I’m going to leave this up as a memorial to my buddy, Deek Emmons, who passed away shortly after this post was written.
It was ages ago, but my memory of meeting Deek was at Camp Urland, a Boy Scout camp in the Piney Woods run by a sadistic psychopath and his sexually confused helpers.
It made “Lord of the Flies” look like Disneyland.
However, for reasons I’ll explain someday, it was better than being at home.
While walking through the camp, I was trapped by a group of guys who were throwing rocks at me. This is before I learned about lawyers, guns and money, so I was just kinda not participating in the process- their behavior confused me. I was also probably crying.
This bigger, older guy showed up and shoo’d off the rock throwers. That was my introduction to Deek- at least how I remember it.
You can’t really understand Terlingua, or Terlingua Americana Music, without coming to grips with the other side of the border- and the nearest border crossing is at Boquillas, Mexico. Unfortunately, for the past 11 years, that’s been hard to do because the border has been closed.
Recently, a new border crossing to Boquillas, Mexico was opened in the Big Bend National Park. I made this crossing in the 70’s, and don’t remember much about it… but, I do remember that the process was informal. You just drove to the crossing, took the little boat across the river, trekked up the hill, and bought cheap tacos and beer.
Lilia and Bernardo – Falcon’s restaurant – Boquillas, MX.
Now, getting to Boquillas is a little more complicated. After driving an hour and a quarter from Study Butte through the park, you first go to the store at Rio Grande Village, where you buy your tickets for the boat- $5/per person.
Then, a short drive to the Boquillas crossing, a $2,000,000+ Homeland Security compound (my buddy Lance, who builds things, figures he could’a built it for $100,000… where does the money go?) where you show your passport and receive official permission to cross the border.
The crossing closes at 6:00 PM. I talked to the guard who told me the rules: “no mercy, no quarter.” If you haven’t been fully processed back into the U.S. by 6:00, you have to stay in Mexico. “Back at ya,” was my unspoken reply. Continue reading “Day-trip – Boquillas Mexico”
Terlingua, Texas musicians and community to the rescue!
Musicians for the arts.
*** Want to donate to the Terlingua Arts and Music departments? Click the paypal “donate” button – all proceeds will go to the Art and Music Departments at the Terlingua School. ***
When I found out that the music and art teachers in Terlingua were buying music and art supplies for their students out of their meagre paychecks, I found myself channeling the Big Lebowski: “This will not stand!”
As I shared this information with others in the community, the response was pretty much the same.
Rather than focus on why this situation exists, we just fixed it by funding the art and music departments.
On Sunday, August 25th, local artists, musicians and community members gathered at the Starlight Theatre in the Terlingua Ghost Town to raise money for the Terlingua School music and art programs.
We passed the tip jar around, there were silent- and loud- auctions, some people donated by using the above PayPal button – and by the end of the night we had raised over $800. That will buy a lot of paint, reeds, etc.
The Starlight donated beer and food for the musicians and gave us a great, historic venue for the benefit – thanks Buckner, Sonny, Diego, Kathy and all the rest of the gang at the Starlight!
Many local artists and authors donated their work for the auction, and the bidding was fierce. All proceeds go to the kids.
Herman and Deanna (High Sierra Bar and Grill) donated a case of beer for the auction. Ed won.
The musicians donated their time and talent. We are lucky to live in a community that is so rich in brilliant and giving performers and artists. Each act played a short set and still the music went on for over six hours.
This little guy was dancing to the music on the dance floor. Carmen rescued it before it got boot-scooted, and it ended up outside- where it belongs. Staff photo: Betsy BlaydesPablo Menudo sang his tales of aliens and walking catfish.Laird Considine performed with Ted Arbogast on guitar and Trevor Hickle on bass.Jeff Haislip gave his usual brilliant best.Jeff Gavin whupped out a set of gorgeous original songs.Billy Lord http://BillyLordMusic.com closed out the show – Moses Martinez on drums, Nick Cooper on bass, Joshua on banjo, me on guitar. Staff photo- Betsy BlaydesGreg Grymes performed songs from his new CD – Nick on bass, Anna Oakley on fiddle, Moses on harmonica.Dancing to the Rocky Top Alien Breeding Experiment band. Staff photo- Betsy Blaydes.The Aliens got the room moving.The Starlight Theatre.Miss Collie Ryan – a local legend.Carlos Maxwell, with Ted and Laird Considine. Between ’em, I think these guys have over 75 years residency in the Big Bend.Billy Lord – was driving through the Big Bend on a motorcycle with his guitar on his back.Deanna and Herman from the High Sierra donated a case of beer for the auction – Thomas was the auctioneer, Ronda displayed the wares.Aliens!More dancing ensued.Alex and Marti Whitmore gave a very professional performance.
Wherein Terlingua, Texas Americana Music and the local community pitch in to buy track shoes for the track team…
It all started at the outside bar at the High Sierra a month ago. Aaron, the track coach, and few other late nighters were relaxing after the Legendary Jam in July and Coach said, “I’ve got some runners who can make it to State this year- if only they could afford shoes.”
Fade forward – 11.45 last night, Aaron was sitting in the back of the room with a big grin on his face while Moses, Clayton and some late-night drinkers sang some canciones en Espanol. Brandi and I were talking at the next table, and Aaron walked over, patting the fat envelope of cash in his pocket: “we’ve got enough money here to buy shoes for both teams, as well as some team shirts and bags!” Continue reading “Flying Shoes…”
Terlingua musicians will once again gather to raise money for a good cause. This time, it’s at the High Sierra on Sunday, 8/11/13, from 2 until we’re through.
Expect the usual suspects – we never know who’s going to play, but Greg, Anna, Jim, Jeff and them are back from Santa Fe where Greg cut his new CD.
This time, our charity is the Terlingua Track team. Aaron thinks he’s got some runners who can go to State – but they can’t afford track shoes.
That ain’t right.
So, we’re gonna play some great music and pass the hat so the kids can have shoes.
Although Terlingua tends to be a haven for singer/songwriters in the Texas Americana tradition, it’s not surprising that there’s a strong Grateful Dead influence here, too.
Last night we celebrated Jerry Garcia’s birthday at the starlight with music, dancing, good food and beer. And maybe some other stuff…
Uh Clem gathered the initial band- Laird Considine on bass, me on guitar. Mark Lewis heard the music from the porch and joined us on mandolin.
Later on, Butch and Rory Hancock came in for dinner. Soon, Butch was singing and playing Uh’s guitar, Rory had my strat, Mike and Moses were playing drums, and I was on bass.
The band- Rory, Mark, Butch, me and Mike.
In New York, LA or Austin this would have been a sold-out show with high-dollar tickets. Butch is an amazing singer/songwriter and the band was top-notch.
