The Musical Tapestry of Texas: Past and Present
Celebrating the rich musical heritage of Texas by looking back at its history, interviewing current musicians that are adding to its legacy, and playing live music from those artists. Recorded live at the Fat Cat Lounge and Cafe in Smithville, Tx, just outside of Austin this podcast features celebrated musicians in all genres from the Central Texas area and beyond. Each episode spotlights one key figure in the musical history of Texas followed by a discussion with an artist in the same genre. These conversations examine the careers of the guest, their inspirations and influences and what the future holds. Each episode concludes with a stripped-down live performance by that artist.
Episodes
Were you There? In this episode, we look at some of the most interesting and unique concerts that have taken place here in the Lone Star State. From Elvis and the Beatles to the Sex Pistols and Linkin Park, we examine a crazy variety of concerts, events, festivals, and live recordings. How many of these shows were you at and how many would you love to take your time machine back and attend.
Send me your favorite conc...
In this second episode on Willie, we start in 1976 and the rise of Outlaw Country. After the success of Red Headed Stranger, Willie found himself finally in control of his musical destiny and the next 50 years of his career is the result. Follow him from his highs and lows and re-live the incredible music that he created up to and including his latest work this year. Willie is the face of Texas country music and thi...
In this special episode, I'll look back at all the best albums of 2025 and talk about the musical trends, highlights, and back stories of this year's most interesting music. I've included samples of 35 different songs spanning every genre from alternative to rock to country to dance to jazz to blues and soul, even some pop and international music as well. Listen to a playlist on Spotify for Full versions of all the ...
There are not many artists who personify the spirit of Texas more than Willie Nelson. In this episode we'll explore his developing years as he struggled to make a living in the music industry. From his early days on the farm in Abbott Texas to the release of his classic album Red Headed Stranger, this episode will focus on his early music and the stories behind them.
Join us for part two of our series on the rise of the electric guitar in Texas as we explore the life and music of Charlie Christian, America's first electric guitar hero. In this episode we discover how an unknown Jazz guitarist, born in Bonham Texas became not only the new musical voice in Benny Goodman's popular swing band but actually created the template that virtually all guitarists after him would follow. He ...
T-bone Walker didn't invent the electric guitar but was the first to popularize the instrument while playing the blues. In this two-part series, we'll look at the role Texas played in the proliferation of the electric guitar, from its humble beginnings to now. This episode focusses on the life and music of legendary Texas Bluesman T-bone Walker and how his early use of the electric guitar and innovative style inspir...
In this episode, we debut a special theme of Texas Connections, where artists from outside of Texas share a meaningful and notable connection with the Lone Star State. This time, we are looking at the life of Sterling Morrison and the seminal band, the Velvet Underground. Though three of the members were from New York and one from the UK, their unusual story involves a bizarre connection to Texas as Sterling left th...
On this special episode I once again give my yearly analysis of the best albums that were released this year. After reviewing over 185 albums, I've selected the best of the best in a wide variety of genres. Listen to short samples of my favorites and hear some of the interesting stories involved in their production. I doubt that anyone will like all the songs from every style featured here but you'll probably hear s...
Join 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...
Listen 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.
In 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 ...
On 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 p...
In 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.
I'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. Ple...
On 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=85b98e79a...
In 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.
In 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 song...
Explore 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"...
IN this special episode I look back at the best albums released in 2022, in a diverse array of genres. Featuring short clips from those albums, I explore some hidden gems that never got the radio airplay and broader recognition they deserved. Listen to the Spotify playlist as well that features all of the songs excerpted here plus many more that I couldn't fit into this podcast.
The link is
https://open....
In this episode, we delve into the short but meteoric life of Buddy Holly. From his early days in Lubbock to his tragic death in Iowa, we examine the man behind the hit songs. With samples of those hits and those of the artist he inspired, we show why Buddy remains one of the great pillars of rock and roll. We continue with an interview with Nik Parr of the Selfless Lovers from Austin. Niks goes back to his roots an...
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