Greetings from Cow Creek,
Another summer has come and gone and it has been a “scorcher”! Thankfully, we had a few inches of rain toward the end of August…cooling things off greening the grass. The cool weather reminds me that it’s time to get out the fall newsletter. Ruth and I have been “fall” cleaning around the place. Apparently mesquite trees thrive on hot, dry weather, cause we have a “bumper crop” of mesquite beans. I’ve had a couple of nice breaks recently. My buddy, Dr. Super Dave and I flew up Taos, NM and visited with some old friends, and made new ones. Michael Hearne’s annual Barn Dance was in full swing and I got to play a few tunes with him and his great band, South by Southwest. We looking at going back up after Christmas for a working ski holiday. I’ll let you know if and when we do, as I’d love to have ya’ll meet us there. I just got back from my annual trail ride with the Tejas Vaqueros. The weather was beautiful and we had a great ride in the Guadalupe River Valley. It’s the only time since we moved from the A-O Ranch that I get to ride any more. If it would rain a bit more, I’d bring some horses down from the ranch as I really miss playing with them. I guess I’ll always be a ”cowboy at heart”…..
The family is all good. Ruthie P. still puts up with me and serves me great European style home cooking every day. As you can see by looking at my tour schedule that I’m gone a lot . It never fails that when I get home she has made some nice improvements to the place. She measures, she saws and she nails down whatever her creative mind can come up with. I just haul the materials and stay out of her way and that seems to work best. She wanted a Kubota tractor with a brush hog, a scraper, and a front-end loader for her birthday. I have a feeling the landscape may start to change around here.
Number one son, Lukin, is still in Nashville. He has changed jobs and now is working for Whole Foods. I’m counting on him to learn the food business so maybe we can do a restaurant someday. Actually, initial plans are being discussed to do just that. It would be great if my sons were involved in it with me. Our youngest boy, Julian, is 23 now and out in the world as well. He’s in the market for better job…wants to start his own business…I always tell my boys….”whatever you do, do the very best you can, and try to make it fun”…to borrow a line from a Red Steagall poem. Lukin’s boy Sylas, age 12, is a straight A student and knocking the lights out with his test scores. He reads voraciously which, no doubt, gives him a great advantage. We’re trying to figure out a way to get them all out here to Texas.
Business has been good. We have managed to work a full schedule all summer including August when things usually slow down. Hurricane Ike punched a few holes in the calendar as we had some gigs in the Houston and Beaumont area which had to be cancelled. Our hearts go out to those who were hurt so badly from that terrible storm. The boys in the ‘Bunkhouse Band” are doing a super job and I’m enjoying playing music now more than at anytime in my career. Have I introduced them to you? On the drums is BEAU JOHNSON…on bass is BRACKEN HALE…and on guitar is DEREK GROVES. They are all very good musicians, very good looking, and have great voices, great attitudes and work ethic. I love working the four piece band as it gives me a greater opportunity to play more guitar. I have always been a utility player, “the jack of all trades”, playing whatever instrument was needed in the band. The four piece situation is gives me a chance to develop my skills as a guitar player which is what I’ve always wanted to do, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. It’s not easy…but it’s not impossible.
The new CD, “LIVE AT THE MAJESTIC THEATRE” is flying out the door and is being met with rave revues. Everyone says it’s the best recording I’ve ever done, and I have to agree. My live performances are always superior, in my opinion, to the studio. It was recorded that historic evening last August in Dallas for the TEXAS MUSIC LEGENDS SERIES CONCERT, which featured Michael Martin Murphey, Rusty Wier, Bill and Bonnie Hearne, with Michael Hearne and South by Southwest, with absolutely the best equipment available as the resulting product testifies. I hired some extra players and background vocalists which really augmented the recording. It just sound terrific, if I do say so myself. It was a great evening with everyone getting on stage to help me finish the show with, guess what…?…”I wanna go home with the armadillos”…”Friends for life got together, one more time, for old times sake“. It was great! I hope you will add this one to your collection.
I want to do a little survey. My good buddy Tommy Alverson has invited me to do his annual event in Cancun, Mexico. Its in August, and goes on for four or five days. It’s a very affordable package with air fare, rooms, food and drink provided. Everyone who goes raves about it. If you think this is something you would enjoy, just drop us a line via e-mail, with your contact numbers, and we will keep you posted. It’s a tropical vacation at a luxury beach resort, with great music by Tommy and myself. Whether I can do it or not depends on how many I can entice to come down with me. Please let us know if you would like to do this. “Oh… I love the waves…on a sunny day…grabbin’ a cold one with Jose…”
We have some exciting things coming up. We will be doing the FRIENDS FOR LIFE BENEFIT show in Houston at the Hornsberger Center with Jerry Jeff Walker on Oct. 10th, and the TURKEY FEST in Cuero on the 11th. Coming up on Halloween night, the 31st, the Ambassador of Texas Music…that’s me… returns to LONDON HALL… then on Nov. 1st, we’ll be at NELSON CITY DANCE HALL off I-10 west of Boerne. That’s opening weekend for deer hunting season and we’re looking forward to two big nights in the hill country. We’ll be in Greenville, Tx., for a Christmas show Dec. 13th, and in Luckenbach, Texas, for a Hill Country Christmas Ball Dec. 20th. We‘ll be at LOVE AND WAR IN TEXAS in Grapevine, (Dallas area) for NEW YEAR‘S EVE! More information about reservations, etc., will be available at our website as soon as we have all the details. These, in addition to regular shows at our favorite spots like the Broken Spoke, and Blanco‘s, and many private affairs will keep us busy the rest of the year. I’m looking forward to returning to Washington, D.C. for the Presidential Inaugural Ball in January.. This is the 3rd time for me, and I’m very much honored.
Well, that’s about all I have from this end. I want to take this opportunity once again to thank you all for your continued support and friendship. Some of the stories I hear about how we have played a small but significant roll in the lives of so many of you, is gratifying…That’s why we do what we do, with the hope that the effect we have will be positive and bring forth fond memories. When people inquire about how my career is going, I liken it to a trip to Santa Fe from Texas. It’s a long ride on what appears to be flat ground, but when you get there, you realize you’ve risen significantly in elevation! We’re doing just fine and enjoyed the heck out of it. Check out our road dates at garypnunn.com, and make your plans to be with us when we’re in your area, or plan a “road trip” to one of the many colorful destinations where we perform. Visit the BUNKHOUSE PRODUCTS STORE where all our products are available via Paypal. We can have them in your hands in a matter of days. I’m also happy to take the time to do any special autographs you may desire. Until next time, take care and “never lead a child down the wrong trail“. (quote by Roy Rogers).
Gary P. Nunn
