He cut his teeth and honed his musical skills in Dallas and Austin, before he moved to New York City with little more than a suitcase and his dreams. No, it's not a movie script; this is story so far for rising star Barton Stanley David.

While making their pilgrimage to the annual Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, guests Jordi Baizan from Houston and Terry Klein out of Austin visited Commerce to speak with Notably Texan.

Some artists from Texas take the obvious blacktop roads and make country music with the typical Lone Star buzzwords, like bluebonnets and longhorns. Others, like Red Shahan, prefer to ride the Texas dirt roads and blend in some rock, Americana and blues with their country while touching on the grittier side of life in Texas.

Gene Watson's roots lie in the Paris area, spending some of his formative years in the vicinity. He went on to score major success with hits in the 1960's and 70's, and remains a towering figure in country music.

Texas A&M University Commerce hosted the country and gospel quartet The Oak Ridge Boys for the Distinguished Alumni Ceremony recognizing 1966 graduate Duane Allen. KETR's Notably Texan was on hand for the opportunity to speak with the music icon.

Take one part country, mix in some blues, pop, Americana and soul and you've got the makings for a unique Texas outfit such as The Hunter Rea band, who released their first full length record "Lovin' Ain't Free" earlier this year.

You don't have to be a Texas music connoisseur to have heard the songwriting of Bruce Robison, which has been popularized by the likes of George Strait, The Dixie Chicks and Tim McGraw. Robison and his wife, Kelly Willis, are returning to Greenville to perform this weekend.

Curtis Teague and Loretta Simonet's lives have been in marital harmony for the past 30 years, and they've been making musical harmonies for the past 40 years. Curtis has roots south of Dallas, and the pair loves to visit Texas when they're away from their home in Minnesota.

Rickey Gene Wright has become a prolific songwriter, influenced by the outlaw country of his youth and the mystique of being a lifelong Texan. His latest release finds him further flexing his creative lyric chops, and establishing himself as a well rounded Americana act.

Both members of the duo Hardin Burns have years of experience in music: Andrew Hardin is a guitarist and producer who has worked with big names through the years, and Jeannie Burns comes from the family behind the folk group The Burns Sisters.