Album Notes

MEET DAVE JORGENSON

Dave Jorgenson is no newcomer to country music. From a young age, Dave has been slinging a guitar strap and entertaining audiences with songs that reflect his personal life and the real world of Midwestern America. In Dave's early years, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and Buck Owens made a lasting impression on what would eventually become his life's passion. Dave was exposed to every type of music by his teenage friends and through his participation as a sax player in his High School Band, but his heart was always lured back to the songs that were a part of the rural blue-collar life he lived. Dave is country.

Now what happened between picking up his Dad's Guitar at age 7 and playing on stages in front of thousands is no short story, so listen up.

Dave was raised in the small town of Perry Kansas, near the Nation's shortest hi-way (3/8 mile). His natural ability to sing was discovered as a youth. Encouraged by his friends and family, Dave began to feel very comfortable behind a microphone with his guitar, but it wasn't until Dave graduated High School that he realized the potential of his voice and the songs he had begun to write. Performing those songs in front of audiences gave Dave fulfillment, and would form a dream that had to be followed.

Right out of High School, Dave decided to make his first bold move towards proving himself as a respected singer songwriter by entering the GMC/True Value Country Showdown. His rich vocals and easygoing manner made an immediate impression on both music fans and the other musicians. Dave did not take top honors at his first competition, but he turned the heads of the Band that did win. "Rio" was already touring dance hall circuits in the Midwest and Rockies when they became acquainted with Dave that night. Following the competition, Dave formed the Kawboys with some of his High School friends, and began performing in clubs and on stages around NE Kansas. After a year of experience as the lead vocalist for the Kawboys, he again entered the GMC/True Value Country Showdown, and this time went all the way to the Kansas finals.

Not long after that, Rio asked Dave to join them as lead vocalist, and stand front and center in what would become the opening act for such Country Music greats as Chris LeDoux, Patti Loveless, and Lisa Brokop, just to name a few. During Dave's two-year ride with Rio he became a prolific songwriter, composing songs based on his country heritage and life experiences. Many of his original compositions became crowd favorites.

The lush green hills in Kansas are a wonderful place for inspiration, but Dave knew he would have to give up his homestead to gain notoriety. Though Nashville was known as a country music hotbed, Dave decided to move to Austin. The Honky Tonks and rustic atmosphere were more suitable to Dave's music and personality than the lasers, strobes and line dances that were gripping the country music scene at the time.

Dave and two fellow "RIOnians" packed up, headed south, and reformed as a band that would become "Big Iron". Big Iron found themselves traveling back in time, playing songs reminiscent of Ray Price, Buck Owens, Marty Robbins, and Bob Wills. Big Iron would play central Texas for nearly four years; frequenting places like "The Broken Spoke" home of many country music legends. Then came another change for Dave.

Dave met Benny Mcarthur of "The Ace In the Hole Band" and guitarist for George Strait. Not only did Benny encourage Dave, but he would also be the Producer of Dave's first solo album, Then and Now. Benny and Dave called upon some of Texas' greatest musicians to help in getting that Honky Tonk sound he had always loved.

It's been no short journey, but Then and Now is a true reflection of the kind of person Dave is, and what country music is all about. Dave will be supporting this album with a cast of band members that carry his unique Texas country music to dance halls anywhere and everywhere