Chris Willman Music WriterThe maxim “everything’s bigger in Texas” most definitely applies when it comes to having an outsized per capita concentration of brilliant songwriters.
So, it’s almost surprising to realize that it took until 2005 for a Texas Heritage Songwriters Association to be formed, for the purpose of finally founding a Hall of Fame.One key figure in its origins was a beloved Texan not everyone realizes had a reputation as “a lover of the song, and a friend to songwriters”: University of Texas football coach Darrell K.
Royal. But its start really dates back to a meeting in an Austin restaurant backroom between creator Terry Boothe and radio personality Bob Cole, at which ideas about who to induct first were jotted down on a napkin. “I wish we saved that napkin,” laughs board member Joe Ables. “There’ve been a lot of songs written on napkins.”17 years later, the Hall of Fame can claim about 50, including household-name singer-songwriters Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Holly, Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson and Roy Orbison as well as non-performer tunesmiths such as Cindy Walker, Bob McDill, Allen Shamblin and Liz Rose.
The waiting list to get in? It’s still a long one.On Feb. 12, the list of perceived oversights will shorten by four. The Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards Show at Paramount Theatre will see a quartet of obvious worthies join the previous inductees: blues god Lightnin’ Hopkins, Americana pioneer Nanci Griffith, classic country star Lefty Frizzell and hit tunesmith Mark James.
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