Don Walser and Me… — Vinyl Magic

My mother passed away when I was not quite twelve years old. My father worked twelve hours each night about ten months out of the year. For company, I kept the radio on all night and listened to those great old country songs. They helped shape my life and gave me a goal in this world. That goal was to keep those old songs alive.
Don Walser

***Rolling Stone From Texas (1994) signed by Don***

Don Walser is one of the greatest undiscovered country singers that I've ever heard. Besides being an incredible interpreter of classic country music, Don is probably the most innovative and creative yodeler who ever knocked his tonsils together in a song....I think after you listen to Don, you'll agree he's a true American treasure.
producer/musician Ray Benson
It didn't matter where we played. Whether I was just sitting on a bunk in the barracks playing for the fellas or at Lincoln Center - as long as people were enjoying the music, we had a ball.
Don Walser

***Rolling Stone From Texas (1994) back cover signed by Don***

Don Walser started singing in West Texas dance halls and honky tonks in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He had a regional following when he recorded a single, "Rolling Stone From Texas." As he later wrote in his 1994 CD liner notes, "Rolling Stone From Texas" was written when I was eighteen years old. First recorded in 1964 and was rated four stars in Billboard magazine. I didn't know then or now what that means." Despite this early success, Don didn't want to move to Nashville to pursue a career in music, so he did the next best thing. He joined the National Guard, and he remained a Guardsman for the next thirty nine years, releasing singles in the early 1970s on Camaro, an obscure record label in Memphis, Tennessee, and occasionally playing in local Austin clubs.

Don Walser and his music found an unlikely champion in Jeff Pinkus, the bassist in the Austin-based thrash and hardcore punk band, Butthole Surfers. Jeff heard Don play in 1990 at Henry's Bar & Grill and when it closed, he introduced him to David Thompson III, the manager at Emo's, the pre-eminent punk rock club in Austin. As David explained, " Don and his band played our club weekly and he became fast friends with all the employees as well as the patrons. For a yodeling cowboy, you would not think he would have fit in a punk club like Emo's but it was a perfect match..... I was truly blown away with not only his voice but his Texas manners. It was not unusual for all the punks at Emo's to be "two-steppin'" to his music and it was not unusual for him to be on a punk rock bill with other bands." I am sure the tattooed and pierced Emo patrons were never quite the same after being exposed to Don and his yodeling!

***Tish Hinojosa’s Border Tour (1995) signed by Don, Tish, Butch Hancock, Santiago Jimenez***

The first time I saw Don Walser was at the Barns of Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia in 1995. The Barns seats around 400 in a beautifully restored, acoustically perfect circa 1730 wood structure. Even though Don had been singing for decades, he had just released his debut CD, Rolling Stone From Texas. He had recently retired from the National Guard so he was finally able to concentrate on his music. Don was part of a revue called "Tish Hinojosa's Border Tour" which included conjunto accordion master Santiago Jimenez Jr., Lubbock, Texas songwriter Butch Hancock, and singer Tish Hinojosa. All great artists, but Don stole the show. He came out wearing bib dungaree overalls with a large Stetson hat and sat down on a stool with his guitar. He was so grateful to be there and his kindness and courtesy were infectious. He sang most of his first CD and highlights were Marty Robbins' "Don't Worry 'Bout Me", Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You In My Arms", and Don's "Rolling Stone From Texas" and "The John Deere Tractor Song." Don's voice was revelatory. So clear, precise, forceful and his yodeling was otherworldly. After the show, he signed CDs, t-shirts, posters, etc.. Mostly, it seemed he just wanted to shake your hand. As Howard Kalish, his fiddle player said, "When he said he was pleased to meet you, he truly was."

***La Sirena (1995) signed by Don, Tish, Butch, Santiago Jimenez***

The last time I saw Don, he was playing at the venerable Twist 'n' Shout in Bethesda, Maryland in 1997. The Twist 'n' Shout was an American Legion bar during the week, but it transformed into a honky tonk roadhouse on weekends with a great mix of blues, boogie, cajun and country bands. The club was immortalized in Mary Chapin Carpenter's swinging ode "Down At The Twist 'n' Shout" which Mary sings with great gusto backed by Beausoleil, the expert cajun band. The venue couldn't shake its American Legion dive bar roots with the beer-soaked linoleum floor, dropped ceiling and Budweiser on tap. No hipster micro brews here, most of the suds ended up on the teeming dance floor. Mix in a bunch of sweaty, boozy patrons and it was a perfect Saturday night.

***Watermelon Records (1995) signed by Don, Butch Hancock***

Don played a remarkable set, showcasing his latest release, Texas Top Hand (1996). Some friends of mine were astounded with his voice and performance. "Who is this guy?" they gasped. "He's really good" was a quick rejoinder. After the show, Don sat at a table signing 8"x10" publicity photos. When it was my turn, I told Don how much my wife and I love his music. "Where is she?" Don asked. I said, "Erin would love to be here but she's eight months pregnant with our first baby, so she thought she should stay home." "That's a shame." he offered. I said, "Yes, we loved your show at the Barns with Tish a couple of years ago. Don, I really love your version of "Wine Me Up", that's such a great Faron Young song, and you crush it. Would you sign your photo with "Wine Me Up?" "Sure" Don says, as he starts scribbling away and hands me back the photo with a big warm smile.

It reads:

"To My Pals, Neil & Erin, Have A Great Life & Have A Healthy Baby, Don Walser"

A beautiful and thoughtful inscription from a thoughtful and beautiful man.

Wine me up indeed!