Van Alstyne celebrates its law enforcement with National Night Out

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Laney Linkugel sits in the back of a Van Alstyne patrol car, with Van Alstyne Police Officer Nathan Wilson at the wheel. It was all in fun.

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. Click here to view more photos

The Van Alstyne community proved its support of Van Alstyne police, all the while having a great time at Tuesday night’s National Night Out. With the census still posted on city limit signs as 3,000 residents — and that’ll definitely increase in 2020, when the census is taken again — at least one-third of the Van Alstyne residents were in one place at the same time — The Van Alstyne Community Center for the yearly National Night Out.

It’s the National Association of Town Watch that created National Night Out in 1981, and Van Alstyne has hosted a city-wide gathering since, at least, 1996, maybe even before that. The purposes are to build community and promote police-community camaraderie to make safer and more caring places to live. With the expected population upsurge coming to Van Alstyne in the next few years, this type of event could become even more vital in reaching those goals.

Kennedy, waiting for a train — ride.

Kennedy Brock, a 4-year-old well-spoken Van Alstyne resident whose mother is a dispatcher for the police and fire departments, was one of those 1,000 attendees. She was there earlier than most, because her mother, and many other dispatchers plus police officers, firefighters, and generally kind people were the ones who set the grounds up with tables, chairs, and such.

Kennedy will be going to Samford Elementary when she gets into Pre-K next year, and she said she’s really ready for that. She scoped it all out as the bounce houses were being inflated and the Rotary Club members began grilling their hot dogs. But it was the kids train, made of metal barrels decades ago and drawn by a tractor, that Kennedy declared would be her first thing to do. She even picked out the barrel  she would ride in, a pink one, and wanted her friend to sit across from her. And when her ride is over, she said, she would “get out and let another kid get in.” And she was definitely going for a hot dog.

Many vendors had games for kids to play.

And the firefighters who took turns pulling the kids train stayed at it for the whole two hours.

The bounce houses were also a definite favorite. Shoes off, kids waited until their turn to go through tunnels, climb a rope up one side and slide down the other, then get into the more well-used version of bounce houses. Bouncing all along the way, except for the rope climbing, which wasn’t all that easy even though that inflatable bounce house had steps and was on a slant. But each kid made it. And most jumped, rather than just sat down, onto the slide. Once through, most would run to the end of the line and do it all again.

Popcorn supplied by Texas Star Bank

The free food included the Rotary Club’s hot dogs and chips, Golden Chick’s special fried chicken, popcorn from Texas Star Bank, and snacks and free water all around.

Vendors included medical facilities, CASA, realtors, churches, safety agencies, scouts, the city’s public library, government agencies — the whole range of people interested in providing the public with health and safety information. There were officers there from Howe PD, Grayson County College PD, and Sheriff Tom Watt and deputies from the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, along with some who have gone through the voluntary Sheriff’s Academy classes.

Van Alstyne Police Chief Tim Barnes said he was really gratified with the turn-out and the show of support. Barnes leads a team of officers that includes MaryAnn Jones, Jeffrey Rabb, Jonathan McInnis, Azhar Ulhaq, Jonathan Hoffman, Nathan Wilson, and Sgt. Sonia Henriques. He also has dispatchers April Culley, Shannon Haines, Amanda Brock (Kennedy’s mother), Kayla Sweet, and Rebecca Williams working with him.

When it was all over but the clean-up, which had everyone kicking in again to help with, Kennedy said it was well worth her time. As the 4-year-old sat and practiced writing the letters in her name, she declared without hesitation that the kids train was her very favorite thing, even over the hot dog! (No offense, Rotary Club.)And she even got to ride in the Mule that pulled the train, because she knew the driver, she said with a smile.

Aaron Watson releases Christmas CD

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Press Release, revised

The Christmas season is starting early for pioneering independent singer/songwriter Aaron Watson who is releasing his first ever Christmas album, An Aaron Watson Family Christmas, today, October 5. This is hot on the trails of his most recent release, Live at the World’s Largest Rodeo
The ten-song collection includes seasonal standards and two originals. The project was truly a labor of love for Watson and a family affair, with his wife of 16 years, Kimberly, and their children; Jake (12), Jack (10) & Jolee Kate (8) all featured on the album. Among the originals is a self-penned neo-classic tip of the hat to his home state with “Lonestar Lonely Christmas” and the beautiful “She Stared At Him All Night,” which Drew Womack wrote and which depicts Mary in the manger with Jesus.
“We’ve talked about making this record for a few years now and I’m so glad we finally did,” Watson said. “I had so much fun with Kim and the kids working on this project and including them, and am so proud of how it turned out. It’s very much a Frank Sinatra on-the-farm kind of feel. We hope it is something families can enjoy during the holidays for years to come.”
An Aaron Watson Family Christmas
1. “Lonely Lonestar Christmas” (Aaron Watson)
2. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – featuring Kimberly, Jake, Jack & Jolee Kate
3. “She Stared At Him All Night” (Drew Womack)
4. “Christmas Time is Here” – featuring Jolee Kate w/ Jack reading Luke
5. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” – featuring Kimberly
6. “The Christmas Waltz”
7. “Jingle Bells” – featuring Kimberly
8. “Silent Night”
9. “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” – featuring Jake
10. “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Watson Family Greeting
“One of country music’s biggest DIY success stories,” proclaims Forbes, Aaron Watson is riding high on the success of his latest album, Vaquero, which spurred his first Top 10 on the national radio charts with his self-penned “Outta Style.” At 50 weeks, the hit single shattered a Billboard record, marking the longest trek to the coveted spot in the history of their Country Airplay Chart. The Texas troubadour earned one of the 10 biggest album debuts of 2017 in country music and a number of “Best Album” nods, including Whiskey Riff and the No. 1 spot on Taste of Country’s year end list, proclaiming the project “a rich collection of cowboy poetry.”

Watson and his band are headlining the State Fair of Texas, 3921 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. in Dallas Saturday night, October 6.

Beginning today (Friday), ordering the CD and even more can happen by going online to AaronWatson.com. There are even several packages to select from that include T-shirts or ‘ugly’ sweaters and Christmas ornaments along with the holiday CD.

 

Cody Johnson set to release CD on CoJo Music/Warner Music Nashville

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From press release, photos by Mary Jane Farmer

CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville artist Cody Johnson confirmed he will release Ain’t Nothin’ To It on January 18, 2019. The album marks his major label debut and is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed independent release, “On My Way To You,” which made its debut at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
Attempts to report on Cody Johnson’s having signed with Warner Music have not received response from his people or from Warner Music.
“On My Way to You,” resonates deeply for Johnson and has become a hit with fans on the road. “On My Way to You” is currently available across all digital service providers 
AIN’T NOTHIN’ TO IT will be available for fans to preorder on October 26 and will include a gratis download of “On My Way To You,” along with four additional tracks on the album. 
Johnson once again tapped producer Trent Willmon when he went into the studio to record the album. As a former major label recording artist and a fellow cowboy, Willmon is the perfect match for Johnson’s unbridled passion and authenticity.
Johnson has enjoyed performing the new music for the CoJo Nation while crisscrossing the country and is eager to release new music for the fans. With over 350,000 hard tickets sold in 2017 alone, Johnson sold out shows in over two dozen states. With a rapidly expanding fan base, Johnson is doubling and tripling ticket sales each time he returns to perform in markets ranging from New York to Los Angeles.  His upcoming October 19 show at Marathon Music Works in Nashville sold out over a month in advance.  
On October 10, the music video for “On My Way To You” will simultaneously premiere on CMT and People.com.
About Cody Johnson:
With an independent catalogue five albums deep and nearly 300 million on-demand streams accumulated largely in the last year and a half alone, Johnson has established a rabid following of loyal fans who thirst for his unique and authentic brand of country music. The aptly-named CoJo Nation regularly flock to sold out shows in over two dozen states and has purchased over 350,000 hard tickets in one calendar year.  Earlier this year, Johnson became the first independent artist to sell out the Houston Rodeo at NRG stadium with over 75,000 tickets sold along with over $250,000 in merch sales. 
The former rodeo bull rider, turned prison guard, turned budding country star is known for his explosive live shows and electrifying stage presence.  Earlier this yea,r Billboard declared, “Cody Johnson is the real thing.”  
Johnson recently announced a partnership with Warner Music Nashville on the newly minted CoJo Music / Warner Music Nashville imprint.
Go Online to CodyJohnsonMusic.com to sign up on his mailing list and/or catch his tour schedule.

Blue Sky Songtellers’ Gathering — check out these songwriters!

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Dean Dillon

For more photos Click here (Facebook pix) or Click here (Flickr pix, better resolution)

Giants — every one of them are giants. These giants took the stage in shifts, at Kidd-Key Auditorium in Sherman on Friday night (Sept.28, 2018), in a fundraising concert for both the Sherman Police Association and the Sherman Fire Association. These are non-profit groups that do what they can to make lives better all around — from educational programs to providing school supplies for those who need the help.

It was the Sherman Police Regional Bagpipe Band who opened the concert, three on bagpipes and four on drums. They opened with a newer song named “Back The Blue” and then played the standard “Amazing Grace,” as one bagpiper walked off stage and faded the song away as he left.

It was a great, giant mix of local, Texas, and national songwriters.

Phillip Wildman

Phillip Wildman opened with two or songs of his own, including one about the naming of his dog. He served as Master of Ceremonies following his short set.

Up next were Texas songwriters, both of whom have had hits on the Texas music charts over time — Doug Moreland and his fiddle and Jason Allen, along with Moreland’s long-time bandmate Randy Roberts, who gave the crowd an hour of songs, the stories behind them, and a few laughs along the way. For instance, Roberts had a dog song, too, one that said he wished his wife loved him like his dog does, and then went on to say the dog never asks where he’s been, never declines to be petted, and such.

Allen talked about having written the Kevin Fowler hit “Beer Season” with Thom Shepherd, a song that Fowler took to No. 1 on Texas music charts. He also kicked off an upbeat “Holy Moly Guacamole.” He talked about a trick his radio promoter pulled on him when, on radio tour for “Lucky Arms,” he was sent into the radio station managed by a one-armed man, who it turns out was in on the charade. John Michael Montgomery recorded “Lucky Arms.”

Moreland, whose easy smile and laugh were contagious, talked about a trick his radio promoter pulled on him when, on radio tour for “Lucky Arms,” he was sent into the radio station managed by a one-armed man, who it turns out was in on the charade. Moreland also played one on his fiddle that he said a Red Dirt longtimer, Randy Crouch, had written in the early 1970s. And talked about learning to play the fiddle like Davy Crockett played it.

Jason Allen

Moreland, also, is a chainsaw wood-sculpter. H presented a bust he had just finished of a mustached old man that he auctioned off for another $3,000 for the associations.

Then, from Nashville, it was multl-country-hitmakers Dean Dillon, Chris Wallin, and Scotty Emerick. Oh, my — between the three of them, there must be 75 hits out there in the country music world. George Strait, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Sawyer Brown, Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, and so many others.

Wallin‘s songs include, and he sang a couple of these, include “Don’t Blink,” and “Love Me If you Can.” He told the story on that second one, saying he was writing in a hotel room with another guy, but neither one of them had a thing to start out with. Then, he saw a guy on Jerry Springer Show who commented, something like ‘Hate me if you want to, but love me if you can,’ and that got them started creating the song that Toby Keith took to the top of the charts. Another apparent crowd-pleaser, and all three of these men had Christian-based songs they shared, was the one about Satan knowing his grandmother, but Jesus knowing her better.

Chris Wallin

Emerick didn’t sing one of his songs that hit the tops, “I Love This Bar,” which singer Toby Keith has used as the basis for a small chain of bar and grills in casinos… I Love This Bar & Grill. There’s one in Oklahoma’s WinStar. But, Emerick did sing a lot of other ones. He bring the crowd to laughter with his “(I’m Not) As Good as I Once Was” and his new song about “some infidelity” and all the burned down barns in that neck of the woods. You gotta listen to it on Spotify or Apple Music, it’s worth the listen.

Dillon played more of his earlier songs, after telling the story of getting is first guitar as a little redneck and playing it still. His Christian song, and he qualified this by saying it hasn’t been a hit, was “The Key to Heaven is Hanging on a Nail.” Little known fact about the man who may be the best-known songwriter in Nashville, thanks in large part to George Strait, is that he has also cut his own CDs and released his own singles to radio. And he’s got the voice to do just that. Emerick, who, like Wallin has written with Dillon, picked up a lot of the lead guitar in Dillon’s songs. He sang, to the crowd’s delight, “Easy Come, Easy Go” and “Marina Del Rey.”

This writer doesn’t know how in hog-heaven this concert came into being, and that might a story of another telling! I do know one thing for certain, as long as there are songwriters in Nashville, in Texas, and in country music like these at the Blue Sky Songtellers’ Gathering, there will always be great country music!

Michael O’Neal latest CD Release

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First appeared in print in Paris News, Sept. 21, 2018 edition. Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer

Michael O’Neal, taken at Love & War in Texas when he won the Rusty Wier singer/songwriter contest.Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. First printed in Paris News, Sept. 21, 2018

Listening to Michael O’Neal’s latest recording project, Live at Heritage Hall, is like listening about the history of Paris all rolled up in the characters that built this Paris singer/songwriter.

There’s “Ms. Elsie,” and everyone has a Ms. Elsie in his past, the ‘other grandmother’ who helped mold him; there’s his granddaddy who lived “50 Miles” from the family; there’s his new song, “Hill 438,” a song that emerged from O’Neal’s love of history and respect for America’s warriors; and family — oh my goodness, so many songs about family, such as “Ode to Love” about his 4-year-old daughter’s softball game.

O’Neal and Heritage Hall owner JoKyle Varner made plans for a year before recording, and O’Neal said he especially wanted to record it there because the venue, originally a railroad station, because, simply put, “The room has great sound.” That’s a truism. And he brought up Rambling Creek Studio from Austin to record it, but then wasn’t finished with the plans… he hired Mental Media from Ada to film the entire night’s show.

Oh, and just to name-drop here… the only other musician on this recording is steel guitar picker Geoff Queen. Queen, as other jacket junkies like me know, plays regularly with such Texas stars as Hayes Carll and Bruce Robison. He adds more melody and interest with that one guitar than many complete bands can add. He also plays mandolin and probably a few more instruments — that’s what multi-instrumentalists do. But for this, it was steel guitar and more steel guitar. Couldn’t get any better than that!

Now, the CD has 14 songs on it, along with intro, or the story that led into the song. But wait, there’s more, as the infomercials always declare. There were about 40 tracks, including the stories, recorded that night. The CD package has a DVD that includes every single song. “But a CD only holds 74 minutes, so I couldn’t put them all there,” O’Neal said. All 40 tracks are also streamed on Apple Music, iTunes, and the other streaming sites. So, it’s a win-win, whether you buy the collection from O’Neal’s Website, listed below, since you get the DVD along with it, or whether you listen to it Online.

O’Neal isn’t a traditional singer in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, he qualifies more as a talking blues singer, at least on this project, in the style of many of Woody Guthrie’s songs, or Bob Dylan who was such an influence on O’Neal that Michael has written “A Bob Dylan Song.” Talking blues probably began in the 1920, and Guthrie used that form in the early 1940s with “Talking Dust Bowl Blues” and his son Arlo recorded “Alice’s Restaurant” in the style. O’Neal is keeping it alive, well, and viable in the 21st Century.

And speaking of influences, one who is familiar with the late Guy Clark can hear Guy’s influence on Michael, too. Like Clark, O’Neal can say ‘I love you’ in other words, for instance in his tribute his late friend “Ode to JW” and the scars he carries from their friendship — “I got scars, all over me. Just reminders of when we were wild and free. He give me this one on my shoulder. He give me this one on my chin. He give me one across my heart, almost done me in.”

Many of the songs in this collection, O’Neal said, were written over his nearly-two decades of songwriting and recording. “Hill 438” is his newest, and “Soul Shine” may be one of his first ones, cut on his 2006 CD of the same name. And so many in between.

Michael O’Neal said he’ll have the new CD available at all his gigs — at least “til I run out of them.”

For more information or to order Live at Heritage Hall, go Online to: www.MichaelONealMusic.com