Greetings from Cow Creek,
I bet ya'll thought you were never going to hear from me again, but you should expect it by now. I'm always late in getting back with news, and I really don't have a good excuse except that I have been burning up the road, doing lots of really fun shows and traveling around the beautiful state of Texas . The words to the song, "UNDER MY HAT", describes it pretty well, "I been lucky, knock on wood, working steady and life is good"! Almost too good, as I've been home only one or two days a week for the last couple of months, but one has to "make hay while the sun shines".
We're all settled in now in our new house, and we are so happy to be back in Texas . The house turned out really nice and let me say how pleased we are with the job that all the folks at David Weekly Homes did. Ruth is out in the yard right now pushing back the wilderness and planting palm trees and century plants. "Mister Nunn, you're going to be really pleased when I get this place fixed up like I plan to". She calls me Mister, when she makes her pronouncements with a Swiss accent. Her work ethic and determination to finish a job once she starts, never ceases to amaze me. Really I would never have imagined that we could pull it off and get relocated, but she sit me down and showed me on paper how we could do it. It just goes to demonstrate the simple fact that if you focus and concentrate on a specific goal long enough, you will eventually attain that goal. I read a book many years ago titled, "Secrets of the Ages". When I saw the title I thought to myself, I wouldn't mind knowing the Secrets of the Ages. The premise of the book was very simple, i.e. that we can create anything if we will only focus and concentrate on exactly what it is we want; that focused and concentrated thought creates a magnetic- like force that attracts all the components necessary to bring the creation to fruition. The completion of this house and our relocation back in Texas is a good example of how this philosophy can be employed. From nothing, something can be created.
The family is all doing well. Son Julian, had his 18 th birthday this summer where he was a counselor and weight-lifting instructor at CAMP STEWART FOR BOYS near Hunt, Texas .
That was really great experience for him and I think prepared him well for entering college at Texas State University in San Marcos . His experience as a camper and a counselor at Camp Stewart was invaluable in shaping his character and giving him a sense of independence and self-reliance. We plan on sending grandson Silas, now 7 years old, to Camp Stewart starting this next summer. His dad, Lukin is still in Nashville , playing in bands, writing songs and holding down a job. They were out here to visit us this summer and we had a ball. Took them straight to Barton Springs and pushed them in the "sacred waters". Silas said, "Geepaw, sacred waters are cooooooold"!
We reached a milestone this past August as it has been 30 years since we recorded the "LONDON HOMESICK BLUES" in the dancehall in Luckenbach , Texas , with Jerry Jeff Walker for his "VIVA TERLINGUA" LP. It amazes me yet how a funky little song that I made up in London, England, just to pass the time, seems to be just as well received today as it was back in 1973. I am often asked, "don't you ever get tired of singing that song"? I will always respond, "not as long as people want to hear it". I'm happy to report also that our song, THE LAST THING I NEED, FIRST THING THIS MORNING, --co-written by Donna Sioux Farar-was included on the CD titled THE 16 GREATEST HITS OF ALL TIME by WILLIE NELSON, It was included on Willie's most recent release, THE ESSENTIALWILLIE NELSON. It was performed by KENNY CHESNEY on the USA Network during the tribute to Willie honoring him on his birthday and included on the CD of that show. According to Puddy. Willie's famous roadie and a most reliable source, Chesney said it was his favorite Willie Nelson song. This all makes us feel real good.
The BUNKHOUSE BAND has been sneaking out of Texas and getting a little guacamole and hot sauce on other parts of the country. We went to Washington, D. C., and played for the annual Texas State Society Barbeque, and most recently traveled to Oregon for a festival in Portland , then a show down near Grants Pass. We really had a ball out there. It is such beautiful country and really felt good to get out see other parts of the country. Thanks a million to Erik Starr and all the gang at the Portland Brewing Company for their most excellent hospitality, and Mike Desimone at the San Antonio Star in Medford , Oregon , who treated us like royalty. You would never meet a bigger fan of Texas Music. Also, a big Texas thanks to producer and musician extraordinaire, Lloyd Maines for making it possible for us to make the trip.
We had the great pleasure to participate in the Waylon Jennings Tribute live recording concert in New Braunfels , organized and hosted by Cody Canada and Cross Canadian Ragweed. The proceeds for the Tribute CD all go to the Diabetes Foundation. I am really proud of the giant strides that Cody and the Boys have made in the last couple of years. We've been watching them with pride since they first appeared at our Terlingua North Chili Cook-off and Summer Social at the A-O Ranch some years ago, as we have other talented young artists such as The Great Divide with Mike McClure, and Pat Green. They are bringing to fruition the goal we have always worked for, and that is a "viable music industry here in Texas "!
We've been sneaking in the studio and doing a bit of recording. It's been way too long since the release of "IT'S A TEXAS THANG", which has done very well indeed, as well as the release of the compilation CD, "GREATEST HITS, II". But by far, the first compilation, "WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS", has been the most successful and continues to be the best seller as is approaching the 30,000 units mark. That's not bad for a product the bulk of which has sold off the tailgate of my pickup truck! We had word just today is was selected "USA/CAN Album of the Year" by Ray Grundy's Metro Country Radio Metro. Leigh. England " Some time ago it was selected "BEST OF GENRE" by the website, CD.com. right up there with Leon Russell and other well known big name artists. The great Canadian and international star Leonard Cohen once told me in a response to the question I asked him, "what is the key to success"? and he responded. "success is survival".
Ruthie sold all my cows last fall and then she called me and said," Mr. Nunn, you are cowless". Spellcheck informs me that "cowless is not a real word". Apparently, spellcheck isn't either. Anyhow, I really miss my cows, especially in the spring when the baby calves come. I don't miss spending cold winter days on a tractor putting out hay for them. The ranch is still for sale. Anyone looking for a prime spot for hunting, I can fix you up. There's beau coups of white tail deer, turkey, and ducks on this 500+ acre property that stretches 1 full mile along the north bank of the South Canadian River . Year-round spring fed creeks meander across it and the water is so good you can drink it off the ground. I've often thought that if I ever have to give up the road life, that I would bottle the water and sell it. The thought that my fortune was running, unnoticed, under my feet and into the river haunts me. Sometime we don't recognize the really precious things that are right under our noses. I still have horses for sale. Some are ready to go, a black mare with extensive training with APHA papers, 14 hands, and perfect for a lady or a young rider. She's got plenty of pep, can "turn on a dime and give you nine cents change". Three coming 3 year olds-a big, nice sorrel gelding, a San Peppy bred bay mare, and a non-papered beautiful palomino filly. All are very gentle, cause I made them that way. I will have them trained and delivered to you door.
I raise horses for safe and pleasurable riding.. Give me a call and we'll horse trade.
I need to wrap this up and get it off to the webmaster. We are making plans for next year to really make an extra effort to refocus our attention and concentrate on our music business activities.
The new album will be forthcoming after the first of the year and I'm excited about the tunes we're working on. They all have been audience tested and have received positive response. The fun part is playing them live, watching the people sing along as they go dancing by. That's success for Gary P.
Ya'll come see us when you can. Check out the schedule on the Gary P. Nunn on the Road, order some Christmas stuff from the Bunkhouse Products Store. We appreciate your friendship and support more than words can express. I consider everyone of our fans, a personal "friend for life". With that I will say, "hasta la vista" and "vaya con dios".
