Because I use different software than Donna, I had to cut and paste the article together. Here is how it looked, in The Kerrville Daily Times, before I pieced it together for my blog.
Legends Music Series
Gary P. Nunn kicks off trilogy of summer concerts
By Donna Gable Hatch
Features Editor
Singer-songwriter Gary P. Nunn’s career began in the 1960s with the Fabulous Sparkles before he
settled in with the Lost Gonzo Band. The band dissolved in 1980, and Nunn struck out in his own,
cementing his status as a musician of note in the years that followed.
The Legends Music
Series, hosted by the inimitable
Kinky Friedman — begins June 26 with Gary P. Nunn, whose six decades-long
career includes a hitch with the Lost Gonzo Band, a combo of socio-cosmic
cowboy cowjazz with a dab of Psycho-billy.
“I’ve know
Kinky for more than 30 years, and over the years, he’s talked about doing this—
putting together singer-songwriter type of concerts — with guys like me and
him. I’m happy to be part of this, and proud to be the first one in the first
series.”
A Texas
institution, Nunn will perform with his four-piece band, which includes Rick
Ramirez on bass, Russ Patterson behind the drum kit and Lars Albrecht on
guitar.
One of Nunn’s
most famous songs is “London Homesick Blues,” which had been used as the theme
song for the popular television show “Austin City Limits” for two decades.
Seating is
limited.
He also wrote
“The Last Thing I Needed the First Thing This Morning, Was to Have You Walk Out
on Me,” which was recorded by Willie Nelson, and which he will sing on June 26.
“I’ll do all my
old songs, the ones people always want me to do,” said Nunn, who recently
branched out into Western swing ala Bob Wills. “I’ve got 16 albums out and a
lot of material, all of which I like. As time goes by, you kinda focus on a
group of songs that seem to work consistently with audiences.”
Born in
Oklahoma, Nunn and his family moved to Brownsville when he was in sixth grade,
and he considers himself to be a Texan.
His parents both were schoolteachers,
and they instilled in him the importance of education, holding true to good
moral character and paying forward kindnesses.
“I guess we’re
all a product of our upbringing, and I had good folks who valued education and
music, had good values and were all about helping people,” said Nunn, who was
an honors student and an athlete all through school. “I’ve always tried to
remember that.”
It was his
father who encouraged him to pursue music.
“My dad bought
me a guitar, a set of drums and a bass when I was in sixth grade. I don’t think
his intention was that I would make a life in music, but just so I’d be able to
play for the kinfolks and friends when we
got together.”
He and some of his friends
from school formed a garage band in eighth grade and were mentored by a group
of older, established musicians.
“They taught us a little guitar song called ‘Rebel,’
and we entered a talent show.”
As soon as he stepped on stage, Nunn knew that’s
where he belonged.
“We dressed up in little
white sports coats and bow ties. The girls all went crazy, and I was pretty much
hooked,” Nunn said. “I thought every night was going to be like that.”
In 1967, he moved to Austin
and attended the University of Texas, where he was a pharmacy major. While
there, he formed The Lavender Hill Express with the late Rusty Weir. Shortly
after, Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Murphey landed in Austin,
and Nunn began playing with all three.
In 1973, the Texas
troubadour helped launch the Outlaw Country movement as a member of the Lost
Gonzo Band. The band toured and recorded with many of Texas’ most notable
musicians, including Walker, Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard.
“From time-to-time, we get together
and perform. It’s kind of cool to go back and play those old songs,” he said of
the Lost Gonzo Band, which dissolved in 1980. “There’s some pretty good stuff.
We all ended up making our own careers
independently, which speaks to the amount of talent in the band. The band got Jerry
Jeff going, and that’s saying something.”
In the course of his career, Nunn has
earned several gold and platinum records for writing, publishing and performing.
And his awards are many.
He was inducted in the
Texas Hall of Fame. He was named as a Lone Star Great by the state department
of Commerce and Tourism, got a star on the West Texas Walk of Fame — which also
honors Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings and Bob Wills, among others —
and was chosen as the official Texas Music Ambassador in 2007 by Gov. Rick Perry.
“All of it is pretty great,
but I’m so proud of being included in the West Texas Walk of Fame that I can’t
stand it. I grew up in West Texas listening to Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, and
to end up on the same monument as those guys is just awesome,” Nunn said. “I
really don’t deserve it, but I’ll take it.”
And it all started with his
parents, he said.
“My parents were good
folks. They encouraged me and set me on a good path from the beginning, and it
helped that they were schoolteachers,” he said.
“I’ve had really, really
good teachers and coaches growing up, and we’re losing them one-by-one now;
they’re all passing. I was an honor student, and I played ball in school — I
played ’em all — and I was a pretty good little athlete for a guy my size.
“Some of my music teachers
had a tremendous affect on my life. I had a sixth grade band director, Mac
Jones, who I’ve been reunited with. He lives out in the Houston area, and he
came to see me at one of my shows. My choir director, A.V. Wall, encouraged me
and treated me a little special — I guess he recognized I had a little talent — and they both encouraged
me and pointed me in the direction I’ve gone,” Nunn said. “It’s amazing how
someone can show just a little bit of attention on you and change your whole
life."
About the series
Each of the
concerts the Legends Music Series includes a five-course, 5-Star meal from Chef Blas Gonzalez,
executive chef at Hunt Store Cafe.
Tickets per
concert are $75 plus tax for dinner and show, or $100 for dinner and show with premium seating
and a meet-and- greet on the patio.
The menu
includes a choice of soup, mixed green salad, mixed plate of hors d’oeuvres, choice of
macadamia crusted mahi mahi, grilled airline chicken breast or 6-ounce grilled
filet mignon served
with cous cous and seasonal vegetable medley, choice of tequila key lime pie, raspberry
chocolate cake or Jack Daniels bread pudding.
Dinner is
served at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 9 p.m. For info call 830-238-4410
Y'all have a great evening!
Y'all have a great evening!
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