by Kathleen Hudson
Terry was one of the first musicians I met upon moving to Kerrville in 1984. I was coming to town with a new Ph.D, a new divorce, and a new job - development director for Rod Kennedy’s Kerrville Music Foundation. Within a year I moved into part-time then full-time work at Schreiner University. That’s another story. I fell in love with the music Terry played immediately. I had always loved strong guitar work and blues was my doorway into the music world. Terry rocked when he played blues. I began managing a trio he called The Franklin Brothers. Why? Well, I had no experience in music except to experience my own passionate love of music as a fan. I wanted to help out these people I had already grown to love. I discovered that my primary role in life is to share what I love with others. That’s the driving force behind all my projects, both musically and academically (I have been teaching English for 40 years now!).
The news that Terry Penney, his wife Sarah, and his friend Eddie Andrada were killed in a car wreck returning from a music gig in Ulvalde not only saddened me, but also provoked a long walk down memory lane. Loss does that.
I walked the streets of Austin, promo kit in hand. I called club managers. I looked for venues and gigs for The Franklin Brother, three white boys playing the blues. And rocking James Harris played bass (and he now teaches with me at Schreiner University Art Department), and a fellow named Mike played drums. They switched drummers from time to time. Terry said, “I want a drummer that can blow my skirt up!” I figured out that he wanted to feel that drummer behind him!
Terry also had a day job. He worked on hair, and I spent years under the razor with him, as I said, “I want rock and roll hair.” We always had fun; we shared several lives together. I showcased his band (now with Ronnie Leatherman) at a Schreiner University freshman orientation at Mo Ranch one year. The students were impressed with his guitar leads. Many of us danced on the concrete pavilion.
As he moved through various music transformations, he seemed to always come back to his first love, blues. Oh, he played country and Christian music, writing songs in many genres. He and Sarah sang and performed together, and a new CD is in the works. He had joined the Texas Heritage Music Foundation and was part of our roster of musicians to send into schools. The entire music community misses Terry and Sarah.
I'm in Ft. Worth this month staying with my dad. My mother had her pacemaker replaced at age 83 and is working on some rehabilitation I am taking a walk down memory lane as I listen to the family stories in the family home. All four of my siblings are close by. Memory is a wonderful part of being human. We share our memories by sharing out stories and songs. The mission statement of the Texas Heritage Music Foundation, an organization I started 20 years ago, out of this same commitment and vision. Funny how time weaves our stories together and patterns start showing up.
Rod Kennedy is now producing a music series in Plano, Texas. The August 9th concert is an evening with Jimmy LaFave and Gary P. Nunn. Now that’s a pair to draw to. (Thank Guy Clark for all of you who recognize the allusion.) Jimmy played at my 60th birthday, thanks to sister Carolyn Pillow and Rod Kennedy. Gary P. Nunn is an advisory director of the THMF. I plan on attending this concert if I’m still in the metroplex area. And I might be.
Dalis Allen has put together an exciting lineup for the annual Kerrville Wine and Music Festival. Check out their website for details around this Labor Day Party weekend. She is weaving together the music of local performers with touring performers Glad to see Jay Boy Adams on the bill again. And we will be rocking to a close the first night with a Tex/Mex rocking blues band. Los TexManiacs. Then Guy Forsythe and his eclectic brilliant performance of music ends the second night. And the entire event ends with Jay Boy Adams. Important to stay until the fat lady sings, so to speak.
Put these September dates on your calendar for THMF: September 5, Wednesday, is the first coffeehouse at Schreiner University featuring Rodney Hayden and a birthday tribute to The Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers. He built his dream home at 617 West Main in Kerrville and lived here from 1929-1931, crucial recording years for him as well. His birthday is September 8. The THMF annual Living History Event is Friday, September 28. With over 50 performers on the Schreiner University campus, this event showcases another way of learning using stories and songs. We are also working with the Texas Folklore Society on a panel from 4-6 p.m., and we’ll have an evening of the music of the West with Duke Davis. Wow, what a day!
October 5 is the second coffeehouse and the booksigning for my second book, an oral history of the women in Texas music. See kathleenhudson.net for a photo of the book! It’s a gorgeous production of the University of Texas Press, and it’s for sale online now. I have invited Rosie Flores, a woman in the book, to be our featured artist for the month. Other women in the book include Terri Hendrix, Pauline Reese, Bobbie Nelson, Emily Robison, Ruthie Foster, Cyd Cassone, Barb Donavon, Wanda King, Marcia Ball, Sara Hickman, Karen Abrahams and many more! I had a great time collecting their stories. Each story served as an inspiration to my own life. And my book is dedicated to my mother and all the women in my life. I have one daughter and four granddaughters! Jessica, age 15, spent her 9th grade year living with me. What a joy, what an experience, what a learning opportunity for me.
Yes, the Texas Hill Country is rich with stories and songs, opportunities for musicians and songwriters, open mikes and new venues. Bandera is hopping with opportunity as is Fredericksburg. Two strong radio stations, both online, KFAN and KRVL, capture the history in the making. Down the road and ils sont partis. KH
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Schreiner University
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