TTLS Grand Finale

Jun 4
3 min read

1 year later 🗓⏳👣

Chris… Stories, videos, TV episodes I created for “Texas Tales from a Lone Star” are on my website and here on my page in my reels. I brought Gabriel, the best leading edge musician (Death Metal/Classic Rock) I knew from my 12 years in the Orlando/Central Florida local professional music scene 1998-2010 to play/perform with Chis. Chris was at that time the very best leading edge musician (Classic Rock) I knew from 2010-2026 in the Austin, Texas “Live Music Capital of the World” local professional music scene.

That night I also brought Jim and Dawn to Chris and my friend the late Rick-a-Shay dropped by to give his blessing even though he had been banned from the bar (for refusing to wear a mask). Rick was the original Roadie Sound guy for Stevie Ray Vaughan in his Austin years and early California years. Then Rick ran sound for multitudes of the heavy hitters in Rock his entire career until founding his Austin Artist Agency. I also sang with Chris, Gabe & Jim that night, “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” my favorite that I created a staggered harmony to. I had sung it previously many times with both Jim and Chris who had never met before that night.

My friend Robert was there that night with his new wife and my daughter Skye, with me from Chapelgate to Orlando to Austin. Jim’s dad was famous as a Texas musician and he has had/has his own Classic Rock band for decades, a founding pillar in Austin. Dawn likewise was/is an Austin pillar. Austin professional locals don’t necessarily know each other but Bax and I had moved from Orlando to Austin with the express goal of mastering the local professional music scene like we had in Orlando and like I had in CCM in Nashville prior, my Chapelgate years. Bax spotted Chris when we arrived in 2010 with his Pro’s Pro eye. He’d claimed Gabriel for himself as drummer for his prized originals which is how and why I was friends with Gabe, my Co-Producer for my Austin Public TV series I created and founded in 2014.

Our first gig here we went to see the lady Rocker at the heart of Austin my now friend, Dawn. Bax and I performed as AngelBax as we had for a decade in Orlando but both of us also performing our originals Solo. Gabe had many bands as did Bax, always, since 2000. So Bax performed (Bax on Bass/The Infamous Bax) with Jim in bands and graced Chris’ Jam Night stage, as did I, both with Jim and Chris. Robert (Central Texas’ Sound guy who rules the area, I had met when I first began focusing on my friend Andy, the original inspiration for my series. So.

The night I brought Gabe, Jim, & Dawn to my friend Chris (that only required an effort of 10 years to accomplish) was pure magic. I call it my Grand Finale although I have continued to film & write my shows and stories with my last major effort spent documenting Paul, whom you see featured on my page, Austin’s new Stevie Ray Vaughan from my personal educated viewpoint. All these shows and stories are on my website, some here in my reels.

The night of my Grand Finale Chris’ eyes lit up in sheer musical pleasure and astonishment as he realized what I had done and the quality of who I had brought to his stage, where he has reigned for a decade plus (and that part only took me two years to do, see my stories.) My episode catches it all.

The moment Jim naturally sang the lead to “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” to my harmony surprised Chris, who had gotten used to singing it with me and who had no knowledge previously of Jim. The way Gabe could simply walk in to the gathering of Austin’s tip top leading best, sit down at the borrowed drum set (thanks Jim) and flow and lead every song like a god, having never met Chris before. The way Chris raised his arm and said “Yes!!!!” in sheer pleasure when he heard Dawn’s first notes grace his stage. The way Robert was there flowing naturally amongst the music gods of the Capital heart of the World. The way Skye smiled and took in every drop, her world with me from birth. The way Rick came through the forbidden door and whom I rushed to greet and hug as if Royalty had arrived despite inferior orders. THAT’s what you see here. xo

Written June 4, 2026 at 10:22 am