
"Diamonds in the Sun"
by Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros
San Antonio-born Walt Wilkins has been called a genius, more than once, and a writer the caliber of John Steinbeck and his voice as comfortable as a pair of old blue jeans, and he is, and has, all of that. His crafting of story-songs, hard-edged vocals to sing them and a plaintive guitar have made him a fixture of the Texas music scene (and Nashville before that). He’s put his magical touch on recordings by new and veteran artists, too many to count.
With The Mystiqueros, Wilkins has created something of a “Texas Hill Country super-group” that features five great singers and four great songwriters from the heart of the Lone Star State, all of whom have made their own records and are flush with recording credits.
Onstage and in the studio, Wilkins is joined by Bill Small (bass, percussion, acoustic guitar), John M. Greenberg (electric guitars), Ramon Rodriguez (drums, percussion) and Marcus Eldridge (electric guitars). Live performances around Texas are being likened to both outlaw country and classic rock bands, and they’re captured on DIAMONDS IN THE SUN, released July 24 by Palo Duro Records.
Wilkins says this is the most fun he’s ever had playing music in a band in 30 years. He describes the music of The Mystiqueros (nicknamed mq5) as highly reminiscent of ’70s country rock from Texas and the West Coast and blues and soul that members grew up listening to and features high-quality songwriting and musicianship, rhythm, and vocal arrangements.
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Luckenbach! Compadres!
Various Artists
On January 19-20, 2006, the walls of the 120-year-old Luckenbach Dance Hall trembled once again with the music that 33 years ago put the tiny hamlet west of Austin on the map. An elite group of the now-generation Texas singer/songwriters assembled with a legendary all-star "Gonzos de Casa" house band to record Luckenbach! Compadres! (Songs of Luckenbach).
Featuring ...The (original) Lost Gonzo Band (Craig Hillis, John Inmon, Bob Livingston, Gary P. Nunn, Herb Steiner) Gonzos de Casa (“Freddie Steady” Krc, Bob Livingston, Bobby Rambo, Sam Hendricks, John Inmon, Craig Hillis)
With Performances By: Cory Morrow, Jimmy LaFave, The Derailers, Tommy Alverson, Walt Wilkins, Two Tons of Steel, McKay Brothers, Ed Burleson, Morrison-Williams, john Arthur martinez, Kent Finlay and Brian Burns.