Two weeks ago I was thrilled to make my Fort Worth debut as the featured artist at the homeTOWNESfest, an annual event organized by Bruce Payne.
“The only reason I started doing this is to spread the songs,” Payne told KNXT radio. “People need to hear this stuff in the younger generation. Folks like Jacob Burr, Zach Pack and Jack Barksdale help spread that love of the music.”
I was the kickoff event and that show was held in the 90 capacity Rose Chapel at the Southside Community Center, not far from the house where Townes’ parents lived.
Bruce was kind enough to take me out to Townes’ grave site, on what would ave been Townes 80th birthday. It was an hour’s drive to Dido, land which Van Zandt ancestors once owned. And here’s the grave as we found it (nothing added)
Meanwhile a small plane flew over the grave multiple times, towing a 90’ x 30’ banner saying “Listen to Townes Van Zandt”. Another banner flew in the skies of Austin during SXSW! Townes widow, Jeanene Van Zandt arranged all this including designing and commissioning the two 2,700 square foot banners, a project she told me “took about four months”.
Have a look on Townes’ facebook for a better photo, scroll down to March 7.
Bruce also arranged an extensive on-air interview on legendary community radio station KNON on Dyna Strain’s show. Here she is, along with organizer Bruce Payne an Jack Bullet Harris to her left.
I’ve known Bullet since 1983 when he was the original drummer for Steve Earle & The Dukes and the son of a famous Fort Worth jazz musician, also named. Jack Bullet Harris
Two other major, major highlights for me were paying a visit to Record Town TX, one of the longest-lived record store in the U.S., if not the world. Legendary Stephen Bruton’s parents established it in 1957, present owner, industrialist Bill Mecke bought it from the family when noted blues guitarist Sumter Bruton, who ran the shop for years passed. Thanks to Bill I was able to release HOUSTON BLUES THROWDOWN, June 1977 recordings by Rocky Hill, Doyle Bramhall and Dobie Malone. Here’s Bill and Cadillac Johnson, who has a long history of activity in the Texas music scene, including stints with Rocky.
And I was invited to eat dinner by America’s best-known character actor, Barry Corbin. He and his wife, Jo treated me to a chicken-fried steak at Risckys in the fame Stockyards district
https://www.fortworthstockyards.org/eat/risckys-steakhouse
Barry and his charming wife also attended my performance and was kind enough to pose for a picture.
Next UP the performances.