While still in in their teens both brothers started playing professionally. Noel’s first experience began in the honky-tonks and dance halls around Bandera. Hollin, at age16, joined his brother, playing such colorful places as San Antonio biker bars and rustic dives. Since then the McKay Brothers have shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Charlie Robison and Robert Earl Keen.

Cold Beer & Hot Tamales
In the fall of 2005 the McKay brothers completed a record with producer Lloyd Maines. This record gives the listener as true a feeling of the their live performances as can be captured on a CD. With Mark Patterson on drums, Corby Schuab on mandolin, Joel Guzman on accordion and Lloyd Maines at the helm, the result of this collaboration created a sound that is uniquely their own.

Cold Beer & Hot Tamales, captures the essence of true Texas Hill Country music. The songwriting explores a range of stories and emotions from cold and hot to refreshing and spicy. With an intriguing mixture of lyrics in both English and Spanish, they demonstrate their musical agility in material that moves from tender to humorous to satirical. The reverence the brothers show for the land and heritage of the people meanders like a river throughout the diverse tracks on this album. Immersed in the elusive beauty and complexity of the land that gave them birth, the spirit of the Hill Country has clearly shaped and influenced their music.

Before recording Cold Beer & Hot Tamales, the McKay Brothers songwriting was already much talked about. Legendary singer songwriter Guy Clark has been quoted as saying of the McKays, “They are enchanting and amazing.”

A New York Times magazine, Style article by Paula Disbrowe, chronicled their life on the road along with a four page spread on Noel and Hollin.

You can find the brothers playing their favorite dance halls across the Hill country. There performances include national and international venues. Two of their most memorable shows were The Kerrville Folk Festival and the Blue Highways Festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands with Guy Clark, Adam Caroll and Hayes Carll.

The wide appeal of the brothers is reflected in the numerous glowing comments from their fans. “They have a unique Texas country style with great rhythms.” And other fans say, “Only 5 stars are available but these boys easily deserve way more stars than 5!” "Their songs will touch your heart, head and soul and make you laugh out loud." “They are great to see and the music sticks with you." “Tan suave! Enjoy los hermanos guapos!”

"Absolutely phenomenal" raves Ray Wylie Hubbard.

His style is upbeat, down-home and magnetic.  His ability to engage spirited audience participation in sing-a-longs, limbo contests and untamed conga lines one moment and in their seats spellbound the next is what makes Taylor stand out among entertainers.  For every two or three of his good time, country, rocking tunes, Taylor delivers a poignant ballad about life and the passion and resilience required to get through it.

A new role Taylor has taken on it that of Record Producer.  In the last 5 years he has produced 3 compilation CDs, Live From Meridian, 2 albums for up and coming young artist, Mike Graham and Brand New Day for longtime songwriter friend, Joe Pat Hennen and most recently Abby Abernathy’s Short Stories.

Another thick layer to LJT is that of Music Promoter and Festival Producer.  Taylor has hosted a Texas Music Festival in April for 15 years in a row with crowds over 15,000 in attendance for this four-day event.  Taylor’s 11th Annual festival was featured as one of the top 5 music events in the state in the December 1998 Performing Songwriter magazine.  In 1998 he initiated an annual “Island Time Festival” in Port Aransas, TX with the same musical format.  Individual artists as well on radio stations seek Taylor’s help when promoting their own events.  As long as it’s for the promotion of singer/songwriters, Taylor enthusiastically shares his expertise.

Add to the list his establishment of his own record company, “Boat Folk Records” and publishing company, “Texribbean Publishing” and it’s apparent that Taylor’s musical interests and talents are numerous as well as diverse.

Whether it’s through a song, in a recording session or right in the middle of a major festival, what Larry Joe Taylor does best is relate to all kinds of people in all kinds of places. He has performed in a wide range of venues, including the world famous Billy Bob’s Texas, the elegant Scott Theater in Fort Worth, historic Gruene Hall and a number of outdoor festivals, yacht clubs, country clubs and regular roadhouse honky tonks.

Taylor performs with his band and acoustically with other songwriters. Most notable songwriting circles include shows with Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rusty Wier, Terri Hendrix, Pat Green, Chris Wall, Bob Livingston, Keith Sykes, and Brian Burns. He has opened for Jerry Jeff Walker, Robert Earl Keene, Guy Clark, Radney Foster and Lari White.

Although, Texas has been good to him and his roots will always be in the Lone Star state, recently Taylor has begun to tour outside of Texas traveling across the US and possibly a European tour in the works.

Rusty was born in Corpus Christi, but has called Austin, Texas home for many years.  At the age of three, while riding his imaginary horse in the aisles to the strains of an impromptu “William Tell Overture” from the piano player and laughter from the patrons of his dad’s restaurant in downtown Austin, Rusty discovered an ability to make people smile.  Growing up in a world of restaurants, nightclubs and hotels, he learned that no one was a stranger and the world was a stage - and for a $5.00 ticket he could dish out $50.00 worth of entertainment.

After more than ten years of Rock’n Roll bands, Rusty gained national prominence during the legendary “outlaw “ era.  Rusty shared stages and entertained with Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Amazing Rhythm Aces, Atlantic Rhythm Section, Pure Prairie League, Gatemouth Brown, Steve Fromholz, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck, BW Stevenson, Waylon Jennings, Asleep at the Wheel, Jerry Jeff Walker, Commander Cody, Doug Kershaw, Ray Charles, Lynard Skynard, The Allman Brothers and even had George Strait opening shows for him.   

Rusty signed his first recording contract with ABC Records and went on to record for 20th Century and Columbia Records.  Rusty’s recordings produced nine charged singles and the crowd-pleasing “Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance”. This song was later covered by eight major artists from around the world including Barbara Mandrell and Jerry Jeff Walker.

Bonnie Raitt’s recording of the song for the movie and soundtrack album “Urban Cowboy” earned Rusty a Double Platinum Album certifying over two million in sales.
 
Rusty Wier is a Texas troubadour.  He writes songs, sings and tells stories.  He is backed by a tight band of great musicians. Rusty enjoys loyal followers everywhere he goes, including Europe, and continues to perform more than 150 dates every year.  He has made numerous appearances on Austin City Limits and the Nashville Network Series, The Texas Connection. He has appeared in well-known television and radio campaigns for McDonald’s, Lone Star Beer, the City of Austin, House of Jeans and many others.  His music video “Lover of the Other Side of the Hill” aired on the CMT Network. Recording “Are We There Yet? includes four songs co-written with his two sons, Bon and Coby Wier, who prove their outstanding ability as musicians.

Rusty wrote or co-wrote most of the material for the nine albums he has released.   He recently released his newest CD "I Stood Up" in which Wier co-produced with Larry Nye.  Other releases such as "Stoned, Slow, Rugged", "Black Hat Saloon" and "Stacked Deck" are also now available through this website.

His devotion to his live performances and his recordings is filled with his determination to make you keep on smiling and even smile a lot more! Wier currently draws on a wide variety of music available in the Austin area; country, blues, rock, and Latin rhythms and performs every week in Austin at the Saxon Pub and Gino's.  Be sure to catch his show if you're in the area
 

Micheal floated into Texas three years later and settled into life on the Gulf Coast. Although he now calls South Padre Island Texas home, Micheal spends his time happily wandering between the Rio Grande, New Orleans, and the Florida Keys. His music, being a reflection of his lifestyle and surroundings, is garnering recognition, in the Americana/Texas Music genre here in the States as well as Europe. But additionally, Micheal has become a defining benchmark in the today's huge “Gulf Coast Americana” market.

It is an ironic twist that this Oregon native who worked the clubs of the Pacific Northwest so extensively for over 20 years should finally begin to gain national attention with the mistaken identity as a “Texas Songwriter”. But a rapidly growing loyal following of fans and media alike are comparing Micheal with such notables as Robert Earl Keen, Joe Ely, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Jimmy Buffett.

Possessing a great repertoire of material that seamlessly interweaves in and out of all facets of human emotion; an uncanny ability to interact personally with members of his audience that leaves each of them feeling as if the show was just for them, a blazingly wicked wit, and an unabashed love for what he does, all combine to make a J. Micheal Laferty show an event to remember.

By 2003, the (previously-named) Cosmic Dust Devils had been kicking around Texas for a few years, with a handful of accolades and a self-titled CD under their belts.  The miles and low wages eventually took their toll, leaving the two original founders of the band, (Kevin Higgins and Barbara Malteze), no alternative but to disband the group and come up with a new plan. That plan included a new name...and Nashville.

Some of the talent assembled to perform on the CD included such legendary figures and top Nashville studio musicians as Barry Beckett (Bob Dylan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams, Jr.) and Glen Duncan (Earl Scruggs, Merle Haggard).

By a chance meeting, an instant friendship was formed with legendary photographer, Carl Dunn, (www.thisisrockandroll.com), who graciously offered up his services and contributed portrait photos of Malteze and Higgins for the CD's artwork package. Carl is known for his breathtaking photos of Led Zepplin, Janis Joplin, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Ritchie Blackmore, Aerosmith and most every rock icon of that era.

Gathering Dust made headlines, sweeping the 2006 Texas Music Awards by winning "Album of the Year", "Song of the Year" (Walk On), "Female Vocalist of the Year" (Barbara Malteze), and "Vocal Duo of the Year."

Kevin Higgins, (guitars/vocals/songwriter), was raised in El Paso, playing in cover bands until he decided to pursue a career in songwriting. He moved to L.A. in the early '90s where he met Barbara Malteze, who was fronting her own blues rock band at the time. The couple moved to Austin and in 1998 and recorded Higgins' solo CD, Dark Side of the Barn.  It was only natural that The Cosmic Dust Devils would form as a result of these recording sessions. Proclaimed as  “…one of the classic country/folk/rock albums of that year” (AllMusicGuide.com), this CD won “Album of the Year” at the 2000 Hill Country Music Awards. 

Higgins would go on to become a 2000 Kerrville “New Folk” Finalist later that year, earning the band a spot on the Main Stage at the 2001 Kerrville Folk Festival.  People who attended in 2001 may remember Rod Kennedy, (founder/producer of the Kerrville Folk Festival), wiping his brow at the end of the band's set and proclaiming to the audience, “Texas rock-and-roll is back!”

The Cosmic Dust Devils released a self-titled CD in 2002 which received rave reviews, such as "Higgins is quite possibly the next great Texas songwriter," (Rockzilla.com); and "...a sparkling and important release..." (AllMusicGuide.com). In 2004, Higgins' song, “Company Time”, was placed in the movie “A Day Without A Mexican” (and released on the EMI soundtrack).

Critics have compared Higgins' songwriting to that of Townes Van Zandt, Neil Young, Patterson Hood, and Red Stegall.   "...the sound of the South never went away - it just got better with age..."(AllMusicGuide.com). Higgins went on to win 2nd place in the coveted 2006 B.W. Stevenson songwriting contest held in Dallas, (just to keep the critics honest).

Barbara Malteze, (vocals/keys/mandolin), was influenced by Southern rock of another gender.  Some think it might’ve been Janis Joplin, but it was really Joyce Kennedy  from Atlanta’s Mother’s Finest who was a major influence on Malteze.   Mother’s Finest’s bottom-driven grooves and Kennedy’s dynamic gospel-drenched vocals were key ingredients in fueling Malteze's ambition to front a hard-driving band.

In early 2005, Malteze was invited to perform the headlining tribute at the "18th Annual Janis Joplin Birthday Bash" at the Port Arthur Civic Center. Back when Cashbox was the voice of the music industry, they wrote, "Barbara does know how to pump out ripping vocals." Malteze's past as L.A. heavy metal vocalist/songwriter for her self-titled band is still very much alive in Europe, as evidenced by a 2003 feature interview in Metal Maidens Magazine (Netherlands); 2006 worldwide vinyl LP release of Count Your Blessings by Femetal Records, and a recent interview with "Heavy" Magazine (the 2nd largest heavy metal magazine in Germany), for the Nov. 2006 issue. Malteze continues to make waves in Texas, as she accepted the honor of "Female Vocalist of the Year" for two years in a row at the 2006 & 2007 Texas Music Awards, a feat of repetition that no other artist has accomplished thus far.

XM Satellite Radio has been rotating cuts by the band on a regular basis since Jan. 2006.  In Sept. 2006, several Cumulus Broadcast stations have picked up “Outlaw Girl” to brand their stations’ “outlaw” image. As of Feb. 2007, with practically no promotion, "Looking for Pearl" rose to #2 on the TexasTop40.com site, with over 5,000 downloads logged.

The Dust Devils’ industry showcases have included "Windows on Texas", (a Texas Hill Country event held in January, similar to Austin's SXSW); an “Official Texas Party” CRS-37 showcase at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville; “South by The Sons” showcase at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas; and performances in Austin at Waterloo Ice House and Flipnotics during SXSW.  Higgins and Malteze recently returned from their Nashville music-industry showcase, which garnered such reviews as “…they impressed at their showcase and are an act to watch.” (CountryMusicFactsandNews.com). The late founding member of Marshall Tucker Band, George McKorkle was on hand to introduce the band at the showcase.

With the Dust Devils’ new lineup in tow, they recently returned from their 4th Annual “Coastal Bender” , a huge fan-appreciation party held in Port Aransas, TX, where they released their most recent cd.  Recorded in a week's time, (with Higgins in the  producer's chair), Change in the Weather materialized in the studio as he wrote right up to the day of the sessions. The band had only been together for 8 weeks prior to recording. Higgins taught the group brand new songs on the spot, so the excitement and freshness of the material translated to disk. 

The buzz surrounding the current lineup of George Quiroga, Chris Adams and Eddie Flores  has created quite a stir, with articles appearing; (Sept. 2006, “Rising Stars” special feature, Best in Texas Magazine), (Oct. 2006 cover story, Hill Country Happenings Magazine) and (Oct. 2006 feature interview, The Stars of Texas Magazine). 

The critics have been very complimentary thus far of Change in the Weather:

“...a vital and vibrant record...shimmeringly beautiful at times, menacingly driving at others...this is as real as it gets...” (MissLana.com)

“...Live passion is captured with studio clarity and perfection...Malteze is mesmerizing...Higgins is one of the most talented songwriters around.  This tightly wound storm is still packing a punch.” (MyTexasMusic.com)

Higgins and Malteze immediately hit the road  for a series of ambitious radio promo tours after the album's release, traveling to West Texas, the Panhandle and Oklahoma. On the first time out, they logged over 2,000 miles in 4 days, (outrunning storms and tornadoes), meeting radio station personnel and drumming up support for their single, “Backroads.” In the spring of  2007, Change in the Weather charted at #18 on the Roots Music Report, staying there for several weeks.

The fans, (who call themselves “Stormchasers”), have been describing The Dust Devils as "the Led Zeppelin of Texas", because the band has a distinct way of "genre bending." They can lay down a scorching honky tonk number; a ripping 70's rocker; then a bluegrass groove; scream thru a blues tune; caress a ballad...you never know what to expect with this group. And they do it all with energy, feel, abandon and talent. This is Outlaw Americana...no one else is kickin' up dirt this hard, creating the real melting pot that folks call "Texas music."

Greg Patterson, DJ, KHYI 95.3, (Dallas), says it best, "...the Dust Devils are the Cinderella band of Texas..."

Awards:
2007 Hill Country Happenings Magazine, “Readers Choice” award:
Band of the Year

2007 Texas Music Award winners:
Female Vocalist of the Year

2007 Texas Music Award nominees:
Album of the Year (Change in the Weather)
Song of the Year (Amazing Sense of Calm)
Entertainer of the Year (Barbara Malteze)
Live Band of the Year

2006 Texas Music Award winners:
Album of the Year (Gathering Dust)
Song of the Year (Walk On)
Female Vocalist of the Year (Barbara Malteze)
Vocal Duo of the Year

Higgins and Malteze reside in Marble Falls, Texas, (with two well-loved Quarter  horses), where they work/live as  caretakers on Candlelight Ranch, (www.candlelightranch.org), a retreat for kids with special needs.

The Dust Devils are currently seeking a major label team.

Here's what my friend Robert Oermann wrote recently about what I do: "The process began in 2003 when millions of country-music fans were first exposed to his music. john Arthur martinez finished second on the USA Network's national talent competition Nashville Star."

A Home Made of Stone, his first Dualtone single, is one of the original compositions he introduced on the television series.

He was born in Austin, Texas, and raised in the Texas hill country, an area with a rich musical heritage. His father's side of the family was particularly influential, he recalls. My dad and his sister, my aunt, and a couple of my uncles would get together and harmonize to the old ballads, martinez reports. They loved the Mariachi ballads. So they were definitely a musical influence. And growing up in the Austin area, there are a lot of famous influences, like Willie Nelson. When you live in a community that has [Country Music Hall of Fame singer-songwriter] Floyd Tillman living in it and Willie just 25 miles away, it affects you. Over in Bandera, you had Charlie and Bruce Robison. Robert Earl Keen was around. It's just a very songwriter-rich area, the Texas Hill Country. His parents divorced when he was four, but he saw his father often enough to note first-hand how difficult it is to make a living with music. Adam Martinez performed as a drummer for 30 years before giving it up to work for the Lower Colorado River Authority. john Arthur martinez was raised by his stepfather John Gutierrez and mother Hortincia. Neither one was musical, but an uncle noted the boy's love of poetry writing and gave him money to buy a guitar. It wasn't long before the poems became lyrics. English was spoken at home and at school, but the youngster also spent a lot of time at his Spanish-speaking grandparents ranch, so he became bilingual.

john Arthur martinez demonstrated a deep love of language while still in grade school. He became a published poet at age nine. But music was an equally powerful draw. He snuck into the Armadillo World Headquarters nightclub while still underage to see Asleep at the Wheel and Commander Cody. He was smitten by their western-swing sounds and soon developed a liking for the legendary Bob Wills and for San Marcos rancher George Strait.

martinez attended college on a tennis scholarship. He graduated with an English degree from Southwest Texas State University. I wanted to be a creative writing teacher at the college level and to coach a college tennis team to a national championship. That was my goal at the time. But his interest in music intensified during his college years. By the time he graduated, he was performing in nearby clubs every week. I probably learned every George Strait song there was. I'd sing them at my gigs alongside my James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg songs, plus acoustic guitar Beatles' tunes. And all the while I was learning my Mom 's favorites, like Hank Williams. I was playing a lot, but I never really thought that 's what my career was going to be. I decided to go to graduate school and get a Masters in Journalism at the University of Arizona. It was in Tucson, a town where I knew no one. That's one of the reasons I went there. I thought I needed to live a little bit before I could go for a Masters in Creative Writing. While I was in Tucson, I discovered I was a songwriter and started playing in the coffee houses around the university. I realized that this is really what I loved to do, what I really wanted to do. As his songs gained in quality, he also realized that his heart wasn't in the journalism degree. Martinez dropped out of grad school, returned to the Austin area and began working at music full time. It wasn't an easy life. I lived in a lot of places.

Between the time I graduated and the time I married, I slept anywhere I could. I don't think I can even come close to naming all the places I stayed for three or more days. Sometimes you live with a girlfriend -- I had a couple of relationships that were destructive to both parties. I guess it was good for the music, good for the songwriting.

In 1987 he made his first pilgrimage to Nashville. The city's community of songwriters encouraged and embraced him, bolstering his self-confidence immensely. But back home, the low-paying club jobs barely kept him fed. He enrolled in an Ohio school to learn recording techniques. He booked time in studios. He was trying to pay off his college loans. His debts were mounting. To get control of his finances, martinez began teaching English and coaching tennis at Marble Falls High School. I used my music in the classroom. I used songs to teach alliteration, assonance, rhyme and rhythm. And at night, I was always gigging. It was wearing me out, but I couldn't give up the music. The trips to Nashville continued. He met songwriting greats like Alex Harvey, John Prine and Harlan Howard, which further inspired him.

In 1998, john Arthur martinez recorded 10 of his songs on a CD titled Spinning Our Wheels. It was a simple, homemade effort, but several notables pitched in. Gene Elders, the fiddler for George Strait and Lyle Lovett, loaned his skills to the project. So did Loggins & Messina's veteran percussionist Merel Brigante and ex Asleep at the Wheel pianist Floyd Domino. martinez sold the CD to the folks who came to his increasingly popular shows. By this time, there was someone special in his audience. On Feb.20, 1999, that special someone became his wife, Yvonna. Overnight, the itinerant musician became the stepfather of three girls and a boy. Family life, he says, has actually strengthened his musical resolve. Yvonna encouraged him to teach part-time at a private school so that he could spend more time writing and singing. She is also an herbalist who has healed a singing voice once ravaged by too many nights in too many smoky clubs.

martinez recorded Stand Your Ground as his second CD in 2001. More polished than his earlier effort, it won him radio airplay in a number of major markets in his home state, including Dallas and Austin. His momentum was building, but he put everything on hold to compete on Nashville Star. He seemed to gain musical strength with each week's appearance on the program. After the show ended, he began to sing in Nashville nightspots from time to time. It all came together at a performance in a Music City coffee shop on August 27, 2003. Executives from both Dualtone and The William Morris Agency were in the audience. Most of the show was just me and my guitar. I felt a really strong spiritual covering that night. It was just amazing. It wound up being probably one of the top performances I've ever given. Within hours, he was signed by both the agency and the label.

Working with producer Matt Rollings and an all-star cast of Nashville musicians, the new Dualtone signee has crafted an album of depth and resonance. His original material rings with the truth and insight we find so often in the finest troubadours from the Lone Star State. martinez caresses the ballads with a tender touch, lets loose when he offers a swing tune and rides the mid-tempo tunes like a bona fide cowboy. A bilingual version of George Strait 's Amarillo By Morning is both a salute to a musical influence and a proud reminder of his ethnicity. Home Made of Stone recognizes that the family is still in a mobile home in Marble Falls, but like the album, itself, is a bright promise for the future.

It's been quite a climb, but he has always faced his hardships with grace, humor and dignity. Whether in person or on disc, john Arthur martinez exudes the quiet confidence and charisma that made millions of TV viewers fall in love with him in 2001. When he smiles, the world has sunshine. When he talks, it's always from the heart. And when he sings, the soul is nourished.

Meanwhile, native Texan Mike Blakely continues to leave his creative footprints across the landscapes of Texas, the U.S., and the world, as the author of 15 books and a performing songwriter with six CDs to his credit.  Most of Mike’s books are historical novels set in the American West, and released by major New York City publishing houses.  His CDs, showcasing his songwriting and musical abilities, have all been released on Mike’s own record label, Swing Rider Records.

As a novelist, he has enjoyed national distribution, with his books selling in Barnes & Nobles, Hastings, Borders, WalMart, and many other outlets, including independent bookstores everywhere.  He is a winner of the Spur Award for Best Western Novel, given annually by Western Writers of America, a national organization of professional writers.

Mike Blakely grew up in Wharton County on the Coastal Plains of Texas – one of the richest farm and ranch regions in the country.  He was cowboying on family ranches by the time he was six years old.  He learned to play the guitar at age eight, taught by his musically inclined father.  He started training horses as a teenager, about the same time he began writing songs, and dreaming of writing novels.  Mike performed in two dance hall bands in high school, and caught a chronic case of honky-tonk fever.

After high school and a hitch in the United States Air Force as a helicopter mechanic, Mike attended the University of Texas at Austin, and graduated with a degree in journalism.  Setting aside his career as a performing musician for a while, he concentrated on writing free-lance magazine and newspaper articles, racking up hundreds of by-line credits.  His writing career shifted from journalism to fiction after the publication of his first novel in 1990. Though he wasn’t playing much live music during this time, he continued to write songs.

With his career as a novelist established, Mike again turned his attention to musical endeavors, deciding to concentrate on performing and recording his own compositions.  He bought a horse ranch near Marble Falls, Texas, and had the good fortune of meeting songwriter, John Arthur Martinez.  Blakely and Martinez began a songwriting partnership, composed numerous songs together, and landed cuts on major record labels such at Arista and Dualtone.

Also in Marble Falls, Mike met Larry Nye, renowned guitar player and owner of Lazy L Recording Studio in Kingsland, Texas; and bassist Donnie Price, of Buchanan Dam, Texas.  The three musicians formed the band that would come to be known as Mike Blakely Y Los Yahoos and began performing everywhere from Texas to Switzerland.  Other configurations built around this core band have included Mike Blakely & The Whiskey Traders, and The Swing Riders, featuring Doc Blakely and Mike Blakely.

Though Mike made a few trips to Nashville to pitch songs, he became quickly disenchanted with the major-label country music business, and decided to focus on recording and performing his own songs for his own fans, through the establishment of his independent record label, Swing Rider Records.  Though he rarely pitches tunes to other artists, his songwriting has caught the attention of some legends on the Texas music scene, and several of his compositions have been covered by artists such as Grammy-winner Flaco Jimenez with Raul Malo (of The Mavericks), Gary P. Nunn, Larry Joe Taylor, Geronimo Trevino and Johnny Rodriguez, Craig Chambers, Debbi Walton, Pauline Reese, Becca Dalrymple and others.  Mike co-wrote three songs on John Arthur Martinez’s 2004 Dualtone Records release, “Lone Starry Night.”

In 2002, Luckenbach, Texas, Inc. contacted Mike about establishing an annual music and book festival.  Working with Luckenbach manager, Neal Brown, a veteran promoter on the Texas music scene, Mike put together a unique gathering of Texas authors and musicians – Mike Blakely’s TexAmericana Fandango.  Now in its fifth year, the Fandango has proven a success from the very first year and has attracted thousands of fans to the legendary Texas venue.

Mike Blakely has served as president of Western Writers of America (WWA) and for many years sat on the board of the Ozark Creative Writers, Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  Three of Mike’s novels have been finalists for the WWA Spur Award, and one, “Summer of Pearls,” won the award in 2001, and was also a finalist for the Violet Crown Award given by the Texas Writers League.

His dual career as a novelist and a performing songwriter doesn’t leave Mike much spare time, but he enjoys his ranch near Marble Falls, Texas, and likes to ride and train horses, hunt and fish, and travel.  He is as comfortable on the back of a horse as he is at a book signing or a live musical performance.  Mike Blakely is a rare talent, a prolific writer, and an established veteran of the American entertainment industry in print, over the airwaves, and on stage.

Since venturing on his own, Gary P. Nunn has assumed the responsibility for his own career. Without the aid of an agent and manager, has built a substantial music business organization which handles his booking and houses his music publishing companies.. He has entered into a relationship with Campfire Records, an independent label out of San Antonio, which has produced three CD's, "Totally Guacamole" in 1993, "Roadtrip" in 1994, and "Under My Hat" released in 1996, as well as licensing four previously released CD's Gary P. had produced on various independent labels. Campfire Records has secured national distribution of the entire Gary P. Nunn catalogue and is currently fielding offers from major labels interested in distributing the catalogue in Europe. The number of products being moved is starting to attract the attention of major labels in the U.S.!

He has appeared on countless programs such as Nashville Now, TNN's Texas Connection, music videos and special appearances on TNN, Austin City Limits, Texas Ranger's Baseball games (singing the National Anthem), and other appearances too numerous to mention.

Gary P. Nunn's itinerary takes him to all the major cities in Texas where he consistently packs houses with his loyal following and winning news fans who confess they never really liked country music, but they just love Gary P. Nunn! Often one can find big name country artists in the audience who admit they grew up listening to and being influenced by his music. He is well known and respected in the Nashville music community and was honored there recently at a reception at BMI for his contributions as a writer and publisher. He has resisted offers to relocate in Nashville preferring to promote the growing music industry in Texas. He did, however, concede to record "Roadtrip" in Nashville, tapping musicians from Trisha Yearwood' and Vince Gill's bands and inviting an old friend from Texas, Hal Ketchum, to sing harmonies.

Gary P. Nunn enjoys a near folk status in Texas as he continues to sing the praises of the state, its culture, and its colorful characters. His fans come from all walks of life and range from small children who know the words to every song; to college students who have given up hard rock for the Texas two-step; to professionals whohave never set foot in a honky-tonk; to octogenarian couples who still snuggle on the dance floor. Gary P. Nunn has the unique ability to appeal to all. His performances are lively and danceable, yet sensitive and image provoking. They are often humorous and always entertaining. Gary P. Nunn never met a stranger and is always available to meet with fans which contributes greatly to his popularity. He has been described as everything from "a pioneer of Texas country music" to "a part of the fabric of contemporary Texas culture" to "the mule that pulls the Texas country music wagon!" However, one chooses to describe him, there is no denying his contribution in thepast and that he will be at the head of the herd in Texas music in the future.

You can find Gary P. on the road from Austin to Dallas, Louisiana to New Mexico to Oklahoma, and at many venues in Europe... always playing good country music, and inviting the crowd to "Go Home with the Armadillo."

All that and more is etched into the music on Wolfe’s self-titled debut album for Midas Records, produced by Keith Follese and Brad Allen, and its first single, “She Won’t Be Lonely Long.” It’s world class country music from the American heartland, informed by the great singers that inspired Wolfe — like George Strait, Garth Brooks (a fellow Okie), Clint Black, Merle Haggard, Alan Jackson and Dwight Yoakam, to name a few — yet fired by his own contemporary energy and vision.

Musical Merit
He received a Will Rogers Cowboy Award for Western Music Male Performer of the Year at the Academy of Western Artists Awards show in August 2007. He also won Entertainer of the Year at the Texas Music Awards in April 2007.

He has recorded 3 live albums and 3 studio albums, all songs written or co-written by himself.  He contributed original recordings on KVET's Christmas and Gospel compilation albums, and on K.R. Wood's Fathers Of Texas Series Davy Crockett's Fiddle Plays On, which was recorded live at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas (the first and only recordings ever held there).  His latest studio project involves Ray Benson at his Bismeaux Studios in Austin, Texas, and is due out early 2009.  

Doug Moreland
Doug was born & raised in the Davis Mountains of Texas. He took piano & violin lessons there as a child, but never showed a genuine interest until his latter teens.  His musical influence came mainly from his father, who played fiddle & guitar in his own cowboy band.  Doug decided at the age of 17 to pursue a musical career, leaving Fort Davis directly upon high school graduation and heading off to Levelland, Texas to attend South Plains College for study in commercial music.  He played fiddle for the Bent Tree Jamboree Dinner Theater in Ruidoso, NM during the summers of 1993 to 1996, and in the Barleen Family Dinner Theatre in Phoenix, AZ over the winters of 1995 & 1996.  While in Phoenix, he acquired a McNab puppy he named Holly-peño, who eventually became a significant element to his musical act.  Between 1994 & 1999, Doug moved between Phoenix, Ruidoso, Nashville, East Tennessee, Dallas, and Austin several times, playing fiddle with numerous cover bands and picking up odd jobs in between.  In 1999, Doug decided he would rather work for himself and play his own songs, so with the help of friend John Wheeler (of later Hayseed-Dixie fame), he recorded his first two albums, with all-original material, and made a final move to Austin to start up his own band.  He didn't get his band put together, but he got himself in the middle of the emerging Texas Music circuit, opening shows for the likes of Cory Morrow, Pat Green, Roger Creager, and others.  Doug stood out with his musical comedy routine accompanied by just a guitar and a fiddle-playing dog.  In 2000, Doug & Holly co-hosted the Willie Nelson picnic and recorded a Live album in front of a sold out College Station crowd.  Doug recorded another Live album in 2002 (his fourth).  In 2003, the duo appeared on national television as guests of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Animal Planet's Pet Star, and Ripley's Believe It Or Not.  In 2004, Doug released his 5th album Everybody Knows My Name (full studio production) under his own BigHat Records label.  He finally got his Big Hat Band put together that year, but felt discontent with the instrumentation.  He also lost Holly-peño his singing & fiddle-playing sidekick in July 2004, so he decided to start all over in 2005.  Doug reformed his show as an all-acoustic trio (fiddle, guitar, and upright bass), with their debut performance opening for Willie Nelson!  By the end of 2005, the Doug Moreland Show was in full swing as a 5-piece band with the addition of drums and piano.  2006 saw things growing even bigger as his new group recorded & produced their own full-band project titled Doug Moreland.  This 6th album released in October 2006.  Rounding up 2007, the band replaced the piano with a steel guitar, and then started up plans for a new album in summer 2008 under the production of Grammy winning artists Ray Benson & Asleep At The Wheel.

Dan Johnson
Dan was born into a musical family.  His great-grandmother played piano and sang in private clubs back in the 40’s and 50’s.  Both his great-grandfather and grandfather were fiddlers.  And Dan’s father was a professional musician all of his life, and was a top mandolin player in Houston at the time of his death nine years ago.  Dan credits his dad as his musical inspiration.  He started Dan playing guitar at the age of 12, and encouraged him do his first national tour at the age of 17 while he was still in high school.  Dan spent two years at Alvin Junior College studying sound production before he turned his sights on the steel guitar.  He has toured with Hank Williams III, John Evans, and Jarrod Birmingham, prior to joining Doug Moreland in 2007.   In the fall of 2007, Dan released his first solo steel guitar album The Curse of the Fender Triple Eight.  Although he was born in Florida, Dan counts Texas as home, having lived here since he was eight years old.