Texas Music Series ready to roll in Oklahoma

BY MARY JANE FARMER

HERALD DEMOCRAT

DURANT, Okla. -- First there was a trial run, sort of dipping the toes in the creek. When those proved popular, three music industry pros decided to set up a Texas Music Series in Oklahoma. Morris McCann, Shane Hurst, and Chadd Forgy explained why.

There seems to be a need, a hunger, for the quality and styles of music coming out of the Lone Star State, each of the trio said, emphasizing this in no way reflects on what all is going on in Oklahoma, but that it's in addition to what's already there.

"We feel there is a market beyond Texas for this music, and this can broaden the spectrum," McCann said.

Every second Wednesday night will see another performer in the Texas Music Series at Cheyenne's Club in Durant. It's acoustic all the way, with McCann acting as on-stage host, back-up guitar and vocals, and occasionally adding his own songs to the mix.

The series has hosted four Texas pickers to date: Randy Brown, Tommy Alverson, Ed Burleson, and this week's performance by Chance Cody.

Upcoming are Bob Livingston, Max Stalling, Randy Hopper, with repeat performances by Tommy Alverson and Randy Brown, already established as crowd favorites.

It's important to have repeat performers because they ground the others. They intermingle familiarity with musicians who may have never been heard live before, like a best friend introducing someone who can become a new best friend.

Cody was on stage for almost two hours before taking a break Wednesday night. During his break, he said about the series, "I'm glad to see them giving Texas musicians a trial. I think there is an appetite for this and it's hard to find up here."

McCann spoke of the atmosphere and reception in Texas venues. He plays several places in Texoma and the Metroplex regularly where hundreds of people show up to hear the music.

There's also Okies who are driving to Plano to catch Texas musicians in concert there. Now, some of those fans are driving to Durant. People have also driven from the edges of Fort Worth, McAlester, and Dallas for the music series. Forgy remembered one fan from McAllen who drove to Durant for the series while visiting in Fort Worth.

"Just a couple of years ago," McCann, who is an Okie himself, said, "all I hoped for was to get to meet some of these musicians. Now, I'm sharing stages with them. There's a certain brotherhood through the music, and this is my chance to help."

Hurst is the owner of Cheyenne's Club and said McCann and he had been friends for years. So, when Morris asked about using the club for such a series, it was perfectly fine with him.

Forgy, who manages McCann and has his fingers in other peripheral pieces of the music pie, said he hopes to let people in southern Oklahoma hear what he gets to hear on a regular basis in the Metroplex.

It's also a way for the artists to meet and perform before new crowds, to expand their own fan bases.

Music starts at 8 p.m. and the next concert will be Jan. 21 when Tommy Alverson returns. Cheyenne's Club is on State Highway 70 just west of the U.S. Highway 69/75 cloverleaf exit. Watch the Music Scene Calendar for future Texas Music Series concerts.