My first visit to Texas was in 2001 when
I attended the Legends of Western
Swing Festival in
Wichita Falls, where I had
the opportunity to see some of the best bands and artists
of modern day western swing. In particular, Tom Morrell
and the Timewarp Tophands, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys,
for which Leon Rauch and Tommy Allsup owned the name,
as well as Jody Nix and The Texas Cowboys and Curtis Potter
with the National Swing Band of Texas. Three of the leading
musicians playing there who are now classed as monumental
western swing legends were sensational fiddle player Bobby
Boatright, astonishing guitarist Leon Chambers and of
course “Ace” steel player Tom Morrell. Sadly we
have lost these three great musicians over the past few
years and this CD is a tribute to those highly talented
music makers. Contributions from Leon Rausch, Jody Nix,
C. B. Sutton, Curtis Potter, Durwood Strube, Gill Prather
and Greg Gibbs on vocals provide an enchanting collection
of timeless classics.
Brady
Bowen from Jacksboro, Texas
has been a trainer of cutting
horses for over 30 years with a wide-ranging experience
in the cutting horse industry. His first major success
in the arena came when Lena Leo War Lady won the NCHA
Breeders Cutting in 1990. Since then he has been a finalist
multiple times at each of the National Cutting Horse Association’s
Triple Crown events and is an AAAA-rated judge. He became
a director and a key member of the Judges Rules committee
for the National Cutting Horse Association
and also accepted
the Vice President’s chair.
Trainers in various equine disciplines
often say, “What spare time?” when referring to the long
hours required to ride customers’ horses. Brady is also
an accomplished fiddle player and has surrounded himself
with many of the best musicians in western swing. He has
released 6 albums which he named “In My Spare Time” plus
a tribute album to the highly respected fiddle player
Billy Dossier, an ‘Instruments’ CD and this tribute album
making it 9 in all.
Over
the years Joe Baker and Howard Higgins have sent me several
CDs to play on the Western Hour section of my weekly show
The Country Connection. It was from those CDs that I first
became aware of Brady Bowen and was instantly drawn to
the exemplary musicianship and vocalists included on the
albums and are regularly included in my shows.
A few years ago I was privileged to meet and see Brady
Bowen perform at the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium at
Ruidoso, N.M. where he thrilled the crowds. The tracks
on this album were previously recorded in 1994. Piano,
twin fiddles have been added as well as all the artists
and then the whole album re-mastered.
While playing the pre-release copy at home
my wife Marlene commented “what a great album and all
those lovely songs,” I’m sure that you will also agree;
what a great album this is and a wonderful tribute to
three stellar musicians!!! I feel blessed and privileged
to have known them!
Buy
the CD
Graham Lees 2012
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