 2001]
The Widow's Pique »
In Lubbock they call her the "Spanish Yoko Ono," and María Elena Holly, Buddy Holly's widow, has always had a troubled relationship with his conservative hometown. Some folks rave on that it's her greed that has killed the city's Buddy Holly Music Festival. But it's more complicated than that.
by Joe Nick Patoski [February 2001]
Tuition de-reg: Will it be an issue in the speaker's race? (Sun Nov 23 at 11:35 AM)
Can You Spare Some Change I Can Believe In? (Sat Nov 22 at 4:10 PM)
Even Worse, They're Cutting Back on Monocles (Fri Nov 21 at 8:39 AM)
