Old Mobeetie Texas Association

For Music Year 2009

THE STAR CANYON BAND
SAN ANTONIO, TX

We are happy to have The Star Canyon Band to perform at our festival again this year.

Jeff Simmons, San Antonio TX, has been the leader of The Star Canyon Band since its inception 21 years ago. Having played music for what seems like “forever” (and wanting to continue forever), Jeff plays guitar and sings lead and harmony in The Star Canyon Band. Born in Virginia, his music career began in the country music field, later taking the Nashville route where he shared stages with some of ‘the best’ before converting to bluegrass music in the early 1980s. To the enjoyment of his many fans, there’s still a touch of country to Jeff’s music. Onstage, there’s no doubt that he loves performing and sharing his God-given talents with the bluegrass world.

 

Tim Tynes, Burleson TX, is an accomplished artisan on banjo, guitar and dobro. Tim also shares vocal responsibilities of The Star Canyon Band. Though he enjoys different types of music—bluegrass music means the most to Tim. He has lived in the Fort Worth area most of his life and during his 35 years of playing music, Tim has been a part of several bands, teaches banjo and occasionally assists with area banjo workshops. More recently, Tim has gotten serious with his song writing and is spending more time on those efforts. When he isn’t picking, Tim is enjoying time with his family, hunting or fishing. 

 

Eddie Stroud is an excellent bassist and sings lead and harmony, as well. A native Texan, Eddie was born, raised and works in Glen Rose TX where he still lives today.  Eddie has been playing music for over 20 years—starting out on guitar and later learning to play bass because “there never seemed to be anyone to play bass” for the jam sessions he frequented at a nearby bluegrass music park. He’ll modestly tell you that there’s “nothin’ special ‘bout me,” but when he starts singing while playing guitar or bass, you’ll know right quick-like that there is, indeed, something ‘very special’ about him! Eddie readily admits that the thing that he loves most about bluegrass music is the people and ‘the people’ love Eddie as well.

 

Carl Josefy, from Altus OK, has been playing and singing bluegrass music for over 26 years.  Carl started out singing tenor harmony and lead vocals while jamming with his dad and friends at various festivals they attended. He plays mandolin, guitar and bass and sings tenor, lead, alto and (sometimes) bass vocals. Carl says, “I just like to pick and sing, so I try to play different instruments or sing parts other than what someone else is already doing.” Carl played in a country band for several years in the mid-1990s frequenting dance halls and rodeos in the southwest Oklahoma and northern Texas area. Later, he was a founding member of “Truevine”, a contemporary Christian music group playing churches and other events. But, through it all, Carl still says bluegrass is his favorite type of music because of its honest and pure sound.

 

This personable, dynamic foursome came together in this venture dedicated to ‘being the best that they can be,’ and they are definitely ‘entertainers’—each member is an accomplished lead vocalist and, collectively, they perform some wonderful harmony coupled with one of the best balances of sound that you can hope to find.  From the pooling and refinement of individual members’ ideas, emerged The Star Canyon Band’s own novel style of entertainment—a lot of bluegrass, softened with a little country, a touch of folk music added, and a dusting of humor injected here and there.  They seem to have discovered the ‘mix’ that folks want to hear…a fan base of over 1400 households supports their extreme popularity.  These loyal fans readily proclaim these fellows to be “some of the most talented and nicest guys that you could ever hope to meet!”  Their presence adds a special touch to any event!

 

For your enjoyment and entertainment, we present a quality performance in a unique style with unity, energy, and enthusiasm—THE STAR CANYON BAND!!

THE BATTEN FAMILY
LUBBOCK, TX

Darrell and Tempie Batten began playing music in the 1960’s in their hometown of Lubbock, TX.  For the past 22 years they played Bluegrass and old time music with Bob Suggs and his wife Taliene.  Their group was known as Big Sandy.  Over time their children and eventually their children’s children began performing with them.  Recently Bob and Taliene have retired from performing due to health reasons, and they are truly missed on stage.

 The Batten Family currently has 4 generations of singers and musicians.  In April of 2003 they recorded 2 new CDs, one gospel and one bluegrass and have performed at various venues in Texas and Oklahoma. 

Darrell Batten (Granddaddy) plays rhythm guitar and sings lead vocals.

Tempie Batten (Grannie) plays upright bass and rhythm mandolin.

Kevin Batten (oldest son, PeePaw) plays lead mandolin and sings harmony.

Teresa Batten (daughter-in-law, Kevin’s wife, Mamo to Ethan and Madison) sings lead and harmony vocals.

Lisa Hilton (oldest daughter, Annabelle’s Mia) sings lead and harmony vocals.

Paul Batten (youngest son plays lead guitar and mandolin, sings lead and harmony vocals.

Bryan Batten (grandson, son of Kevin and Teresa) plays lead and rhythm mandolin, sings lead and harmony vocals.

Kelly Crowson (granddaughter, Lisa’s daughter) sings lead and harmony vocals.

Ethan Batten (great grandson, Bryan’s 5-year-old son) sings.

Lori Ann Gauntt (granddaughter 4 years old, daughter of Angie (youngest daughter) sings.

 We are thrilled to be at the Old Mobeetie Texas Music Festival.  We hope that you will come by our table to visit with us and mostly that you enjoy our part of the program.

MAGIC CITY COWBOYS
MAGIC CITY, TX

The Magic City Cowboys are a band keeping Western Swing swingin’.  Western Swing has sounds of Dixieland, jazz, blues, and the sound of the big western band.  It started with Bob Wills, Milton Brown, and the Lightcrust Doughboys.  It has ebbed and flowed and it’s enjoying a great resurgence in America today.  This will be the third year to play at the Mobeetie Music Festival.  They hope you will accept their version of the most melodic and down-to-earth sounds, which honor their hero, Bob Wills. 

Members of the Magic City Cowboys include musicians who played with Bob Wills and some that still play with the most famous dance band our part of the country has ever known The Texas Playboys.  The rest of the members of the group have played western swing all of their adult lives.

 Jimmy Young  plays  the  fiddle.  Jimmy is  an authentic Bob Wills Texas Playboy  and is highly sought after by music producers and promoters around the country.  Jimmy is at the top of the list in terms of versatility and musical ability and tours with the Texas Playboys to this day, spending many hours with his fiddle-case boarding an airplane.  Jimmy lives in Amarillo where he works full time as a luthier and instrument repairman.  Jimmy is a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame.

 Chet Calcote is the bass player.  This guy is “Mr. Musician”.  Not only is he one fine man  to be  around, his  versatility  and talent are unmatched.  Chet plays western swing, jazz, cowboy campfire music, in fact, Chet is playing in four different musical groups at the present time.  Having toured Europe with the late Leon McAuliffe (Steel Guitar Rag) as Leon’s bass player.  Chet was road manager and musical director of the group.  Subsequently, he settled down in Amarillo to raise his family and become an insurance executive.

 Tiny Duncan plays piano.  He started out hauling an upright piano from dance to dance  in  the back of  his  pickup back  in  the 1950’s.  He was nominated  for acceptance into the National Western Swing Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California.  He is, as are all the men of in the band, veteran of many recording sessions for various artists.  There is not a song he can’t play and not a key in which he cannot play it.  He is one heck of a musician.

Hunt Family Band

The Hunt Family Band will be returning for the second year.  The band is composed of Terry  (Dad) who grew up in the Ozarks of North Arkansas and got bit by the Bluegrass bug at an early age.  Leanne (Mom) who grew up in a very musical family on a dairy farm in Central Missouri .  Andrew ho started fiddle lessons when he was 7 and Jonathan started about the same age to play.  Andrew plays the Mandolin and Jonathan plays the banjo. The Hunt Family is now living in Oklahoma .

The Link Family Band

This will be the second year for the Link Family to be in Mobeetie.  The family consist of Rachel age 21, Kyle age 20, Benjamin age 13, Aaron age 10 and John age 9 Becky (Mom), Lance (Dad) and son-in-law Landen Keeler. They are from Lebanon Missoui. Rachel brings to the group a strong lead and harmony voice while playing mandolin, guitar and bass.  Kyle plays all the instruments on stage, mostly fiddle and guitar while singing lead and harmony.  Benjamin also plays all the instruments mostly banjo and sings lead and harmony.  Aaron sings lead and plays the fiddle and mandolin.  John plays the old time spoons, sings lead and is learning the mandolin.  Becky plays rhythm guitar and bass while singing lead and harmony.  Lance brings the foundation sound on the bass fiddle, sings bass. Landen is their sound man.

Saltgrass

Saltgrass will be back again. They are based in Lake Jackson Texas .  They have been in existence for over 20 years. Jimmy Fischer plays banjo, guitar and does vocals.  He lives in Lake Jackson .  He has been with the group about 24 years.  John Brockett plays guitar, and does vocals.  He lives in Magnolia, TX He has been with group about 19 years.  His superb tenor voice will get your attention.  He plays rhythm guitar.  Jim Lowery plays bass and does vocals.  He lives in Spring, TX and has been with group 13 years.  He sings some lead and does backup singing.  He does most of the M. C. work. Timmy Fischer plays mandolin and does vocals.  He lives in Lake Jackson .  He has been with group 4 years.  He also plays the guitar.

Larry Ford Bluegrass Band

The Larry Ford Bluegrass Band is back this year.  The band is based in Leedy , OK .

Larry Ford sings lead and high tenor.  He plays the guitar.  Mike Bostic plays mandolin and sings baritone & lead.  Larry Nance plays bass Fiddle and lead singing.  John Diamond plays banjo and does some lead singing.  Ben Lawson plays fiddle.  The Larry Ford Band has been together for about 6 years.

 

AND OTHERS!!!!

Sound--Frank Cleveland

Master Of Ceremonies--Gina Seitz