I don’t know when it happened or how it happened, but I knew that one day I would live in Texas. And so it has come to pass. I have lived the ‘hippie gypsy’ life of a radio vagabond, and as such, I have spent time in some of the most beautiful places in the country. From Florida's Atlantic coast to Ojai, California, to a hilltop in Nashville, to the Connecticut waterfront, to New York City; they have all left their mark on me. I remember playing Tanya Tucker’s “Texas When I Die” on the radio at WHN in New York, when it came out in 1978, and I think that is when I decided I had to live here one day.
Texan pride is an amazing thing, it permeates one’s soul. We extoll the virtues of this state, even though it is hotter than the blazes in the summer. But that is a small price to pay for the wide open spaces, the food, the music, the friendliness of the people, the cross pollination of cultures. It just feels comfortable. Now, I am not saying that other places don’t, nor that I haven’t enjoyed the charms of the other locales. But I am happy to be here.
I had lunch at Guero’s Taco Bar a couple of days ago with Brian Smith and the folks from the Ghost Ranch Saloon. We talked about how the spirit of Texas overtakes Steamboat Springs every year during MusicFest. I can’t believe it was just January that we were there for our first event of 2011, as it seems like so long ago.
We had Gary P. Nunn in the house, what a joy that was! Check out his tour dates, and try to catch up with him soon for a magical night of music. Meanwhile, enjoy this Music Fog recording of “Taking Texas To The Country,” the title track from GPN’s fifteenth studio album, which came out about a year ago.
-- Jessie Scott
