Singing livestock investigator loves to make Texas music

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

August 9, 2001 -- "What Texas music is...in a nutshell...it's not Nashville! It's stuff that Nashville has kind of 'thumbed their nose' at and said, 'Well, it's just a bunch of hicks down there in Texas playing music," said Smokey Wilson, singer, songwriter and Texas livestock investigator of Cuero.

By day, Wilson says he is the only livestock investigator left in the state who works for the Texas Animal Health Commission, appointed by the Governor to oversee the state livestock industry. For the last 20 years, he's watched for animals without proper paperwork trying to enter Texas, along with tracking disease in the animals.

When the sun goes down, you'll find Wilson singing his heart out...all about Texas honkey-tonks, Texas women and lost love.

"I've written all my life. I used to write poetry for my mother when I was just a little kid. I wish I'd kept some of that stuff," said Wilson.

After growing up and living in various places, Wilson calls South Texas home. He traveled with the Navy and has played music "all over" the Southwest, Colorado, Wyoming, California and Alaska.

"I played with a band, most of the time. I had a band called the Texas Highway, and we toured the country and cut an album in Las Vegas, back in the late 70's. All original material...I've never recorded anything that was not original material," he said.

While country music has always been a staple in parts of the population, Texas musicians have found much success in recent years and brought the country music attention back to Texas, according to Wilson.

"Texas music is the new buzz word. I'm a musician, been a musician for years. We've all been around music, we all listen to music, we all bought a record at one time or another, or we...at least...turned the radio on," he said.

"I was sitting here thinking...what is Texas music? I think it is a regeneration of what we've always had in Texas. Texas is a very diversified music hotbed or breeding ground.

"My roots go back to blues...I've a strong blues influence in my music...a blues harmonica player. We've got just as good blues players here in Texas as they do anywhere in the world," he added.

Throughout the years, some artists have continued to do Texas music, even when it wasn't as popular, said Wilson, referring to Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and now Charlie Robinson and Larry Joe Taylor as examples.

"Texas music is something that someone discovered or put a name to...I'm sure I've always done Texas music...whatever that was. It was what I was writing and I was from Texas," said Wilson.

"Now, all of a sudden, Nashville is standing around looking in saying, 'How do we get our fingers on this, now?' This stuff is really catching on."

Wilson says he stays booked several times a week...nothing big...but steady work, and it's what he enjoys doing. Once he retires, he plans to make music his full-time job.

"Austin has always been a problem. Playing in Austin is not a problem...making money in Austin is a problem because there's so much talent there," said Wilson.

In the late 60's, Wilson said he played in Austin when he was a student at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. He played with a blues band back when the east side of I35 was the place to go for real blues clubs that were frequented by U.T. students and other blues lovers.

Concerning Nashville, Wilson said that most of the music is starting to sound a lot the same. He claims that many of the recording studios have a two hour time limit for recording, and the singer and music is the only change...not the band.

"In my estimation, we've kind of gotten away from what Country music is supposed to be. Country music is music of the people and by the people," said Wilson.

"I'm a rancher. I raise cattle and I raise horses and play music. I'm at a point in my life where I can schedule like I want to. I just don't think anything could be any better right now..it's just good. I'm writing stuff, people are listening to it, and I'm getting feedback. That's what everyone that's an artist needs."