The Anticipation Builds...

Wow! Parts of Texas have really been hit with unusual weather this winter. Thanks to Mother Nature, the release listing of Texas Music Award hopefuls has been delayed.

As I looked over the nominations list, I saw a lot of names I've not seen before. That means we have a lot of new talent emerging on the scene. That's not to say they'll be an overnight success story. You and I both know that doesn't happen. What it does tell us is this talented group of artists and musicians are finally seeing the payoff for years of hard work.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be introducing you to a few of them. Maybe even get a couple to drop by and say hi.

Something else you'll be seeing on this blog is more of me. I've not been as regular as I'd like to have been. But music - especially Texas Music - is in my heart. Whether the artist is true Texas flavor or a Texas native taking their music elsewhere, I want to showcase them here. My hope is to sometime in the next year or two, be able to report from the Texas Music Awards. I'd also love to take you 'live' to Fandango! Speaking of, that is coming up earlier this year than in the past and in a new location. I'll get you the details later in the week so you can make travel plans.

If you or someone you know should make an appearance in my Texas Star Spotlight, please leave a comment or email me at kellyscountry@missouri.usa.com .

Country Blessings!

Kelly - The Country Angel

Live From Luckenbach

One of my most recent ‘finds’ is Thomas Michael Riley. I’ve featured Thomas here during the TMA Awards. Tommy’s a nice guy and it’s easy to see why he and Mike are good friends. You will often catch the two of them on stage somewhere in Texas. So it came as no surprise to me when Thomas Michael Riley and Mike Blakely teamed up for their most recent collaboration –
Live From Luckenbach.
Live From Luckenbach gives us 15 tracks of great music with some ‘visiting’ mixed in. With an awesome sound system, you’ll feel as if you’re tilting that hard-rail chair back with a cold one in your hand watching these guys entertain you. You’ll enjoy some of your favorites such as ‘Charlie Siringo’ or ‘Ride the River’ and maybe some you’ve not heard before like ‘Tequila Memory’ or ‘In the Garden’.

In my review of Mike’s new CD I told you about the FREE instant download from MyTexasMusic. Live from Luckenbach is the first CD to have this special feature. So head on over to http://www.mytexasmusic.com/thomasmichaelriley/ and get your copy.

Lucky Boyd calls Thomas Michael Riley and Mike Blakely ‘legendary’. I have to agree. These two down-to-earth boys are what good Texas music is all about.

Live From Luckenbach earns…


Thanks for a great CD, guys!
Country Blessings!

Homemade Serenade - Mike Blakely

Today, I’m offering up two reviews in two separate posts. They’re both brand new out of the chute with an awesome bonus, which I’ll tell you about in just a bit. But first, to the review.

It’s no secret Mike Blakely is one of my favorite Texas musicians. I’ve been waiting semi-patiently for his new acoustic CD ‘Homemade Serenade’. As soon as Mike told me it was available, I headed over to http://www.mytexasmusic.com/ and clicked the order button. And that awesome bonus I mentioned – Free Instant Download of the album in MP3 format with purchase! No waiting for the CD to arrive to listen to it. Leave it to MyTexasMusic to give us a little something extra for our hard-earned cash.

Oh.. the CD… Homemade Serenade is done in true Mike Blakely flavor. Beautifully done and reminiscent of his 1994 CD Ride the River – (an album that won Album of the Year and a Songwriter of the Year Award for Mike in 1998 from the Texas Hill Country Music Awards).

With cuts like Ode to Blue, That’s the Way I Feel and the title cut Homemade Serenade, it appears as if Mike has come home. I can picture Mike sitting on the front porch of his home on the Seven Stars, stocking-feet tapping to his guitar strum putting these together. But don’t let those soft songs fool you. Like Here’s to Horses (from Mike’s West of You CD), there has to be a little humor and he delivers with his dream to St. Peter in
St. Peter’s Day Off and Jesus and Juan. One other song really catches my attention –
Luckenbach Blue Moon New Year’s Eve.

If you don’t have plans for this New Year’s Eve… you might want to make reservations to hear him play this one in person at the Luckenbach Dance Hall. I hear the tickets sell out fast so plan ahead by going to http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/

I’m giving this CD

Thank you, my friend…
Country Blessings!

A Pleasant Surprise...

Last week I ordered two new CDs (which I’ll be posting reviews for next). As a result I’ve been emailing back and forth with Jinelle Boyd. One of the emails I received from Jinelle this past week was to let me know that The Country Angel blog is the Recommended Blog of the Week at MyTexasMusic!

Here’s what Jinelle had to say in this week’s eZine of MyTexasMusic…

Recommended Blog:
We love The Country Angel Kelly Henkins' blog, and you will too! Give her a visit at:
http://kellyscountry.blogspot.com
Refreshingly honest point of view, great reviews...check her out today!

Please take time to stop by www.mytexasmusic.com for a look around. Everything on MyTexasMusic is on consignment directly from the artist. Jinelle and Lucky take care of all the business so these talented artists can spend their time doing what they love – performing and recording.


Thanks, Jinelle
Country Blessings!

Priorities

There are times in life when some things just have to come first. In the case of the past eight months that some thing was actually a 'someone' - my granddaughter. When her mom moved to Nashville in January on a job hunt, I had the blessed duty of caring for my two-year-old granddaughter. Two year olds take a lot of time and attention. She wasn't any trouble, this grandma just chose to put her first... a decision I will never regret. We've become best friends and now that she's living in Nashville, she tells mommy every day she misses grandma. ;-) You can't ask for better love than that.

While she was here, I chose not to work. I kept an ear to what was going on with some of my friends in the Texas music industry, but writing about their adventures was not on the top of my list.

On July 4th, my daughter spirited my angel six hours away and with the exception of a short visit, the house has been really quiet without her chatter, giggles and constant activity. But it also meant I could get back to business. Slowly, I've been putting the house back in order and deciding where I want to go next.

I know that I do not want to lose The Country Angel. True country music has always been important to me and so with this post, I pick up the pieces to make The Country Angel what I intended it to be from the beginning. So every Wednesday will find me here letting you know who's doing what in Texas music. I've put out the call that I hope to bring you music reviews along with spotlight what some of our old friends are up to and introducing you to new faces to our place.

So grab a cold one and kick back. I promise you'll be glad you hung around.
Country Blessings
Kelly

Jimmy Dean

Country Music lost another legend this past weekend. Though the name Jimmy Dean has become more synonymous with sausage than with his musical talent. Jimmy Dean was 81.

Born in 1928 near Plainview TX, Jimmy Ray Dean fell in love with music at an early age, learning to play the piano by the age of 10. It didn’t take him long to master other instruments as well.

His musical career followed his service in the Air Force. He formed a band in Washington DC called The Texas Wildcats. Their first national hit came in 1953, Bummin’ Around.

His long television career began in 1955 on the Town and Country Jamboree on WMAL in Washington and later the Jimmy Dean Show on CBS until 1959. Other tv shows would include his prime-time hour on ABC from 1963-1966 where he opened his shows with every country act of the day. His last series was Jimmy Dean’s Country Beat in 1984.

Mr. Dean had his first big hit, ‘Big Bad John’, the first song he ever attempted to write, and is the one he is most noted for still today. Other songs included ‘The First Thing Every Morning’ and ‘Slowly’ – a duet with Dottie West, and gospel music.

You may read his obituary here:
http://www.legacy.com/NS/Obituary.aspx?pid=143577302

Happy Trails, Jimmy Dean
Country Blessings

And the Award goes to...

… Pauline Reese for Entertainer of the Year!

Wow! What a monumental night for the Texas Music Awards (www.texasmusicawards.org). For the first time in the eight-year history, a woman has taken Entertainer of the Year, proving hard work will get you places. It’s no doubt Pauline is one of the hardest working women in Texas music AND she’s a full-time wife and mom. For all you ladies out there trying to make it in this business, you won’t find a better role model than Pauline. Make sure you stop by her website (www.paulinereese.com) and give her some love!

On further notes of those we spotlighted over the past few weeks…

Thomas Michael Riley (www.thomasmichaelriley.com) won Album of the Year for Tommy. This is an awesome CD. If you don’t have a copy I suggest you head over to his website. There’s a reason it won Album of the Year. It’s what good Texas music IS.

John Arthur Martinez (www.johnarthurmartinez.com) took home Record of the Year for Utopia. I failed to mention in my last post, John is a previous recipient of the Entertainer of the Year (2006). He’s just GOOD!

And once again, certainly not the least of the line-up is Shake Russell. Vocal Duo/Group for 2010 now belongs to the Shake Russell Trio. Shake, along with Doug Floyd and Michael Roberts proved they have what it takes. This may have been their sophomore album but there’s nothing second class about this trio.

The Texas Music Awards motto is ‘Recognizing Texas Talent – Rewarding Texas Pride’. They have stood by their creed every year and last night was no exception.

Keep in mind, I am no way slighting any of last night’s nominees and/ or winners. They all deserved to be nominated in their respective categories and on stage. Maybe next year I’ll have new faces to introduce you to. In the mean time…

CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners! You ARE Texas Pride!

Country Blessings
Kelly