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This
communication serves as a rare end-of-the-year report, holiday greetings and a
bit of personal news. First, the report:
Thanks for your support this year. We have produced six Texas music coffeehouses
at Schreiner University, a showcase of local musicians at the annual Easter
Festival, a jazz concert in June at the Point Theatre and one in October with
the Lions Club at the Cailloux Center on the Schreiner Campus, and a huge Texas
Heritage Living History Day and Tribute to Jimmie Rodgers in September at
Louise Hays Park. Whew…a lot of projects for a group of volunteers!
Over 1,000 students and teachers participated in the Living History Day. Thanks
to local support, business donations and foundation grants we were able to
supply an educational package to every group attending, to provide bus grants
for rural schools, to pay all thirty of the performers and to underwrite
transportation for the various museum presentations. New sponsors joined us
(Cowboy Artists of America Museum, Meredith Fund, Bert Winston, Crenwelge
Motors, Big Earls' BBQ, K-Mart, Community Foundation of the Hill Country,
Jackson Foundation, Luby's, Kerrville Health and Food), and the regular's kept
on supporting us (Wolfmueller's Books, James Avery, Wells Fargo, Hill Country
Café, Ricks Furniture, Patrick's, Chili's, Greengrocer's Deli, Taco Casa, Choo
Choo's, Cricket's, Y.O. Ranch Hotel, Jim Morris, Culligan Water, Budweiser (a
founding sponsor), Mini Mart, Dr. Pepper, Family Sports Center, H-E-B, Ranch
Radio, Inn of the Hills, Hillcrest Inn, Buzzie's Bar-B-Q, Kerrville Daily
Times, Schreiner University, 5 K Laser, A.C. Print, Randy Scroggins and Kerr
Business).
We may be small and local, but we provide this community with stories and songs
as other ways of learning. More than just preserving Texas heritage and music,
we also support the possibility that telling stories and singing songs make a
difference in the world and in this community.
Remember, we have many multi-media presentations on various aspects of Texas
music. I've spoken at the various service clubs, led Elderhostels, as well as participated in training
volunteers for the literacy program. Just call 367-3750 and ask for Kathleen.
Or check out our website at www.texasheritagemusic.org
On a personal note: my book, TELLING
STORIES, WRITING SONGS: An Album of
Texas Songwriters is now available from UT Press in Austin. Many of the
interviews in this book took place at the Kerrville Folk Festival or at THMF
events. Call 1-800-252-3206 to order (paperback or hard cover). I want to thank
all the performers over the years who gave their time to participate in this
oral history project. The book contains 34 interviews; another 200 more are
archived in the THMF office, in space donated by 5 K Laser. The collection has
been donated to the new Institute for the History of Texas Music in San Marcos
and will be transferred there this spring.
Upcoming events: Coffeehouse dates include Jan. 17 (Lady Jane Gray), Feb. 21,
March 21, and April 11 (Indian music with Oliver Rajamani and friends).
Schreiner University will host a Texas Writers Conference on April 17 or the 24th
featuring Texas songwriters. Call 792-7409 for details. I'll go on tour
promoting the new book this spring. Look for local signings. Rod Kennedy's new
radio show airs in March on the Internet. Many of the songwriters in my book
will be featured.
Another
Texas music moment,
Kathleen
Hudson
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