Texas Music: The Experience, The History, The Legend

Texas Music: The Experience, The History, The Legend AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- As a pioneer in many diverse fields, it's not surprising that Texas is viewed as a main instrument of American music. Buddy Holly, Bob Wills, Selena, Ornette Coleman, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Roy Orbison, ZZ Top, and the Dixie Chicks, among others, all hail or hailed from Texas -- and they all made their mark on the genres that were to follow. The theme throughout: diverse, talented, Texas musicians who work together to form new variations of music and an unmatched spirit and experience for their listeners. There's a feeling of pride in all things Texan. Pride in independence and experimentation; in heritage and freedom; and in individualists blazing new trails. To fully understand these roots of Texas music, it's important to first understand the cultures and history that influenced it. Most notable comes from the lone, free-spirited country bay of the cowboy; the smooth, somber rhythm of R&B and blues of African-Americans; and the love songs, festive fandangos and polka from the meld of German and Tejano traditions. Put them all together, and you form innovative Texas musical developments that range from TexMex and Conjunto, honky tonk and electric blues, to rock n' roll, punk rock, jazz, classical and Down South Hip Hop. To learn more about Texas' music history, there are a variety of interesting museums and halls of fame to visit that are devoted to the state's rich musical past. Among them are: * The Texas Music Museum in Austin (http://www.texasmusicmuseum.org/ ); * The Heart of Texas Country Music Association in Brady (http://www.hillbillyhits.com/museum.html ); * Lefty Frizzell Country Museum at Pioneer Village Museum Complex in Corsicana (http://www.ci.corsicana.tx.us/pioneervillage.htm ); * West Texas Music Hall of Fame in Fort Worth (http://www.westexmusichof.com/ ); * Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage (http://www.carthagetexas.com/tcmhof/index.htm ); * The Selena Museum in Corpus Christi (http://www.q-productions.com/museum.htm ); * The Museum of the Gulf Coast (http://museum.lamarpa.edu/ ); * New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music (http://www.nbmuseum.org/ ); * The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock (http://www.buddyhollycenter.org/ ); and, * The Woody Guthrie Folk Music Center in Pampa (http://www.pampastribute.org/ ). In addition, tours and shows are also given at various performance halls, opera houses and state historical landmarks including the Columbus Opry (http://www.columbusopry.com/ ), Bass Concert Hall in Fort Worth (http://www.basshall.com/ ), the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston (http://www.thegrand.com/ ) and the Wichita Theatre and Opera House in Wichita Falls (http://www.wichitatheatre.com/ ). Other mainstays in the Texas music industry that shouldn't go unnoticed include established and legendary dancehalls, venues and festivals across the state. This brings us to a few of the top landmarks that residents and visitors alike pay homage to on a quick waltz across Texas' music scene: * Luckenbach Dance Hall: A landmark in Texas' music pantheon, Luckenbach is a family-oriented dance hall. Made famous by Willie, Waylon and the boys, the city itself is a Texas legend, where famous and unfamous alike can slow down the pace, get back to the basics and enjoy the simple things in life. (http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/ ) * Billy Bob's of Fort Worth: Known as one of the world's largest honky tonks, the building was built in 1910 and was once a large open-air barn for housing prize cattle during the Fort Worth Stock Show. Today, with nearly 7 acres of space, Billy Bob's has 32 individual bar stations, country music's biggest stars, Live Pro Bull Riding and a Texas sized dance floor. (http://www.billybobstexas.com/ ) * Gruene Dance Hall: Located in New Braunfels, is a bar and dance hall that was built in the 1880s and soon became the social center for the community. It still stands at the end of Hunter Road and the intersection of Gruene Road. It is the oldest dance hall in Texas and many country-singing stars and legends have performed there over the years. Willie Nelson, George Strait, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Lyle Lovett are some of the well-known performers who have graced its stage. (http://www.gruenehall.com/ ) * Adair's Saloon: Adair's, a small, unassuming little honky-tonk, much longer than it is wide, was established in 1963 in the Deep Ellum district of Dallas. Pictures of famous folks (before they became famous) grace the walls, including the Dixie Chicks and Jack Ingram, where they used to play; signature graffiti covers the tables and booths; and customers are entertained with live music every night of the week. (http://www.adairssaloon.com/ ) * South by Southwest (SXSW): The self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World," among other things Austin boasts one of the top music conferences and festivals in the industry, held every year in March. SXSW showcases hundreds of musical acts from around the globe on fifty stages in downtown Austin. (http://www.sxsw.com/ ) * Austin City Limits: Inspired by Austin's promising live music scene in the early '70s, Austin City Limits developed as a television program for the masses on PBS and has featured more than 500 acclaimed artists on its stage over the years. This year marks the show's 30th anniversary celebration. Although tickets are hard to come by, fans of the show can tour Studio 6-A at station KLRU on the University of Texas at Austin campus. In addition, the fourth annual Austin City Limits Music Festival, featuring over 70 bands on multiple stages, will be held September 23-25, 2005. (http://www.austincitylimits.com/ ) * Mardi Gras Galveston: Each year, more than half a million people gather in the streets of Galveston Island to participate in one of the largest Mardi Gras celebrations. For 12 days and 11 nights the island is overcome by the sounds of live music, parades, masked balls, and flamboyant costumes. This year, Mardi Gras! Galveston salutes American patriotism with "Mardi Gras! Galveston: Red, White, and Blue," January 28, 2005 thru Fat Tuesday, February 8, 2005. More than 30 bands will captivate spectators on two grand stages located in the heart of the Bud Light Entertainment District. (http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/ ) These are just a few of the many places around Texas to experience and enjoy the history and ambiance of live Texas music. Texas is a celebrator of all cultures, histories and people, past and present, synthesizing together to form one great state of music. For more information and reviews on some of the state's best museums, halls of fame, live venues and festivals, visit http://www.traveltex.com/ . About The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism promotes Texas as a premier travel destination and supports statewide tourism. Tourism is one of the largest industries in the Lone Star State, employing 478,000 Texans. In 2003, travelers spent more than $41.2 billion in Texas. Travel expenditures generated $2.2 billion in state taxes and $661 million in local taxes. For more information on Texas travel events and vacation destinations, visit http://www.traveltex.com/ or for a free Texas State Travel Guide call 1-800-8888-TEX. CONTACT (Austin): Alison Eshelman (alison@vollmerpr.com) VOLLMER * (512) 472-3515 Source: The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism CONTACT: Alison Eshelman of VOLLMER, +1-512-472-3515, or alison@vollmerpr.com , for The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Web site: http://www.traveltex.com/ http://www.texasmusicmuseum.org/ http://www.hillbillyhits.com/museum.html http://www.ci.corsicana.tx.us/pioneervillage.htm http://www.westexmusichof.com/ http://www.carthagetexas.com/tcmhof/index.htm http://www.q-productions.com/museum.htm http://museum.lamarpa.edu/ http://www.nbmuseum.org/ http://www.buddyhollycenter.org/ http://www.pampastribute.org/ http://www.columbusopry.com/ http://www.basshall.com/ http://www.thegrand.com/ http://www.wichitatheatre.com/ http://www.luckenbachtexas.com/ http://www.billybobstexas.com/ http://www.gruenehall.com/ http://www.adairssaloon.com/ http://www.sxsw.com/ http://www.austincitylimits.com/ http://www.mardigrasgalveston.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment