Texas Best Music

Texas Best Song

• London Homesick Blues ( Home with the Armadillo )
  We will actively support any movement to make this the official state song of Texas.
  Gary P. Nunn was designated Official Ambassador to the World by Texas Governor Mark White in 1985. Governor White proposed that the song London Homesick Blues (Home with the Armadillo) become the official state song of Texas! The tune was written while Nunn was stranded and broke in London in 1973. It was later recorded "Live" at Luckenbach, Texas. The song first appeared on Viva Terlingua, the platinum selling album by Jerry Jeff Walker. Austin City Limits, the popular PBS music show, picked London Homesick Blues (Home with the Armadillo) as their theme song. It has become a classic.

• Country Music Association of Texas Award Show
  Salado, Texas 817-947-0081 October 28, 1996

Texas Best Hall of Fame Country Singer, Male
How can you narrow down this category in Texas?

• Willie Nelson
  Abbott, Texas
  Born 4-30-1933. Songwriter, singer, and films.
  A sample of Willie's many hits include Whiskey River, Blue Eyes Cryin In The Rain, On The Road Again, and All My Heroes Have Been Cowboys.
  Willie has seven gold, nine platinum, and two triple platinum albums. CMA Entertainer of the year 1979 and admited to the Country Music Hall of Fame 1993.
• George Strait
  Pearsall, Texas 1952
  The Chair, All My Exes Live In Texas, Love Without End, Amen
  Nine platinum and eight gold albums. Entertainer of the year 1990.
• George Jones
  Saratoga, Texas
  Born 9-12-1931.
  Major hits include his first Why Baby Why, White Lightning and She Thinks I Still Care.
  CMA Male Vocalist of the Year 63, 64, 80, and 81.
  Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame 1992.
• Kenny_Rogers
  Houston, Texas
  Born 8-21-1938
  Singer for the Bobby Doyle Trio, The Christy Minstrels and The First Edition. Lucille, The Gambler and Coward Of The County.
  Eleven platinum albums; more than any other country artist.
• Gene Autry
  Tioga Springs, Texas
  9-29-1907
  Starred in 88 western musical pictures including his first western movie Tumbling Tumbleweeds in 1934. He later recorded the song by the same name. Well known for the original Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. His first recordings were on the Sears Roebuck label.
• Waylon Jennings
  Littlefield, Texas, June 15, 1937
  Good Hearted Woman, That's What You Get For Lovin' Me, Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up Tp Be Cowboys
• Bob Wills
  Kosse, Texas
  3-6-1906
  The King of Western Swing. Hits include Faded Love and Stay A Little Longer, and San Antonio Rose.
  Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968.
• Jim Reeves
  Galoway, Texas (Panola County)
  Born 8-20-1924 Died 1964
  Four Walls, He'll Have To Go
  Elected to the CMA Hall of Fame 1967. Reeves had fifty-two top ten hits between 1953 and 1982.
• Buck Owens
  Sherman, Texas 8-12-1929
  Star of the TV show Hee Haw from 1969 to 1886. Recorded 21 straight #1 records. I've Got A Tiger By The Tail and Streets of Bakersfield
  Billboatd's top single and album Artist of the Decade, 1969.
• Roger Miller
  Ft. Worth, Texas
  1-2-1936
  King Of The Road and Chug A-Lug Chug A-Lug
  Won a Grammy for Dang Me
• Ray Price
  Perryville, Texas
  1-12-1926
  Help Me Make It Through The Night
  Won a Grammy for For the Good Times in 1970.
• Tex Ritter
  Murvual, Texas 1905
  Original founder of the Country Music Hall of Fame and elected in 1964. His original hits include Jingle, Jangle, Jingle and Jealous Heart.
• Mac Davis
  Lubbock, Texas 1941
  Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me and It's Hard To Be Humble. Mac has written songs sung by over 150 artists including the Elvis hits In The Ghetto and Don't Cry Daddy.
• Tracey Lawrence
  Atlanta, Texas 1968
  Gold album Sticks and Stones, 1991
• Dan Seals
  McCamey, Texas
  Born 2-8-1948
  Meet Me In Montana and Everything That Glitters
• Ernest Tubb
  Crisp, Texas
  2-9-1914, died 1984.
  Original recordings include Walking The Floor Over You and Blue Christmas Elected to the Country Music Hall of fame 1965.
• Michael Martin Murphey
  Dallas, Texas
  3-14-1945
  Wildfire, What's Forever For, and A Long Line Of Love.
  PO Box EFT, Taos, NM 87571
• Lefty Frizzell
  Corsicana, Texas
  3-11-1928, died 1975.
  If You've Got The Money, I've Got The Time and Saginaw, Michigan (1964)
  Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982.
• Larry Gatlin
  Seminole, Texas
  5-2-1948
  Won a Grammy for Broken Lady in 1975.
• Lyle Lovett
  Klein, Texas
  Born 1956
  1980 graduate Texas A and M University. Won a Grammy in 1988 for His Large Band.
  Mail: 70 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, Ca. 91608
• Johnny Rodriguez
  Sabinal, Texas
  12-10-1951
  You Always Come Back To Hurting Me and I Just Can't Get Her Out Of My Mind
• Vernon Dalhart
  Jefferson, Texas
  Born 4-6-1883
  Recorded The Wreck Of The Old '97(1924) and The Prisoners Song. One of the first country artists to attract national attention.
• Hank Thompson
  Waco, Texas
  9-3-1925
  Biggest hit was The Wild Side Of Life, which got an angry response from Kitty Wells with It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.
  Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989.
• Al Dexter
  Jacksonville, Texas
  4-4-1905
  Recorded on of the all time best selling songs, Pistol Packin Mama, (1943)
• Jimmy Dean
  Plainview, Texas
  8-10-1928
  Jimmy's big hit was Big Bad John in 1961.
• Red Stegall
  Gainsville, Texas
  a Cowboy with hits Somewhere My Love (1973) and Party Dolls and Wine.
• Stewart Hamblen
  Kellyville, Texas
  10-20-1908
  Open Up Your Heart and Let The Sunshine In and This Old House.
• Johnny Horton
  Tyler, Texas
  Born 4-30-1929 Died 11-9-1960
  I'm a Honky Tonk Man (1950) and The Battle of New Orleans
• Charlie Pride (Honorary Texan, Sledge Miss.)
  Born 1938
  Charlie has made his home in Dallas for years.
  Top his include Is Anybody Goin to San Antone and Kiss An Angel Good Mornin

Texas Best Hall of Fame Country Singer, Female

• Barbara Mandrell
  Houston, Texas
  12-25-1948
  Star of the TV series, Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters 1980 - 1982. Entertainer of the year, 1980 and 1981.
• Tanya Tucker
  Seminole, Texas
  10-10-1958.
  Hit it big at age 14 in 1972 with the song Delta Dawn.Tanya has many other hits including What's Your Mamas Name.
  Mail: 5200 Maryland Way #202, Brentwood, Tn 37027
• Jeannie C. Riley
  Anson, Texas
  Harper Valley PTA and The Girl Most Likely.
  

Texas Best Female Vocalist, 1996

• Jean Beck-Prescott
  Selected by the Academy of Western Artists
• Trudy Fair
  Best female western swing artist, by the Academy of Western Artists.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Country Band

• Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
  Originally the Light Crust Dough Boys. Two well known songs were San Antonio Rose and Faded Love. The announcer for this group in 1934 was a Texas boy named Walter Cronkite.

Texas Best Country Singer, Female, 1996

• Le Anne Rimes (Honorary Texan)
  Garland, Texas ( Born in Jackson Mississippi )
  At the age of 14 recorded Blue, a song written for Patsy Cline 35 years ago by Texas' own Bill Mack of WBAP Midnight Cowboy fame.

Texas Best Country Singer, Male, 1996

• Robert Earl Keen
  Bandera, Texas 1956
• Jerry Jeff Walker (Honorary Texan)
  Oneonta, NY
  He is into his 25th year of Lone Star residency. In 1971, he set up shop in the Texas capitol of Austin.
• Junior Brown (Honorary Texan)
  Kirksville, Indiana
  Junior's new album is Semi-Crazy
• Cowboys and Indians * Honorable Mention
  Eric Swanson, Dallas, Texas,
  The Western Life
  Nominated for a Grammy.
• Asleep At The Wheel (Honorary Texans)
  Grammy for Best Instrumental.

Texas Best Country Rapper, 1996

• Neal McCoy
  1958
  Jacksonville, Texas
  Two albums on the charts with his last release in May. Neal McCoy is basically a R&B singer with a country recording contract.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Songwriter, Country

• Willie Nelson
  Abbott, Texas, 1933.
  Songwriter, singer, and films.
• Kris Kristofferson
  Brownsville, Texas
  6-22-1936.
  Songwriter, singer, and films.
  Wrote Help Me Make It Through The Night, Sunday Morning Comin Down, and Me And Bobby McGee.

Texas Best Soul Music

• Otis Williams
  An original member of the Temptations. Vocals include the first hit The Way You Do The Things You Do, (1964)
• Carl Gardner
• Billy Guy (Coasters)

Texas Best Folk Singer, 1996

• Steve Earl
  Nominated for a Grammy for Contemporary Folk.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Blues Singer, Female

• Janis Joplin
  Port Arthur, Texas, 1943 - 1970.
  Recorded Ball And Chain, Piece Of My Heart, and Me And Bobby McGee before her death in 1970. Janis Joplin Birthday Bash is held in Nederland, Texas in January. 409-722-3699

Texas Best Hall of Fame Blues Singer, Male

• Floyd Dixon
  Marshall, Texas
  Wrote Hey Bartender and recorded Dallas Blues and Telephone Blues.
• Blind Lemon Jefferson
  Wortham, Texas 1897, died 1929
  One of the first and most influential rural blues singers.
  King Of The Country Blues
• Mance Lipscomb
  Navasota, Texas April 9, 1895, died 1976
  Texas songster 1990 CD Compilation.
• Fabulous Thunderbirds
  The Fabulous Thunderbirds are one of the finest examples of Texas roadhouse electric blues. The original lineup featured the taut lead-guitar work of Jimmie Vaughan (Stevie Ray's brother) and Kim Wilson, the band's frontman, a master of rude harmonica playing. the Fabulous Thunderbirds hit it big in 1986 with the #10 title cut off of the Dave Edmunds-produced TUFF ENUFF. Since then they've continued to enjoy a string of hits, including a remake of Sam & Dave's Wrap It Up, Stand Back, and Powerful Stuff, featured in the Tom Cruise film Cocktail.
• T-Bone Walker
  Born in Texas in 1929
  T-Bone was a major influence on BB King and co-author of the Blues classic Stormy Monday

Texas Best Blues, 1996

• Bugs Henderson
  Contemporary Blues with a compliment of rock, country and rockabilly.
  Tens Strike Again.

Texas Best Hall of Fame POP Singer, Male

• Roy Orbison
  Wink, Texas,1936.
  Recorded hits in the sixties, seventies, and eighties including Only The Lonely, Crying and Pretty Woman. Roy Orbison Memorial Concert is held in Wink in June. 915-527-3441.
• Buddy Holley
  Lubbock, Texas, 1936.
  Buddy wrote and recorded classics including Peggy Sue, That'll Be The Day, Maybe Baby, Oh Boy, Rave On, Not Fade Away and Words Of Love. Buddy died in a plane crash a year and a half after recording his first single.
• Don Henley
  Linden, Texas
  Born 1948
  Drummer for 'The Eagles' till they disbanded in 1980 to go off on solo careers. They reunited in 1996, and are now touring together again.
  Desperado and Hotel California among many others.
  Mail: 9130 W Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Ca. 90069

Texas Best POP Group, 1996

• Jackopierce
  Dallas, Texas
  Pop influenced by folk and blues.
• Tablet
  Dallas, Texas
  Pinned album and Cancelled single.
• Old 97's (Rhett Miller)
  Dallas, Texas
  Hitchhike To Rhome and Wreck Your Life

Texas Best Hall of Fame Songwriter, Pop

• Roy Orbison
  Wink, Texas,1936. Recorded hits in the sixties including Only The Lonely, Crying and Pretty Woman. Roy Orbison Memorial Concert is held in Wink in June. 915-527-3441.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Rock Group

• ZZ Top
  (Billy F. Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill)
  The group formed in Houston in 1970. Albums include Tres Hombres and Deguello. Eliminator is their best selling album.
• Sly Stone
  Born 3-15-1944
  Vocals and keyboard for Sly and the Family Stone who sang soul music converted to rock.

Texas Best Rockabilly Artist, 1996

• Ronnie Dawson
  Dallas, Texas
  Just Rockin and Rollin and Rockinitus
  A new release of Ronnie's fifties and sixties recordings is Rocking Bones.
  He's making a new assault at 50 with a rockabilly sound.

Texas Best Rock Group, 1996

• Bedhead (Matt and Bubba Kadane) * Honorable Mention
  Wichita Falls
  Bedheaded
  Rock instrumentation with a touch of POP and country vocals.

Texas Best New Alternative Rock Band, 1996

• Radish
  Greenville, Texas
  The new single Dear Aunt Arctica was released on October 22. The song Bedtime is on the flip side. These songs are from the forthcoming album due for release in February 1997.
• Rev. Horton Heat
  Dallas, Texas
  Liquor In The Front and It's Martini Time.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Rock Singer, Male

• Meatloaf (Marvin Lee Aday)
  Dallas, Texas, 1947.
  First album was Bat Out Of Hell

Texas Best Hall of Fame Female Tejano Singer

• Selina
  Lake Jackson, Texas. Killed 3-31-95

Texas Best Tejano Band, 1996

• La Mafia
  Houston, Texas
  With the 1986 release of their debut album, simply entitled "La Mafia," the band quickly gained rave reviews. In 1990 La Mafia became the only Hispanic group to receive three consecutive Gold albums in one year. Nominated for a 1996 Grammy.

Texas Best Male Tejano Singer, 1996

• Emilio
  Emilio has been a constant on Billboard's Latin album charts since his 1991 release of Unsung Highways 1992 EMILIO Live! and 1994 Southern Exposure. His current EMI/Latin release of SoundLife is now charging up the Billboard Latin charts.

Texas Best Gospel, 1996

• Yolanda
  Houston, Texas
  School teacher nominated for a Grammy.
  More Than A Melody

Texas Best Nuclear Polka, 1996

• Brave Combo
  Denton, Texas
  Polka For A Gloomy World nominated for a Grammy.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Pianist

• Harvey Lavan Cliburn
  Kilgore, Texas. Winner of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in 1958.
• Scott Joplin
  Texarkana, Texas December 24, 1868
  King of Ragtime
  Maple Leaf Rag used in the 1973 movie The Sting.
• Moon Mullican
  Corrigan, Texas
  Born 3-27-1909
  Texas best country pianist utilizing a two finger right hand style. Moon was known as the king of hillbilly piano players.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Guitar

• Stevie Ray Vaughan
  Oak Cliff, Texas
  Albums include Texas Flood, Couldn't Stand The Weather, and The Vaughan Brothers Family Style, 1990,
• Charlie Christian
  Dallas, Texas
  Born 1919-1942
  Jazz musician that first played the Electric Guitar with Benny Goodman.

Texas Best Steel Guitar

• Leon Mcauliff
  Houston, Texas
  Born 1-3-1917
  Played with the Light Crust Doughboys and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Steel Guitar Rag, Panhandle Rag, Cozy Inn and I Don't Love Nobody.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Texas Fiddle

• Johnny Gimble, 1926
  Played with Marty Robbins, Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, and Willie Nelson.
  Johnny Gimble and The Former Texas Playboys nominated for a Grammy in 1981 for Best Country Instrumental Performance.
  The Fiddle Collection. Johnny won a 1996 Grammy for Best Instrumental.
  Mail: PO Box 347, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620.

Texas Best Hall of Fame Accordian

• Flaco Jimenez
  His accordian is in a glass case at the Hard Rock Cafe. He has played with everyone from the Rolling Stones to the Texas Tornado.
  Nominated for two Grammies.

Texas Best Washtub Artist

• Washtub Jerry * Honorary Texan
  e-mail: wash@astro.as.utexas.edu
  McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas
  Big favorite at Texas festivals. Plays a mean #6 washtub.