7 Questions from Shane

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Opie Hendrix is telling the truth from where he stands.

Born in Indiana, Hendrix moved to Texas to attend the Art Institute of Houston in 1992. He hasn’t left since.

That decision has paid off earning him two Houston Press Awards for Best Roots Rock. His musical path has taken him on national tours and onto iconic stages such as New York City’s CBGB’s (and the Mucky Duck!)

With over 20 albums, two appearances on the Tonight Show and multiple awards for her songwriting and philanthropy, Sara is internationally known for her Grammy nominated and award winning pop/folk music.

Growing up in Houston with visual artists for parents, Sara graduated with a BA from the University of North Texas in painting. As a teenager, Sara became a volunteer performing music for youth in psych units. This led to her working as a professional music and art therapist, receiving a lifetime achievement award from The National Association of Music Therapists.

Roberta and Lisa grew up in Tucson, Arizona, learning to sing traditional Mexican music and developing their own brand of pop and roots rock. They separated after high school, but began performing together again in 1989, when Roberta sang background vocals for a band Lisa had formed.

After moving to Houston, they attracted interest from the country music establishment in Nashville but ultimately opted for an independent path, releasing their debut album, Ain’t No Perfect Diamond, on their own Luna Records label in 1997. Someplace Far Away From Here, another combination of English and Spanish songs, followed in 1999, and in 2002, now based in San Antonio, the sisters released their third album, Para Gloria, an all-Spanish-language set dedicated to their mother, Gloria.

Al Staehely is the only person on the planet who has both played Carnegie Hall and provided legal services for Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Soon after moving to Los Angeles in 1971, he and his brother John were asked to join the critically acclaimed band, Spirit. With Al as the band’s new lead vocalist, bass player, and chief songwriter and John taking over lead guitar duties from Randy California, Spirit recorded the album, Feedback, in November of 1971.

When Spirit splintered, Al and John formed a group appropriately named the Staehely Brothers, releasing the album Sta-Hay-Lee on Epic Records in 1973.

In 1980, Staehely returned to Texas and pulled his law degree out of the drawer to become a superhero of sorts - lawyer by day / musician by night.

More quality time with Texas songwriter Shake Russell... Shane for the third in a series of interviews with the Houston-based troubadour. 

For more than 50 years, Texas singer-songwriter Shake Russell, has been entertaining audiences throughout the region and all over the United States with his unique Americana style of folk rock.  Weaving sophisticated harmonies through his songs and drawing from various genres, Shake created a style of folk-rock that is uniquely his own.

Nathan Quick spent years working 190 miles off the shore of Louisiana. Getting to and from the oil rig required a helicopter ride, so personal effects had to be kept to a minimum. That meant no guitar for the young singer-songwriter. But Quick found the far-flung locale helped him fill up lyric books.

John was introduced to music and guitars early on, but like many young, male Texans, he found himself drawn toward football. He was the star quarterback at J. Frank Dobie High School in Pasa-Get-Down-Dena. From there he went on to helm the squad at Lamar University in nearby Beaumont. While John’s dream of being a big-time NFL quarterback didn’t work out, he finds himself living a different dream now.

Jordi Baizan is a first generation American and native Texan songwriter. 

His songwriting, which American Songwriter (USA) has called “exquisite”,  has garnered him recognition from several prestigious songwriting competitions including the Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Competition, the Songwriter Serenade Competition, and the South Florida Folk Festival’s Singer/Songwriter Competition.

"Jordi's songs convey authenticity perfectly intertwined with memorable melodies.   His unique voice and his stories draw you in from the beginning, and you can't wait to hear the next page.”  - Brian J. Kalinec - President Berkalin Records

Sarah Grace is a young Indie/Roots singer and musical powerhouse from Houston, Texas.

She was a semi-finalist from Season 15 of The Voice, and Sarah Grace’s powerful performance of “Amazing Grace” on The Voice can be described as her signature moment, establishing her as a legitimate artist.

The recording immediately shot to #3 on the overall iTunes charts, gained 1 million YouTube views, and lived on the Gospel/Christian charts of iTunes for several weeks thereafter.

Brian Hofeldt and Tony Villanueva founded Ameripolitan band, The Derailers in 1993 in Austin Texas. Over those 25+ years, the band has released eight studio albums, two live records, one retrospective collection and has been a part of numerous compilations and other recording projects.

The band has been featured on the stages of The Grand Ole Opry, A Prairie Home Companion, Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the US President's Inaugural Ball. They performed at their friend Buck Owens' 70th birthday party at Owens' personal request.