Bob Livingston (musician)
A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (March 2022) |
Bob Livingston | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Lynn Livingston |
Born | November 26, 1948 |
Origin | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
Genres | Country, progressive country,[1] Americana, folk |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, bass, piano |
Years active | 1970s–present |
Labels | Capitol, MCA, Vireo, New Wilderness, Howlin' Dog |
Website | boblivingstonmusic |
Bob Livingston (born Robert Lynn Livingston November 26, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, bass player, and a founding member of
. He has toured without stop for 47 years, and is one of the most experienced and world traveled musicians in all of Texas music. Livingston's CD, Gypsy Alibi, released by New Wilderness Records in 2011, won the "Album of the Year" at the Texas Music Awards. In January 2016, Livingston was inducted into the Texas Music Legends Hall of Fame in 2016 and into the West Texas Music Walk of Fame in 2018. Howlin' Dog Records released Livingston's latest CD, Up The Flatland Stairs, January 10, 2018.Early life
Livingston was born in
American music career
Livingston left Lubbock in 1969 and moved to
By 1971, Livingston had relocated to Austin, Texas and was playing in a band that switched between Michael Murphey and Jerry Jeff Walker.[3] Eventually, Murphey and Walker's interchangeable band condensed into their own group, called The Lost Gonzo Band. With Murphey and Walker, The Lost Gonzo Band helped bring about the progressive country genre, and along with the "redneck rock" and outlaw country movements, helpred define a distinct "Austin Sound". Livingston and the Lost Gonzo Band lent their talents to Jerry Jeff Walker for his seminal album Viva Terlingua, among many other records in Walker's career.[4] The Lost Gonzo Band recorded three nationally released albums with Capitol Records and MCA. The Lost Gonzo band returned for shows in 2021 and 2022.
Songwriting success
Livington's songs have appeared in The Lost Gonzo Band's albums, his solo records, and in Jerry Jeff Walker's albums throughout Walker's career. Songs for Walker include "Public Domain" (1975 Ridin' High) (co-written with Gary P. Nunn), "Head Full of Nothin'" (co-written with Rick Fowler), and "It's a Good Night for Singing" (1976 It's a Good Night for Singing), "Roll on Down the Road" (1977 A Man Must Carry On), "Bittersweet" (1981 Reunion), "Gonzo Compadres" (1993 Viva Luckenbach), "Life's Too Short" (1996 Scamp), "Wanted for Love" co-written with Lane Bybee (1998 Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits).[5]
In 2004, American
Livingston's song "Love Cannot Be Broken" was in the soundtrack of
"Cowgirl's Lullaby", co-written by Livingston and Andy Wilkinson was featured in the independent film, Barracuda produced in Austin 2017. It was also recorded by Wilkinson and appears on Livingston's new CD, "Up The Flatland Stairs."
International music career
Livingston has toured abroad since 1982 playing in the UK,
Texas Music International (TMI) and Cowboys and Indians
In 2000, Livingston created, Texas Music International, an organization dedicated to bringing different musics of the world together for human and cultural
Recent ventures
Livingston's discography spans beyond progressive country, singer-songwriter and rock music to such myriad recordings as film music for
As author
Livingston is currently writing a book for Texas Tech University Press about his life and travels through the lens of his music career. Expected publishing date, 2023.
Discography
Solo
- Waking Up (Wilderness); 1981
- Signs of Life (Wilderness); 1988
- Open the Window (Gentle Wind); 1996
- Mahatma Gandhi & Sitting Bull (Vireo); 2003
- Everything Is All Right (TMI); 2004
- Cowboys & Indians (Vireo); 2007
- Original Spirit (Vireo); 2008
- Gypsy Alibi (New Wilderness Records); 2011
- Bob Livingston at the Kerrville Folk Festival (FestivaLink); 2011
- Up The Flatland Stairs (Howlin' Dog Records); 2018
With The Lost Gonzo Band
- The Lost Gonzo Band (MCA); 1972
- Thrills (MCA); 1976
- Signs of Life (Capitol); 1978
- Rendezvous (Vireo); 1991
- Hands of Time (Vireo); 1995
- Dead Armadillos (Demon/Edsel); 1998
With Jerry Jeff Walker
- Jerry Jeff Walker (MCA); 1972
- Viva Terlingua! (MCA); 1973
- Walker's Collectibles (MCA); 1974
- Ridin' High (MCA); 1975
- It's a Good Night for Singin' (MCA); 1976
- A Man Must Carry On (MCA); 1977
- Great Gonzos (MCA); 1991
- Navaho Rug (Rycodisk); 1991
- Hill Country Rain (Rycodisk); 1992
- Viva Luckenbach (Rycodisk); 1993
- Christmas Gonzo Style (Rycodisk); 1994
- Night After Night (Tried 'n True); 1995
- Scamp (Tried 'n True); 1996
- Cowboy Boots and Bathing Suits (Tried 'n True); 1997
- Lone Wolf: The Best of Jerry Jeff Walker (Elektra); 1998
- Gypsy Songman (Tried 'n True); 1999
- Gonzo Stew (Tried 'n True); 2001
- Too Old to Change (Tried ' True) 2003
- It's A Good Night For Singin' & Contrary To Ordinary Plus (Raven); 2013
With Michael Martin Murphey
- Geronimo's Cadillac (A&M); 1972
- Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir (A&M); 1973
With Ray Wylie Hubbard
- Something About the Night (Renegade); 1979
- Loco Gringo's Lament (Dejadisc); 1994
With Bobby Bridger
- Seekers of the Fleece (Golden Egg); 1975
- Ballad of the West (Golden Egg); 2001
- Complete Works (Golden Egg); 2004
With Steven Fromholz
- Steven Fromholz (Capitol); 1977
- Frummox II (ABC Probe);1982
With Bill Oliver
- Texas Oasis 1980 (Live Oak)
- Better Things to Do 1986 (Live Oak)
- Audubon Adventures 1987 (Live Oak)
- Have to Have a Habitat 1995 (Live Oak)
- Friend of the River 2001 (Live Oak)
With Butch Hancock
- Yella Rose (with Marce Lacouture)(Rainlight); 1985
- Own & Own (Demon); 1989
- Own the Way Over Here (Sugar Hill); 1993
With Terry Allen
- The Moral Minority (Fate); 1995
With Pat Green
- Carry On (Greenhorse); 2000
- Three Days (Universal); 2001
With Gary P. Nunn
- Under My Hat (1996)
Other artists
- Peter Caulton: Hard Road Tough Country (1998)
- Cory Morrow: Outside the Lines (2002)
- Mark David Manders: Highs and Lows (2002)
- Owen Temple: General Store (1997)
- Owen Temple: Two Thousand Miles (2007)
- Larry Joe Taylor: Heart of the Matter (2000)
- Various Artists Kerrville Folk Festival: Early Years 1972–1981
- Various Artists: Stranger Than Fiction (1999)
- Chris Wall: Cowboy Nation (1999)
- Susan Herndon "All Fall Down" (2012)
Notes
- ^ Hamilton, Bretney (January 8, 2018). "The Road Gives Bob Livingston Life on New Record". Cowboys & Indians. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
In the beginning, Bob Livingston helped create progressive country music.
- ^ Hillis, Craig (Spring 2002). "Cowboys and Indians: The International Stage". Journal of Texas Music History, Vol. 2, No. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ a b c Oglesby, Chris (December 4, 2000). "Chris Oglesby interviews with Bob Livingston". VirtualLubbock.com. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ Stimeling, Travis D. (2008). "Viva Terlingua: Jerry Jeff Walker, Live Recordings, and the Authenticity of Progressive Country Music". Journal of Texas Music History, Vol. 8, No. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Jerry Jeff Walker Discography". JerryJeff.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Ray Wylie Hubbard 2005 Q&A on LoneStarMusic". LoneStarMusic.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Working for a more peaceful and sustainable world-One Peace At A Time – Home". Nobelity.org. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Embassy of the United States Hanoi, Vietnam – 2007 Press Releases". Vietnam.usembassy.gov. December 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ Langer, Andy (May 2, 2003). "Big in Yemen". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "HCM City People's Committee". Eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Indian Classical Music Circle – Archives". Icmcdfw.org. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Bob Livingston's Cowboys & Indians Home – Texas Music International – Bob Livingston – Cowboys & Indians – The Lost Gonzo Band". TexasMusic.org. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "About TMI – Texas Music International – Bob Livingston – Cowboys & Indians – The Lost Gonzo Band". TexasMusic.org. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ Tim Harden, Roger Bartlett. ""Fool for a Blonde", "The music of Texas Chainsaw Massacre"". TexasChainsawMassacre.net. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Open the Window". GentleWind.com. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Kigali City Official Website >> Kigali City receives a key to the City of Austin-Texas". KigaliCity.gov.rw. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Texas Duo (Bob Livingston) Visits Namibia, December 5–10, 2009 – Windhoek, Namibia". Windhoek.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
References
- Robinson, Bruce "Ragabilly Rocker", Bohemian.com, April 15, 2009
- Bob Livingston article in Lone Star Music Magazine: I Was There! The Making of Viva Terlingua
External links
- Bob Livingston's website
- Bob Livingston on Facebook
- Video of Bob Livingston playing throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia on YouTube
- The Lost Gonzo Band performing at Armadillo Christmas Bizarre on YouTube
- The Lost Gonzo Band performing at Willie Nelson's July 4 Picnic, 1974 on YouTube
- The Lost Gonzo Band and Ray Wylie Hubbard performing at Willie Nelson's July 4 Picnic, 1974 on YouTube
- The "Wild East": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms1fP_JpMJA ]
- Bob Livingston's Open the Window children's record
- Interview on the ATX Architects Podcast