Country music on Fall Festival agenda

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Country music artist Deryl Dodd, a Texas native, takes a break to read the latest edition of Country World. He will perform Sept. 18 at the Hopkins County Fall Festival. -- Staff photo by Cope

Sept. 16, 2004 - When Deryl Dodd was a teenager, plowing fields in Central Texas, he often dreamed up musical melodies as the tractor traveled down the peanut field's rows. Now, the 40-year-old country music artist consistently travels a five-state area performing before huge crowds.

On Sept. 18, Dodd will perform at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center in Sulphur Springs. Also on tap for the night is a performance by Cooder Graw.

On Oct. 5, Dodd's latest album, Stronger Proof, will be released on Dualtone label (it can be pre-ordered now at dualtone.com). And, he continues his live performances which keeps him on the road about 48 weeks out of the year. His schedule, just for the remainder of September, has him performing in Dallas, Spring, Gainesville, Houston, and Grandview.

In the early '90s, Dodd toured in Martina McBride's band as lead guitarist and harmony singer, which led to other performances with well-known country musicians. His travels took him to many places within the United States while, then, calling Nashville, Tenn., home base.

About a year ago, Dodd moved "back home to Texas." The tall and rugged-looking singer/songwriter now lives near Fort Worth.

He remembers well his younger days of helping out on his grandfather's and uncles' farms near Proctor Lake in Comanche County. His grandfather and uncles also gave him more than chores to do - they have also passed along their love of music. Dodd's grandfather played the fiddle and one of his uncles played fiddle with the Light Crust Doughboys. Dodd said he still prefers the "traditional" country music sounds.

As a youngster, Dodd said he enjoyed his time helping with the farming and cattle ranching chores. "I loved farming," he said. "I did my share" of the work. Yet, after moving to Dallas, he said he wasn't able to "do as much as I'd like to."

But during those years aboard a tractor, Dodd recalled: "I would write a whole song in my head, music and all; and sometimes I'd have to just stop and go write it down."

As a singer/songwriter, Dodd has written about 90 percent of the songs recorded on his five albums. His new album, Stronger Proof, also reflects his victory over a serious illness. (More details online at deryldodd.com.)

When Dodd performs during the final night of the Hopkins County Fall Festival, on Sept. 18, his songs will cover a wide range of styles and types of country music, but mostly music from his heart and soul.