I'm finally back! Don't know where i've been. Haven't been anywhere, and I've been everywhere at the same time. I've seen a lot of beautiful Texas country. The fact is I haven't had time to sit down and reflect on the places we've been, the things we've done and the progress we've made. We have been so busy and that's the good news. I apologize and promise to stay in better touch.
Right now I'm listening to a demo version of what will soon be a new CD released to be titled, " GARY P. NUNN GREATEST HITS VOL. II It's a second compilation of songs I've released in the past. Volume I affectionately known as the "Armadillo Crossing" has and is doing so well, we thought we would release another. All 18 tunes are remastered and sound better then the first time around. My partner in records, Paul Jones, of Campfire Records put it together, and it's scheduled to be ready by Nov. 20th. In plenty of time for Christmas!
Meanwhile, it's time to make a new record. The years just aren't as long as they used to be, and it seems that about the time you get one out, it's time for another. Were getting a great run out of our latest, "IT'S A TEXAS THING" ( Did you notice I misspelled Thang?) It had a good run up the Texas Music Charts and still gets lots of play. We are fortunate, at last, to have a significant number of radio stations that have opened their formats to include TEXAS MUSIC. They are too many to list individually but you find them at www.texasmusicchart.com We appreciate each and every one that plays our music. Still yet, it's time for a new one, and I'm in the " get your tunes together mode".
Things are good here at the AO Ranch. We've had a decent year weather wise, got rain just about when we needed it, and made a fair crop of hay, and getting a second cutting as we speak. The cows are fat and slick with a nice crop of calves hauled to market. Three good foals out of Charlie Shropshire's good Oklahoma Star stud, down the road. I need to sell some horses. " There's only so much fun a cowboy can have by himself".
I'm realizing that I may have taken on more than I can say grace over. All this running around, playing shows, making records, keeping well ...the ranch going, etc. etc... and driving 1000 miles every weekend has me stretched out pretty thin. When we moved to the ranch, our plan was to fix it up and have it to enjoy, and get back to Texas! The kid will be out of high school after next year and we're seriously starting to think about trying to get back where we belong. Live is too short.
Speaking of the family, it's been a little rough on them as well. Ruth, has turned over her booking chores to our agency, Austin Universal Entertainment, but she still oversees my calendar, which requires her time and attention. But bless her heart, between doing all that and managing the ranch, being a great homemaker and mother to our son Julian, and caretaker for all the two and four legged's around here, she hasn't been off the place more then one or two times in the past two years, and frankly she's getting a bit of cabin fever. I'm totally sympathetic! We used to get away and spend some time in Port Aransas on the beach and skiing at Taos Ski Valley which she really enjoys. I'm sure it reminds her of her native Switzerland, with the European cuisine and ambiance at our favorite , the St. Bernard Hotel.
Julian, who grew up skiing at Taos, is now 16, a junior at Eufaula High. He has his driver license, thank God, and he can drive himself to school and back, round trip about 60 miles a day. ( We're out in the boonies here ). He is doing so much better in Eufaula where he can participate in " FOOTBALL " ! The Ironheads are 9-1 and in the playoffs for the state championship. He is getting to play quiet a bit and has distinguished himself on numerous occasions. He's totally committed to football life. His mother has raised him right cause he gives us no trouble, makes good grades, and is active in church youth programs. Our quality time most often is our nightly before bed trips to the hot tub. Our talks there run the gamut, and it pleases me that he feels he can talk to the old man, man to man.
My oldest boy Lukin, is still in Nashville. He has held down a regular job for a few years now at the Sunshine Grocery, a natural food store. He's fooling with music more and more which pleases me and scares me at the same time. His wife Amanda, has a job in a picture framing shop which she really enjoys. Silas, he is 5, and going to pre-school. He visits with Gee-Paw on the phone regularly. They seem to be happy together and that's about all one could wish for his children.
The Sons of the Bunkhouse Band has finally settled and I have a really fine crew working with me. Danny Hawk, steel guitar man, has been with me going on 4 years now. We picked up Brooks Robinson on drums, and he is doing an excellent job. To top it off, I had the good fortune to have Steve Layne rejoin the band on bass. Steve left me about 8 years ago to go out with Junior Brown, another former member of the Bunkhouse Band. Steve's experience, musical ability, and singing talent has enabled us to achieve a new level for a four piece band. Justin Belshe rounds out our mean and lean crew taking care of transportation, sound, merchandising, and is an excellent amp and guitar technician. If anyone out there needs your guitar or amp tweaked up, Justin can handle it. Contact him @ justinbelshe@yahoo.com
Now here we are in the post Sept. 11 era: which, to use a old Sioux Indian expression, was " a day to count time by ". I was on my annual Texas Vaquero Trail Ride when the word start coming in that morning. Someone turned on a radio and we listened in shock and horror, knowing instantly that all of our lives had changed forever. Thinking perhaps that as many as 10's of thousand of innocent people had perished. Questions flooded my mind about the possible consequences for our nation. Would this send our already slowing economy into a tailspin? Would we go to war? What other atrocities were the terrorist willing to commit? My heart went out to all those who suffered such incredibly devastating losses of family members and loved ones as a result of the attacks. I cannot fanthom the pain and suffering they must feel and I pray that the Lord comfort them and heal their broken hearts.
Life must go on as we join together as a nation to close ranks to combat an enemy that seeks to destroy our way of life. There is no substitute for freedom and liberty.
So we will " keep on keeping on" as long as we are able. We really have so little to complain about and so much to be thankful for as our business continues to grow. Record sales are increasing, our audiences keep growing and becoming more enthusiastic. People are starting to come out of the woodwork. They tell me, I've been following your career and admiring your work for many years." Many have commented that they look forward to receiving the newsletter in the mail. You've no doubt noticed that I haven't sent one out in over a year now. The obvious reason is that access to the internet has fundamentally changed our options for communicating and has made it infinitely more economical and time efficient to stay in contact with everyone. In the future I intend to make a special effort to keeping you all abreast of the latest news, notable events, milestones, and " Horses and Goats" for sale. Please inform all your friends that the newsletter from now on will be available on my web site and we invite you all to visit us regularly.
Well "dillo-heads", it's time to wrap up. Before we do we just want to convey how very much we appreciate your friendship and support and welcome new passengers on board. We feel like we're just part of one big family of " friends for life", and we appreciate having the opportunity to share what we love to do and have you all enjoy it as much as you apparently do. Print out our schedule, put it on the fridge, and come and see us when you can. In the mean time, God bless us every one.
Gary P. Nunn
