Courtesy Photo

This article first appeared in Texoma Farm & Home, in its first issue, February/March 2024.  Go online to (click here) https://texomafarmandhome.com/ to read the complete issue.

By Mary Jane Farmer

It can take a long time to be an overnight success. Musician Austin Michael (Robinson), at age 21, is in his 6^th year, and says, “This is not a marathon, this is a sprint.” The Van Alstyne native is now living and working in Nashville, with some of its most successful professionals in his corner.

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

His childhood dreams had always been along the rodeo line. He received a guitar before he was a teenager and taught himself to play. But music, for him, was still just a diversion, a way to unwind at the end of his busy days. That is, until a family friend sent a cell-phone video of him singing “Fly Away” to the TV competition series, “American Idol.” He didn’t even know about that, until he got word that he’d been accepted.

Of it, Austin Michael said, “I enjoyed it. I didn’t walk into it with the same mind set as others did. I thought through it all that I very blessed to be here. Not… ‘this is my future…’ But when I got back home and it aired, I realized from the many calls and messages that it had touched people. It kinda made me go, ‘Well, if they believe in me, and if they want me to do it, well I can.’”

After his stint with American Idol, Austin Michael’s Van Alstyne family home burned down. The family moved to Westminster and lived with his

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

grandparents for a while. Then, they found land that could accommodate the livestock the family maintains that was in Pottsboro.

“We had a ranch with 50 acres and horses and cows and a few ponds. It was a good four years, but there were issues that went with the good fortune – plumbing, electric.” Again, back to the grandparents’ house in Westminster, where the family still resides.

Nashville had to fit into the picture. His first trip out there happened after he got a text from his dad’s friend, golf pro John Daly. “Listen here, where are you? You need to get to Nashville yesterday.” Austin Michael said he packed up and headed out. There, he slept in his car outside motels and used their bathrooms to clean up. Through Daly’s understandable influences, Austin Michael received the chance for one co-writing session, and that then turned into 3 sessions or “writes” as he said they are called. After the third one, he was invited to stay one more day. He said he spent the rest of that day wandering the streets, trying to figure it all out.

“I didn’t understand the industry. I thought it was like it used to be,” he said. “I decided I wouldn’t be going back here.”

But, Austin Michael, being the Christian that he is, gave credit “100% to God for every step along the way. No question in my mind, I believe everything happens for a reason.”

He said he texted Daly again, asking, “Is there anybody you want me to meet while I’m here? He (Daly) had 3 others and I met with all of them.” One was nice enough to let Austin Michael crash on his couch. His roommate, who worked with L3 Management, stayed there, too. He walked in.

“’Who are you?’ I asked.

“’I live here,’ the roommate answered.

“’Oh, nice to meet you,’ I said.

“’Why are you here?’ he asked.

“’I’m another country artist trying to make it,’ I replied.

“’Well, if you want to be serious, come with me tomorrow,’ he suggested.”

Austin Michael did, and it went uphill from there.

Photo by Mary Jane Farmer

Before he’d left Nashville on that trip, Austin Michael had an offer from a management company, a publishing company, and a label opportunity.

Austin Michael was all set to go back to Nashville, and this time, management told him, “You aren’t sleeping in your car.” “They had me set up. And from then on I was booked solid.”

After that, Austin Michael would travel to Nashville about every other month or so until it seemed more sensible to make a geographical move. First, he moved to an Alabama town, staying with a buddy of his there. It was a 2-hour drive to Nashville, and he made that 2-way trek every day. And then it happened — Austin Michael moved to Nashville in August of last year.

“It simplified and it complicated my life,” he said. “I am so family-oriented, it’s hard to be away from family. But, it has allowed me to be more accessible. I play a lot of writers’ rounds and meet people. I’m always writing and always recording and always meeting people.”

One thing is for certain, he said. “I have done a lot of growing up here, but not going to let the town change me. It’s a slippery slope and I know I have to adapt to my surroundings.

“I still wear my cowboy hat, it keeps the hair out of my face while working. And, in this concrete jungle, it seems genuine knowing it’s about where I came from.”

When he answered the inevitable question all musicians get — Who is your idol? — It was a simple answer for Austin Michael. “Cody Johnson has always been my idol. I love his authenticity, respect, attitude, his moral compass. It all comes across in very obvious ways.”

Courtesy photo

Nowadays, Austin is releasing singles about every 4-6 weeks, but moved it up to 3 releases in January. It’s not genuine choreographed videos he and his team are producing, they call them ‘visualizers.’

“Most people don’t understand, a video costs about $50 grand to produce. My management team has one guy who is pretty good with a camera. We just finished a recording and a visualizer for ‘Whiskey In The Dirt.’”

That and other visualizers, along with the first video made those many years ago, “Country Cred,” are available on YouTube.

And another question songwriters get — “Where do you get your ideas for new songs?” Austin Michael said it can come from recurring issues, conversations. “There’s really no way to go about it. Sometimes during relaxing times, maybe wake up in the middle of the night, or somebody sparks an idea, and some kind of emotions hit me.”

So, where is it all going for this young talented man?

“I could go either way. I could sit back and complain as to why I’m not a superstar. But, I am a firm believer that God opens doors. People pray for strength and God gives them ways to overcome weaknesses. I know I am not going to be an overnight sensation.

“I have a lot to learn. I’m extremely grateful for every step of the way.

“Give us a few years. We’ll have a number one.”

By Mary Jane Farmer, for The Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town

The numbers shown here of votes having been cast was current as of 10 p.m. Tuesday night, provided online by Grayson County. They are subject, of course, to additional information being added later on, as the counting continues. There could be some run-offs, as well.  

For President

Republican — Donald J. Trump

Democrat — Joe Biden

For U.S. Senator

Republican —Ted Cruz (14,837),  R.E.”Rufus” Lopez (1,039), Holland “Redd” Gibson (796)

Democrat —  Colin Allred (939), Roland Gutierrez (191), Meri Gomez (178) and several others

For U.S. Representative  Dist. 4

Republican — Pat Fallon (13,588), Don Horn (2,489)

Democrat — Simon Cardell (1,393)

For State Senator — District 30

Republican — Brent Hagenbuch (5,660), Jace Yarborough (4,012), Carrie De Moor (2,747), Cody Clark (1,886)

Democrat — Michael Braxton (912), Matthew McGee (414), Dale Frey (364)

For State Representative, Dist. 62

Republican — Shelley Luther (8,748), Reggie Smith (8,406)

Democrat — Tiffany Drake (1,508)

For Criminal District Attorney, Grayson County

Republican —  John Kermit Hill (8,258), Brett Smith (7,907)

Democrat — Brandy Douglas (1,657)

For County Commissioner, Pct. 1

Republican — Josh Marr (1,728), Scott Renfro (1,267), Terry Thomas (454)

Democrat — Andre Luper (371)

For County Commissioner, Pct. 3

Republican—Lindsay Wright (2,821)

Democrat— None

For County Constable, Pct. 1

Republican — Thomas Carter (4,212)

Democrat — None

For County Constable, Pct. 2

Republican — Cody Putman (2,238), Shannon Thomas (1,879)

Democrat — None

For County Constable, Pct. 3

Grayson County Sheriff Tom Watt (L), Van Alstyne Police Chief Tim Barnes, and GCSO Chief Deputy and soon-to-be Sheriff Tony Bennie (Rt\)at an October 2023 gathering in the Central Social District Park.

Republican—Todd Booher (1,449), Scott Taylor (977)

Democrat — None

For County Constable Pct. 4

Republican—Bob Douglas (2,183)

Democrat — None

Grayson County voters overwhelmingly approved all 13 Texas Propositions.

Grayson County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Tony Bennie was unopposed and will step into Sheriff Tom Watt’s boots when Watt’s term ends later this year. Ditto that response for Tax Assessor-Collector, who has/had no opponents.

There were numerous other offices to be filled at the State and various other levels. Those results are available Online at (click here) co.grayson.tx.us.

By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town.  Note:  An indictment is not proof of guilt, but is a formal charge.

Law enforcement activity in recent days has resulted in arrests, an indictment, and searches for information to help the officers complete their investigation.

Indictment

The most recent setting of the Grayson County Grand Jury had them indicting a Van Alstyne man on a criminal charge. Douglas William Crook, 51, is now wanted on a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip said that they received a call in the Spring of 2022, asking for police to go to a home in the 1200 block of Redden Road in regard to a suspicious vehicle. Crook was at the site and was the owner of the suspicious vehicle. During police officers’ talk with Crook, they determined he was intoxicated in a public place and was a danger to himself and/or others. Police placed him under arrest then on a charge of Public Intoxication. Following protocol, police took a vehicle inventory before having the vehicle towed, they found a shotgun inside it. They also found prescription pills not in Crook’s name, Hayslip said. That resulted in charges of Possession of Controlled Substances and of Unlawful Carry of a Weapon w/ Felony Conviction. He posted bail of $15,000 in surety bonds for his release.

Grayson County Jail records show that the suspect has since been jailed on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated 3^rd or More offense, but. Has not been indicted on that charge. While incarcerated, the Sheriff’s Office records show, bail bondsmen came off bail on several previous charges

Vandalism

On February 19, at about 1:15 a.m., officers were sent to the 500 block of Manchester in reference to vandalism. The reporting party told Police that unknown people had vandalized the home by throwing eggs and damaging a tire on a vehicle.

Hayslip asked, “If anyone has any information, please contact Det. Ingram at the police department.” That phone number is 903-482-5251.

 Sexual Assault

On Feb. 15, Van Alstyne Police jailed a Van Alstyne woman on a charge of Indecency w/ Child (by) Sexual Contact.  it involved roommates. Hayslip said There was no physical resistance when police made the arrest, that she knew about the investigation. More info cannot yet be provided as this is an on-going investigation.

The suspect remains incarcerated with bail set at $200,000 payable in surety bonds with conditions attached.

Kiersten Dunn

Sheriff’s Office seeking info

On Tuesday, February 20, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators responded to an area on Whitney Road in Sherman on a call of a deceased person, identified as 20-year-old Kiersten Dunn of Sherman, reported S.O. Capt. Marty Hall. More details are not yet available as it is still an ongoing investigation.

Investigators are currently searching for anyone who knew her whereabouts prior to February 20 and anyone she had contact with in the month of February.

If you have any information that could assist in the investigation of Kiersten Dunn’s death, please contact Investigator Harris, 903-813-4200 extension 1012 or email: hunter.harris@co.grayson.tx.us.

Other Arrests

Hayslip reported that, other than these incidents, there was no (local) thefts, burglaries, robberies, or such during this time frame. There were 3 warrant arrests unrelated to crimes in Van Alstyne, but which were for serious offenses.