The Texas Fiddleman

The Texas Fiddleman will be playing in various theatres and clubs from October 2019 until May 2020.

The history of Texas fiddling.

The story of Texas music is the story of the fiddle. From El Paso to San Antonio, the music of the Mexico can still be heard in the songs of the Mariachi, and the sweet melody of the violin is always counterpart to the shouting trumpet.Cajun music began in the swamps of east Texas and Louisiana. It can still be heard every night in the bars of Beaumont and Houston. And Cajun music would be unimaginable without the excitement of the fiddle, blending with the accordion and washboard.Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their flashier fiddle styles to Texas during the 19^th century, and a “Texas” style began to emerge. By the 20^th century, it was the “Texas Style” that dominated country music, and the king of all Texas fiddlers was Bob Wills. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys changed country music forever by combining big-band jazz, blues, and traditional old-time country. The new style was called “Western Swing”. Throughout the 40s and 50s, Bob ruled the charts, and attracted the finest musicians in America. His fiddlers (especially the great Johnny Gimble) remain unsurpassed.

As for myself: My love of country music comes from my father, who grew up in deep East Texas. He used to listen to Hank Williams, live on the radio, from the ”Louisiana Hayride.” My childhood was filled with the sounds of my father’s favorite artists: Hank, Marty Robbins, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, and others. I fell in love with the fiddle when I heard Johnny Gimble playing on a Bob Wills record. I’ve had a lovely career playing behind various recording artists, such as George Strait, Clint Black, and Moe Bandy. I’ve recorded five CDs, one of them a live album with the fine Dutch band Desperado. We toured together with The country Music Hall of Fame.I’ve also toured a lot in France, the UK, and Ireland.Now I welcome the opportunity to return to Dutch theaters with a show featuring the music of Texas. So many of the biggest country artists are from there, so there will be plenty of familar favourites. It will aslo be a chance to explore the roots of Texas music: Irish, Mexican, Cajun, etc.  I’ll bring my fiddle, of course.  But there will also be some great singers featured, plus a few surprises!

Producer: www.desperado-mp.nl