A Musical Journey by Boyd Hudgens

A Musical Journey

by Boyd Hudgens

Updated May 6, 2018

Family Heritage

The first thing I remember knowing (Merle Haggard) was growing up in Honey Grove Texas and having a piano in the house. Mom played very well and was taught by her grandfather. She could wear out some Boogie Woogie on the piano! We always went to church at Selfs, just eight miles north of Honey Grove on FM100, where Mom played piano for the services and my grandfather, John Edelhauser lead music frequently. Granddaddy was also a fine musician, playing guitar and lap steel. He was probably the only lap steel player within 50 miles of HG. Mom's brother, my uncle Kenneth, also played guitar and he taught me a lot on it. Tunes like “Boogie Woogie”, “The Buckaroo” and others.

Beyond the immediate family, Grandaddy's brothers and sisters also played instruments. Roy Lee played guitar, Paul played fiddle, and Christine played the piano. Grandaddy's brother, Paul, played fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Garland played guitar

I can remember Granddaddy acquiring a particular electric guitar that I really wanted. As a young kid, I had no notion of how much a guitar like that was worth. I remember asking Granddaddy if I could have it. I was devastated when he said no!

Reunions

First Instrument - Ukulele

Second Instrument – Four String Banjo

Kenneth and Roy Free

Third Instrument – Electric Guitar

School Music

Fifth Instrument – 5-String Banjo

First Band – J.T. Bryan, Joe Julian and Ross Whit

Playing 4-String Banjo

Frank Smith's Filling Station

Stuart Anderson

Texas Fiddle Contests

Meeting Wade White

Bill Grant's Bluegrass Festival

Bluegrass American Style

PJC & Bennie Tschoerner

Bois d'Arc Bottom Band

Lap Steel (Short Horn)

First Pedal Steel – Leroy Tarpley

Places We Played

Ladonia Rodeo, Key Club – Commerce

Waterhole – Denison, TX

First Recording Studio – Garland, TX, Recorded It's You, Back In La and Endless Search

Southfork Band – Paris, Campbell

J. D. Stephens, Rosie Jackson

First Trip to Jeffran College of Pedal Steel Guitar

Second and Third Trips to Jeffran College with Buddy Emmons Classes

St. Louis, MO

Flying Lessons

Bob Gunnells Band – Greenville

Red Horse Band Recordings

Robert Joe Vandygriff & Shades of Country

Fair Buyers Association, Dallas TX

Box Car Willie

Recording Studio – Mesquite, TX

Melody Ranch, Waco

Mr. L's

Terry Downs

New Year's Eve Parties

Victoria, TX

Family – Debbie & Kevin

RJV @ Chrystal Chandelier

Wylie Opry – Steve Matlock

Kev's First Drums

Go For Broke - Greenville

Eric Blakenship Band – Greenville

Greenville Opry

Move to Paris

Kari & Jerry Shurtleff

Brandon Teague

Lanny Teague

Billy Ratliff – OBS Mount Pleasant

Hard2Git Bluegrass

Wade White

Kenneth Marshall

Stringbender Music

Part 7

A lot of time has passed since I posted any updates to this blog. Over the following years the band has continued to play at various venues including:

 Roxton,TX, July13 

Windom Feed Sack, 

Mike Doyle Herford Ranch, 

Lake Bonham Hoedown, 

Selfs Shiloh Cemetery Association (with Gary Moreland, Kelly Connell, Dewayne Strickland and Boyd Hudgens).

Upcoming appearances this year include the Windom Feedsack on the following date: July 14th. 

Bois d'Arc Bottom Band - Part 5

When the band felt that they had a good list of songs to play, they began to look for a venue where they could perform. It just so happened that there was a place just north of Commerce. An old movie theater had been there sometime before and the only thing that was left was a building that was the previous concession stand. The building was now a club called the Shorthorn. The band was eventually invited to perform at the Shorthorn and it was their first gig. As time went by the band could be found playing at just about any place. Below, the band rehearses at Lake Crockett north of Honey Grove.

The original group plays in Ladonia Texas