Greetings from the A-O Ranch,

Well, here we are, starting a new year all over again, and very happy to be able to do so. We enjoyed a good year once again, increasing our business and adding a number of new rooms to the list of regular venues we've played over the years. We are particularly happy to announce a 50% increase in record sales over last year. The latest release, "IT'S A TEXAS THING", in its first year, has exceeded all previous releases in sales for that time period. To add to that, the Greatest Hits CD, "WHAT I LIKE ABOUT TEXAS", has been a consistent best seller! We are pleased to announce that it was selected as BEST OF GENRE on the CD NOW web-site.

Naturally, I'm pleased that business is picking up, but I can't neglect to recognize the fact that we no doubt are boosted by the tremendous growth in Texas Music in general that can be attributed directly to the attention the Texas Music genre has received from the media. Scores of radio stations have added Texas artists to their play-lists. Slick magazines specializing in Texas Music have hit the newsstands, TEXAS MUSIC MAGAZINE, for example. There is simply no substitute for people hearing your music on the radio, and we are eternally grateful to all those stations that include us in their format.

In the meantime, it hasn't all been roses. I had to endure the whole summer without a regular drummer. We auditioned and subbed 6 different drummers, sometimes having a different one every night. This could have been a nightmare, but fortunately almost everyone we used did a good job. It didn't keep me from worrying myself sick wondering if I was going to be able to put on a good show changing drummers every night. We did survive and finally were able to acquire the services of a long time Austin Picker, Michael Christian. Michael and the band are really beginning to gel and he brings a great attitude and an outstanding, voice to the band. About this time, our new steel guitar player, Emmitt Roch, who was just beginning to get familiar with the material, went to Spain to live with his new Spanish bride. Fortunately, former Son of the Bunkhouse, (SOB) keyboard player Nick Whitworth called and said he was available to play. At the same time, former steel guitar playing band members Danny Hawk and Herb Steiner offered their services, if needed, in addition to other quality steel players in the area. So, I have managed to improvise and survive and even thrive through all the setbacks thanks to bass player Steve Layne who has become the backbone of the band since he came back a year ago after a 6 year stint with another former SOB member, Junior Brown. Sometimes I think I should do a T-shirt with the names of all the musicians I've played with me over the years. I don't think there would be enough room to list them all.

I can't neglect to mention our main man, Justin Belshe, a very important part of the Bunkhouse Band. Justin wears lots of hats and wears them all very well. He takes care of transportation, all of our musical equipment, sound engineering, and merchandising, as well as the logistics of bringing all 5 musicians together at the same time and place. Believe me, bringing 5 musicians together is probably the hardest part, it has been linked to " herding a flock of guineas " ! Thanks Justin for a job well done.

Here at the ranch, frankly I've been playing on the road so much, I have only been here about an average of 2 and1/2 days a week. I'm home just long enough to repack my bags. Ruth and Julian are doing okay, but we all suffer from amount of time I have been spending on the road. We have made new resolutions that we have to make adjustments so that we can spend more quality time together. It's been almost three years since we've taken a vacation together. Life is too short for this to continue. This is a primary reason we decided to move back to Texas. I will effectively regain two days a week that I have spent driving back and forth for the last 17 years. Ruth got me darkroom equipment for Christmas as she informed me that I was going to need a new hobby. Actually that was very thoughtful of her as I had for the most part, hung up my camera since we moved to the ranch. I am now anticipating getting back in to shooting black and white film and perhaps putting out a publication featuring my photographs. When I was on the road with Jerry Jeff Walker in the 70's I took lots of photos of lots of famous performers. At least in the future, I will have the time to contemplate taking on projects that I just haven't had the time to consider,

Julian is a senior in high school. He was big into football this year. He was selected MOST OUTSTANDING LINEBACKER in his district, which I thought was great since this is the first year he has gotten to play at all. We didn't transfer him to Eufaula until he was a freshman, so he got a late start on an outstanding team that went to the state playoffs every year. He was totally devoted to his training and his coaches finally realized what an outstanding young man he is and used him extensively. It was only yesterday that we were changing diapers, and now he's grown up and going away to college. We don't know where yet, but most likely somewhere in Texas,

Lukin, my oldest boy is still in Nashville holding down a regular job and writing songs and recording when he gets the chance. From what I can gather he's getting more and more in to it, though he's not too forthcoming about what his music sounds like. He just says, you wouldn't like it. Okay, when you're ready, I'd like to hear it. I suppose he can't help having music in his blood. Silas, his son, is in the first grade and an electronic genius. He knows how to operate every electronic gadget perfectly. His mom, Mandy, is very artistic as well and loves to write poetry and paint. They are a very bonded little family and seem to be happy and that makes me happy. I intend to make some trips to Nashville this year, so I will look forward to spending more time with them as well.

Well folks, that about all the news I can come up with right now to get y'all up to date on the state of the Bunkhouse Band and the Nunn family. Ruth says to tell you all hello for her and hope you are all doing great and will tell all your friends to go out and see Gary P. Nunn and buys all his records and stuff. She wants me to remind you that all that GPN stuff is available here at the Bunkhouse Store and you can order it and pay with your credit card. That's a very convenient feature and lots of folks take advantage of it. We appreciate your visiting us in the guest book, and have received lots of great notes so keep those coming. So, till we meet again, here's "a little something for the trail".

Sincerely,

Your friend for life,

Gary P. Nunn