Just talked to Jim Wilson. Seems he's rounded up a trio, sharing that great cowboy music down at the Lajitas Resort. Allen Damron has his Christmas party there on December 14, as well. When I interviewed Shelley King at the Ol'Waterin' Hole in Kerrville, she has just played Railroad Blues. She was in love with Alpine, Texas. Don't miss her next appearance at Railroad Blues. This woman rocks out, croons ballads, sails through country and rolls with the blues. And she's beautiful.

The name "Alpine" conjures up images of the wild west, the rocky Big Bend, the spacious skies of freedom. I remember after one visit that I, too, wanted to move out West. But Kerrville and Schreiner University keep my feet nailed to the floor. For now.

My desk is covered with Cd's from the various independent labels. One treasure came from the Center for Texas Music History (thank you, Gary Hartman), and includes 21 songs for only $10. This is volume 3, featuring The Flatlanders, Toni Price, Jerry Jeff Walker, Pat Green Rosie Flores, Lavelle White, Gary P. Nunn, Katy Moffatt, Houston Marchman, Rodney Hayden, Kimmie Rhodes and others. Volumes one and two are also available. What a Christmas package! Send the money to The Center for Texas Music History, History Department, SWTSU, San Marcos, TX, 78666. Sign up for the journal while you are at it. Great information on Texas music history.

Rounder Records has a catalogue full of Texas music. Check out their internet site at www.rounder.com One treasure is a collection of 14 songs by Nanci Griffith, produced by Griffith and Monty Hitchcock. Nothing more soulful for a lonesome moment than Nanci singing "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness." I know that place. Of course, she also does a Townes Van Zandt song, "White Freight Liner." I remember her standing, in white socks with lace around the top, on the stage at the Kerrville Folk Festival. Now she has charmed the world, with a huge fan base in Ireland. Bet she would love Alpine.

Sugar Hill Records has given us a new James McMurtry and a new Guy Clark CD this year. Guy must be reading my mail when he writes "She Loves To Ride Horses." He must know about my failing knee when he writes "Dancin' Days." I did spend some time interviewing Guy on the French Riviera in the early 90's, but his memory can't be that good. I think he just knows women who would carry a "pistol in her purse." When he said, "She ain't going nowhere, she's just leaving, " I though he wrote that about me, as well. And I didn't know him then. Ah, these Texas poets. He includes "Rex's Blues" by Townes Van Zandt. See www.sugarhillrecords.com for the complete picture.

I'm off to teach in Mexico from Dec. 27-Jan. 11. San Miguel de Allende calls me out on a regular basis now. I'll be heading back in May with a group of students. And I spent Thanksgiving there, listening to great music at the International Jazz Festival. The Texas/Mexico connection has spawned movies, songs and books. I recently heard the authors of Border Radio at the Texas Book Festival. I learned a lot about those radios broadcasting on the border. One story told of birds dropping from the sky as they flew through the millions of watts being broadcast through the air.

University of Texas Press has released a revised version of Bill Malone's book on country music, as well as a revised copy of Border Radio. Another stunning music project is the book Texas Trilogy, which includes photos of small towns in Texas with the text of the song with the same name by Steve Fromholz. Craig Hillis (with over 140 photos by Bruce F. Jordan) offers his own take on Fromholz's tale. Hillis provides the story of Bosque Country, and Fromholz explains how he wrote the song "Texas Trilogy." Head to your nearest bookstore (Front Street?) and get this new take on Texas history and Texas music. Ils sont partis and Merry Christmas.

Contact me with information: www.texasheritagemusic.org or kat@maverickbbs.com.
Hudson teaches at Schreiner University and directs the Texas Heritage Music Foundation

Kathleen

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