Biogeorge's journal of life & times in and around the Austin music scene from and insider's point of view, through the lens of a Canon F-1
Monday, April 15, 2013
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Grand Prairie ~ Past & Present


Such was the scene greeting early settlers to Grand Prairie. One just as easily seen by today’s residents.
Early settlers were enticed to the Grand Prairie area by Peters Colony, a series of Republic of Texas land grants offered by investors in 1841. In February 1846, the Goodwins, Micajah, wife Elizabeth and their nine children, arrived. Elizabeth’s life in Texas was shortlived. She had just turned 44 when she died on Oct. 24, 1846, becoming the first known white woman to be buried in Tarrant County. She was laid to rest in what is today Watson Cemetery near Interstate 30 and State Highway 360.
About the same time, David Jordan and his sons arrived from Tennessee bringing with them the area’s first slaves, among them Mose Jordan, whose descendents still live in Grand Prairie. David Jordan settled just south of the Trinity River near present-day MacArthur Boulevard and Northeast 31st Street, establishing a stage coach stop, merchandise store and the area’s first school. The Jordan home, now called the Jordan-Bowles Home, still stands in Bowles Park.
In 1859, brothers Marion and James Loyd from Dallas moved south in search of more room to graze cattle and horses, settling on Walnut Creek, now Lake Joe Pool. Like the Jordans, the Loyds eventually established a school on their land that served the community for four decades and their ancestral home still exists in Loyd Park.
In 1861, Alexander MacRae Dechman was living in Birdville, later renamed Haltom City, with his wife and children, when he learned he could trade his wagon and oxen for land in Dallas County. Dechman bought 239.5 acres in what is now downtown Grand Prairie, but was unable to build a home here before joining the Texas Calvary in 1862.
The surveyed and accurate representation of the original townsite founded by Alexander Dechman on Jan. 2, 1863. |
The tracks were finally extended through Dechman to Fort Worth and service began on July 19, 1876. In 1877, the railroad renamed Dechman Grand Prairie because of its location on the eastern edge of the vast grand prairie that stretched into West Texas.
A trip to Dallas from the three-block Grand Prairie was one day by horseback.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
~Aunt Bobbie~
"Aunt Bobbie's" Music Career

Aunt Bobbie with Leon Russell at The 4th of July Picnic in Spicewood 1979 |
Jack Fletcher and Bobbie
Friday, February 1, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Geezinslaw Brother's~World Tour
The Geezinslaw Brothers, also known as The Geezinslaws,
is an Austin, Texas-based country music comedy duo
consisting of
Sammy Allred and Dewayne "Son" Smith
The Geezinslaws became popular country music song parodists and humorists in the late '60s and beyond, but they started out as a country-folk outfit trying to capitalize on the folk craze in the early '60s. The Kooky World of the Geezinlaw Brothers is their first album, recorded live in Chicago with a mixture of spoken humor, straight performances, and humorous songs that will all seem very familiar to commercial folk buffs.. The Geezinslaws reappeared a few years later with a series of superior albums on Capitol Records and was on Willie Nelson's Lone Star Records in the late 70's and early 80's.
One day Gary P Nunn brought a young singer out to the recording studio to introduce her to Willie. I'm not sure if Willie was even there, but Eliza Gilkyson played several tunes on the backyard of the Pedernales Recording Studio and quickly became a very popular singer songwriter around Austin, Texas
Eliza Gilkyson (born in Hollywood, Ca. in 1950) is an Austin based folk musician. She is the daughter of songwriter and folk musicianTerry Gilkyson and Jane Gilkyson. She is married to scholar and author Robert Jensen.
http://www.elizagilkyson.com
Friday, January 25, 2013
You're In Luck
Willie Nelson's World Headquarters
Willie Nelson had the town known as Luck built on his property in Spicewood more than 25 years ago, and it’s since been used as a set for several movies, including “Red Headed Stranger.” Few have had the privilege of seeing the tiny western town — it’s behind a large gate that surrounds the property and is only opened to friends, family and neighbors once a year for an Easter service in the intimate chapel
The Longbranch Saloon
Main Street
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