Cooder Graw
It’s loud, in-your-face Country music ("Make it loud, boys!"), yet it's also
thought-provoking stories of independence, heartache, tragedy and love, all
crafted in song. It's hard-driving trucker songs and hard-rocking anthems,
powerful ballads, wind-swept waltzes. And, of course, it's the creative
chemistry of five guys from West Texas who together make up one of the Lone Star
State's hottest music groups, Cooder Graw.
Their music is heard on statewide Dodge television commercials. They've recently recorded their fifth album, "Live at Billy Bob's," in addition to having filmed their first music video. The past year they've played Willie Nelson's Family Picnic, National Finals Rodeo, Houston Livestock Show, and Shiner Bocktoberfest.
It was only four short years ago when these five guys got together over a cold beer at Amarillo's Golden Light Cafe and wondered if they should even form a real band. In their short history, the band Cooder Graw has exploded onto the heralded Texas music scene. They have shared the stage with some of country music’s biggest stars, including Alabama, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakum, Pat Green, Robert Earl Keen, Clint Black and Asleep at the Wheel. They have headlined shows at many of Texas’’ finest venues, including Billy Bob’s Texas, Texas Hall of Fame, Cowboys Red River, Gruene Hall, Antone's, Texas Theater, Midnight Rodeos, and Far West Rodeo. They have performed in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Kansas, California and Utah.
And they've released four of Texas' most well-received albums in the past two years alone. Cooder Graw released their debut studio album early in 2000, a self-titled offering co-produced by multiple Grammy Award-winner Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel, and Hayden Nicholas, nine-time #1 country songwriter and guitarist for Clint Black. The album was a result of their fans wanting the original songs that they were hearing at the live shows. And radio stations were eager to play the record as well. The album became one of the sleeper hits of the year in Americana (American Country) radio, and was positioned on the national radio charts for 13 consecutive weeks.
"Segundo", a live offering recorded in Amarillo, was released in early 2001. >From that album, "Willie's Guitar" remained on the Texas Music Chart most of the spring and summer of that year, and giving the band its frist top 10 Texas hit.
"Shifting Gears" was released in October 2001 and is the group's most critically acclaimed album yet. "New Dress" was the first radio single from the CD. The next single, "Better Days" will likely begin airplay in March, coinciding with a video release and promotional campaign. "Cooder Graw Live At Billy Bob's" is set for release nationally in early 2002.
Cooder Graw is: Matt Martindale, Joe Ammons, Kelly Turner, Jim Whisenhunt and Paul Baker.
CDs: Cooder Graw (2000), Segundo (2001), Shifting Gears (2001), Live At Billy Bob's (TBA) One Two Three Records
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