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(Half Breed Records/Campfire Records) Geronimo Trevino III was born in Larado, Texas and grew up in San Antonio. He attended Texas A&M, received a degree in physical education, and had planned on pursuing a coaching career. However, after obtaining his degree, he decided to pursue a very different career- one in music. Geronimo's roots in music began with the sounds of ranchera that his dad, uncles, and cousins sang at family gatherings at their ranch is south Texas, he heard while growing up. As Geronimo got older and started hanging around the dancehalls, he fell in love with artists like Merle Haggard, George Jones and Ray Price. Geronimo says "Country music is ranchera's equal in English. They speak of hurt, love, and happiness. They both relate to life of the common people." He soon became a veteran of the Texas honky tonk circuit and began recording in 1989. Today he is also very involved with, and is now considered a historian of the classic Texas honky tonk venues, recently releasing a book on the subject, titled Dance Halls And Last Calls: A History Of Texas Country Music, which explores hundreds of dancehalls through the eyes of the artists that played them. Released in 1995, My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys is an album he dedicates to the Native American Indian (Geronimo himself is part Indian, part Mexican), though it also draws on his experiences growing up, and of being a part of the Texas honky tonk scene. This album was recorded partly in Texas and partly in Nashville, and contains a virtual who's who of familiar names in the world of country music. While in Nashville, Geronimo spent several days writing with legendary songwriter Hank Cochran, after which Hank agreed to produce the rest of the album. Hank produced 5 of the album's 11 cuts, and co-wrote two of the cuts with Geronimo. Geronimo also covered "Buy Me A Honky Tonk," a song Hank co-wrote with Billy Don Burns and Mack Vickery. Other songwriters that turn up on My Heroes include Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and the Billy Ray Reynolds/Doug Gilmore/Grant Boatwright penned "Cherokee Rose." Backing musicians include such names as Vassar Clements, Buddy Emmons, Roy Husky Jr. and Chris Etheridge. Despite the title, My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys is not meant to insult or offend anyone, and he makes that very clear with his disclaimer in the liner notes. Also contrary to the title, this isn't an album full of songs about Indians, with the exception of the haunting and powerful, very thought provoking closing track "Before You Think You're An Indian," that is one of the two songs Geronimo co-wrote with Hank Cochran and which provides plenty of soul searching, particularly in today's world. What Geronimo provides with My Heroes is an album packed with the kind of great, well written honky tonk music not heard in many years, sung in an amazingly strong, clear and powerful voice. The album opens with a gorgeous cover of Willie Nelson's "I Never Cared For You," which in my humble opinion, is the hands down, best version of that song I've ever heard, and really showcases Geronimo's amazing voice. It's done with a strong Western/Tex-Mex flavor. "Train Back To Texas" has that "outlaw" feel to it, the tale of a ramblin' man that realizes Texas is the only place he wants to be. "Cherokee Rose" is a glorious love song, where the passion builds and builds as the song progresses. In "Oklahoma Wind," Geromino tells this Billy Joe Shaver penned story of hardship and injustice with powerful strength and emotion. "It Goes Without Saying" is a classic "lost love" honky tonk weeper sung with classic "tear in your beer" vocals. "You're Playing Hard To Forget," a mid-tempo honky tonker, has Geronimo trying to get over the woman that walked out on him. "Wrong Side Of Laredo" a beautiful Tex-Mex flavored waltz, very reminiscent of Marty Robbins here, is a standout track about star crossed lovers, and another that showcases Geronimo's strong vocals. "Half Of Me" is the album's centerpiece and ultimate highlight. It's a very beautiful love ballad on which Geronimo shows the heights to which the power and emotion of his voice can soar. The song sounds like a classic that's stepped out of the early 60's, though it was penned by Geronimo and Warren Wembley Jr., and although this one sounds like it came out of Nashville (though sadly, it's bygone days), this is actually one of the cuts recorded in Texas. "Honky Tonk Texas, U.S.A.," the title of which is pretty self explanatory, is a surefire dancefloor filler upper, as is the infectious "Buy Me A Honky Tonk," a tongue in cheek tale of a guy that decides to take his ex-wife's advice. My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys (unfairly) rates as an obscure "classic," filled with first rate traditional/honky tonk country music that was released during Nashville's ever growing infatuation with pop music, sung by Geronimo Trevino III, a first rate country music artist, who's sadly a virtual unknown to the general population. This one is truly a more than worthy addition to any diehard country music lover's collection. For more information on Geronimo, his music, and his new book, visit his website www.geronimotrevino.com Geronimo's music is also available through www.texasmusicroundup.com AnnMarie Harrington Take Country Back |
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