Featuring six talented musicians as finalists, chart-busting singer-songwriter Moe Bandy headlines & judges Bosque Arts Center’s 10th Annual Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic Saturday
CLIFTON – Some things never change, like the smell of a baby’s head, the frisky delight of a young puppy, the grief of losing a loved one, the sadness when a love affair is over, the beauty of a Texas sunset or the brilliance of a summer sky filled with stars. Writing about these signature moments is what country music is all about.
For 10 years, the Bosque Arts Center in Clifton has been promoting the art of country music songwriting with their annual Texas Troubadour contest. The judges have picked their favorites, the audience selects a People’s Choice winner, and the judge headlines the event with a great concert.
This year, the BAC welcomes singer-songwriter Moe Bandy as the judge of the 10th Annual Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11. Doors open at 5 p.m. with the full array of food and beverages for sale – baked potatoes, chili dogs, loaded nachos and more. The diversity of the songs and styles makes for a wonderful evening of music, which culminates in a full concert by living country music legend Bandy and his six-piece band performing a full concert.
Come and enjoy an exceptional evening celebrating country music singer/songwriters. Being Veterans Day, the evening will begin with a salute to the nation’s veterans. Brian Barrett, the only finalist in the Troubadour’s 10-year history to sweep all three award categories in 2017, honors veterans with an original song after the presentation of the colors. Some general admission tickets remain available at $25. For tickets, please visit http://www.bosqueartscenter.org or call 254-675-3724.
This year’s six singer-songwriter finalists include talented newcomers as well as returning contestants. The segment opens with two-time People’s Choice winner Phillip Wildman, followed by first-timer Kassie Wilson of Nashville. Returning People’s Choice winner Kris Tiscareno performs next, followed by 2022 Song of the Year winner Chip Boyd makes his debut on our stage. Newcomer Libby Mosley of Midlothian and 2019 Troubadour winner Zac Clifton round out the contestants.
Also a former bull rider, Bandy remains considered one of America’s All-Time Country Music Artists, and joins a long list of top country music artists the BAC had brought to Bosque County to perform on the Tin Building Theatre stage, including T. Graham Brown, Gene Watson, Merle Haggard, Michael Martin Murphey, Rodney Crowell, Janie Fricke and the Bellamy Brothers.
Besides being a cowboy, Bandy worked years as a sheet metal worker by day, while playing honkey tonks at night in and around his hometown of San Antonio. In the mid-1970s when the country pop artists Kenny Rogers and John Denver along with the outlaw sound of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson became the rage, Bandy remained one of the few traditionalists. The Texas singer with twin fiddles and steel guitar in the band kept the Texas-style Honkey Tonk music alive, but it wasn’t easy.
In 1972, Bandy met record producer Ray Baker on a hunting trip and convinced him to listen to some demo tapes he had made. Baker agreed to produce Bandy if he was willing to pay for the recording session. Bandy agreed, and out of that session came Bandy’s first hit song “I just Started Hatin Cheatin’ Songs Today.”
Ever since then, Bandy showed up on the country music charts. In his career spanning six decades, Bandy has had 10 Number One hits, 40 Top Ten hits, 66 chart hits and five gold albums with signature songs like “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life,” “Too Old To Die Young,” and “Bandy, the Rodeo Clown.” He is also known for his popular duets with Janie Fricke with "It’s a Cheatin’ Situation,” and Joe Stampley with “Where’s the Dress?” and “Just Good Ol’ Boys.”
Bandy’s other accolades include American Country Music Song of The Year, ACM most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year, American Video of the year, ACM and Country Music Association Duet of the Year.
Finally, Bandy was inducted into the Texas Country Music Association Hall as one of the 2023 Class, along with the late rodeo icons Cleo Hearn and Boots O’Neal; The Texas Ranger Division of the Department of Public Safety; and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. He also received the TCMA’s first Moe Bandy Icon Award, established in his name on Nov. 12 at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth.
Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS & courtesy of BOSQUE ARTS CENTER
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