Gerry Moss: News

John Ware, the drummer for MOSSMAN has also been the drummer for Linda Ronstadt’s band (Stone Pony), Emmylou Harris’ band (Hot Band), and Michael Nesmith of Monkees fame just to name a few.  John’s lengthy discography includes many others. 

John will be joining a regroup of Emmylou’s Hot Band to record a new album and possibly do a bit of touring afterward.  See the link below for more information. 

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/09/emmylou-harris-rodney-crowell-duet-album-in-the-works.html

Needless to say, John remains a valuable part of MOSSMAN.  That is the nature of MOSSMAN and the RED BARN RAMBLERS.  They are a group of friends and great musicians who love to perform with each other as opportunities permit.   They are available according to scheduling, availability, and the wants of whoever hires Gerry.   

By: Terry Mullins, Area Wide News

http://www.areawidenews.com/blogs/1211/entry/35468/

Apparently, living in Big D agrees with Mr. Gerry Moss.

But as they say - one town’s gain is another town’s loss.

And that couldn’t be any truer than in this case.

After calling Hardy and the Spring River area home for a good two decades, Moss pulled up stakes and headed south to Dallas, Texas about five years ago.

And this area is poorer for his absence.

Just ask any of those that used to flock wherever Moss might be playing, either solo acoustic, with his band The Drive, or as a member of Throttle.

Just ask any of the dozens of youngsters who took their first guitar, bass, drum of keyboard lessons from Moss. Some of who have went on to form their own bands, feeding off the inspiration that Moss delivered.

So it was a real pleasure for those gathered inside Cherokee Village’s Omaha Center the first weekend in May to have the chance to once again be dazzled by the impressive talents of Gerry Moss.

Guitarist. Vocalist. Songwriter. Entertainer.

That’s Gerry Moss.

And spending a half-decade around the hustle-and-bustle of the Metroplex doesn’t seem to have slowed him down one single bit.

His voice was filled with as much gritty authority as ever and his guitar playing … well … his guitar playing was pure Gerry Moss.

While his brief trip back into town was to serve as an opening act for Leon Russell, Moss’ appearance at the Omaha Center took on an impromptu homecoming and family reunion kind of feel.

The crowd was loud and boisterous from the outset and before Moss could even plug his acoustic guitar in on stage, shouts of “Hey, Moss!”, “Welcome home!, and just plain “Gerry!” shot up to the rafters of the Omaha Center like a fistful of bottle rockets.

And by the big grin that slowly crept across his face, Moss couldn’t have been any happier at that instant.

That much was confirmed after his set, when he confessed, “Wow. I’m really humbled by that reception. It was really something. I just can’t begin to thank these folks enough for how they made me feel tonight.”

That feeling was certainly a two-way street as Moss hit the ground running with a set of old favorites with some tasty new offerings sprinkled in.

Armed only with his trusty acoustic guitar, Moss quickly caught his Spring River fans up to speed on what they’ve been missing – hankering for - the past several years.

Of course he dusted off “Shoestring,” a local favorite about a quirky individual who plays by his own rules. He also delivered a spot-on version of “Here Comes the Sun.”

With a tip of his hat to his now home stomping-grounds in the Lone Star state, Moss also broke out a fantastic “Pancho and Lefty” that surely would have received a thumbs-up from the late, great Townes Van Zandt.

But the real jewels during Moss’ set were a pair of original tunes – “Sweet Angel” and “Fried Chicken Blues.”

Hopefully one day soon, his fans will be able to add a new CD to their collection, Gerry Moss’ latest, with both those tunes front and center.

While it was really impressive to see the way he was welcomed back home, receiving adoring attention is not something new, or foreign, to Moss.

After all, he was once a featured member of country superstar Johnny Lee’s (“Looking for Love”) band and before that was bass player for Lloyd Price’s (“Stagger Lee”, “Lawdy Miss Claudy”) outfit.

Moss has also shared the stage with the likes of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Albert Collins, Rufus Thomas, Edgar Winter, Joe Walsh, Stevie Winwood, Johnny Rivers, Mose Allison, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Charlie Pride and Hank Williams, Jr., to name a few.

For this occasion, it was the iconic living legend Leon Russell that drew top-billing.

And neither Moss, nor his many friends and fans jammed into the Omaha Center the first weekend in May, had a problem with that.

But one thing’s for sure.

Leon Russell may have been the ice cream sundae on this night, but there was no doubt that Gerry Moss’ homecoming was the cherry on top of the treat.

Here’s hoping we get more of the same in the near future.

WALES MANOR PRESENTS! MUSIC UNDER THE STARS! with Blues Great GERRY "MOSSMAN" MOSS THIS SATURDAY, MAY 15th/7:00-10:00 p.m. When-- Saturday, May 15th 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Where-- Wales Manor Winery & Vineyard, McKinney Texas www.walesmanor.com Cost-- $10 per adult. Bring a picnic Basket-food is not served. Tables go fast- you may want to bring a lawn chair, just in case! No outside beverages, wine,liquor or beer! Just off tour with Leon Russell, Two weeks ago, Gerry receive a standing ovation in Hardy, Arkansas. Gerry will be performing a mix of Blues and Americana along with some of his original hits. If you have not heard Gerry sing and play the guitar--just get ready to be entertained! No Big Band, No Huge Production-- Just GREAT MUSIC, the way it was intended to be heard. One of his previous bands, “The Famous Unknowns,” was the house band at B.B. Kings Blues Club in Memphis, TN for 2½ years. A subsequent band, Gerry Moss and the Drive was also a regular at B.B. King's. Gerry also performed as a soloist up and down Beale St. The home of Blues in Memphis, TN. Gerry has performed in shows with rhythm and blues artists such as Bobby “Blue” Bland, Albert Collins, Rufus Thomas, Lloyd Price, Richie Haven, Robbie Krieger from The Doors, Edgar Winter, Joe Walsh, Stevie Winwood, Johnny Rivers, Mose Allison, Albert King, Leon Russell, and Buddy Guy. On the country side he has performed with Merle Haggard, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Charlie Pride, Hank Williams, Jr., and Clint Black’s band. The word is getting out. Here is what the artists and patrons themselves have to say... "Wales Manor has become our favorite place to play in north Texas. There's no other venue quite like it. Also, be sure to bring a folding patio type chair and a picnic basket... tables go fast!" Jon Christopher Davis- Nashville Recording Artist and Singer/Songwriter "'I've played a lot of venues but none better than Wales Manor. Great setting and John Wales is a great host. Can't beat that." Adam Mitchell- Singer/Songwriter. Awarded Numerous Platinum and Gold Records. "Finding it is half the fun. But, plain and simple--my favorite place to listen to live singer/songwriter music PERIOD! No cover bands here... not to mention the great wine and atmosphere. Nothing like it in North Texas. Wales Manor--our best kept secret is getting out." Ryan Smith--Wales Manor Fan THIS SATURDAY, MAY 15th/7:00-10:00 p.m. When-- Saturday, May 15th 7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Where-- Wales Manor Winery & Vineyard, McKinney Texas www.walesmanor.com Cost-- $10 per adult.

On Friday, May 14, 2010, voice students currently working with private instructors from The Septien Entertainment Group will perform at the Palace Arts Theater in Grapevine, TX. 

Students will perform one song selected by themselves in consultation with their vocal coach. Music industry professionals, including GERRY MOSS, will be judging the performances.

Students may perform to a soundtrack, accompany themselves on guitar or keyboard, or have their vocal instructor accompany them. Backup singers and/or backup dancers may be used.

Theatre doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Showtime is at 7:00 p.m. Younger students ages 7-12 will perform from 7:00 – 8:30, older students 13+ will perform from 9:00 – 10:30.

It promises to be a weekend to remember…. A one-two-three punch that could very well shake the venerable Omaha Center to its very foundation…. ON APRIL 30, is Branson's reigning king of music and mirth - Jim Stafford…. ON MAY 1, is iconic singer/song writer/guitarist/pianist Leon Russell…, with special guest Gerry Moss…. Stafford may best be remembered for his pair of 1974-75 hits "Spiders and Snakes," which reached number three on the singles charts, along with "Wildwood Weed," which peaked at number seven. Appearing on The Tonight Show over 50 times, Stafford also had his own series, The Jim Stafford Show, in the mid-70s. He also co-hosted Those Amazing Animals with Burgess Meredith and Priscilla Presley. When a new version of the famed Smothers Brother Comedy Hour was launched on the small screen in the late 1980s, it was with Stafford on board as a writer and producer. Often over-looked is Stafford's skills on the six-string, but one has only to listen to his 2002 album of classical guitar music, Somewhere in Time, to understand that Stafford is as accomplished at firing off guitar licks as he is at firing off one-liners. John Lennon. Eric Clapton. Aretha Franklin. Bob Dylan. Ringo Starr. Willie Nelson. George Harrison. Joe Cocker. Glen Campbell. B.B. King. That sounds like a roll call for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, but that's actually just a small taste of some of the world-class musicians that Leon Russell has collaborated with during his five decades on the music scene. Longtime Spring River area entertainer Gerry Moss, now calling the Dallas Metroplex home, returns to his old stomping grounds to get things started for the Leon Russell show. "I'm looking forward to returning to Hardy, a place I called home for almost 20 years, to not only open the show for Leon Russell, but to also get to visit with some folks I haven't seen in a while," Moss said. "I have so many great memories of my time in Hardy, including not only playing Memphis at BB King's with The Famous Unknowns, and later with Gerry Moss and the Drive, but also as a soloist playing up and down Beale St. And then playing with Hardy's own with Throttle ... just a ton of memories." It was as a performer in the Bluff City that Moss opened for artists like Richie Haven, Robbie Krieger from The Doors, Edgar Winter, Mose Allison, Albert King and yes, Leon Russell, just to name a few. "He's (Russell) such an iconic American musician and songwriter who has played with people such as Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Joe Cocker and many more," said Moss. "There aren't many artists that sport Leon's musical pedigree. I've been covering his song, "Singing This Song For You" since the 60s ... whew, that's scary!" Those in attendance at the Omaha Center can expect to hear Moss serve up a healthy helping of rib-sticking tunes, including some brand-new music. "I'll be doing a couple of songs from my CD, Nickels and Dimes, and then some new originals, including "Fried Chicken Blues," a song about ......well, fried chicken, and a song called "Sweet Angel" written with Timothy Duckworth on the Guild 12--string guitar, called the Spirit Chaser, that Stevie Ray Vaughan used on the "MTV Unplugged" show. I'll also be playing some blues and a few covers that I have "Mossified," along with a request or two."

LEON RUSSELL ALL AGES SHOW! SPECIAL GUEST: GERRY MOSS SATURDAY, MAY 1st Doors open at 6:00 pm, Showtime 7:00 pm Omaha Center, Cherokee Village, AR ------------------------------------------------------------

SECOND ANNUAL OZARKS HOMECOMMING CONCERT AVENUE THEATRE WEST PLAINS, MO FRIDAY, APRIL 23 - Country, Bluegrass and Acoustic Music. Gerry tentatively scheduled to perform with David Lynn Jones. SATURDAY, APRIL 24 - Blues & Rock Music. MOSSMAN band opening for Booker T & the MG's, and the Ozark Mt. Daredevils. ------------------------------------------------------------