Unique business targets Texas music lovers

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Clair Devers shows off some of the merchandise at the unique Lone Star Music store in Guerne. The business fills a need for those who love Texas music and Texas musicians. -- Staff photo by Taylor

Oct. 21, 2004 - If you're from Texas, then Texas music is most likely a favorite. With Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings singing to us about Luckenbach, cowboys and Texas women ... what else could you ask for?

To fill a "need" for those who love Texas music, three Texans have created a unique business that capitalizes on the sounds of musicians from the Lone Star State.

Lone Star Music was born by Chad Raney, who as a teenager, knew he loved Texas musicians and Texas music ... just as one song says, there was "country music in his soul."

In 1999, after a couple of accidents, Raney started an online business from his home in Dallas. The business focuses on Lone Star music for people who had either moved out of Texas or just appreciated the Texas style of music. On his website, he offers visitors a glimpse of Texas artists and their music, and the option to purchase the music. For "transplanted" Texans, Lone Star Music is a way to be able to purchase the music that couldn't be found in other areas.

The Devers' grandkids, Emily and Noah, often offer a "special" greeting to those coming into the Lone Star Music store in Gruene. -- Staff photo by Taylor

In order to be featured by Lone Star Music, the musician must meet several requirements, including being born in Texas, being "from" Texas, or having a "Texas" sound in their music.

In December 2002, Raney suffered more health problems that left him physically unable to continue the home-based music business. Fortunately he had met two other Texas music lovers - Michael Devers and his wife Clair. Devers, of New Braunfels, is the bass player of the 1990's group, the "Groobees," whose lead singer Susan Gibson wrote the song, "Wide Open Spaces," made famous by the Dixie Chicks of Texas.

With Raney ill, the Devers traveled to Dallas in January 2003 and conducted the huge task of transferring all of Raney's CDs and other items to their home in New Braunfels. With Raney continuing as the founder and CEO of Lone Star Music, the Devers operated the online business from an office in their home, all the while searching for the "perfect" location to sell the Texas music that is so special to them and Raney.

On March 5, 2004, they opened the Lone Star Music store in Gruene, just outside of New Braunfels ... a historic area attractive to Texans and other visitors. They noted they were especially happy that the opening coincided with Texas Independence Day celebrations.

Each month, the store spotlights a special artist, and October's artist is Willie Nelson. Devers also admitted that "anyone who does an entire CD with Willie Nelson" is automatically on sale at their establishment.

At Lone Star Music, visitors are able to peruse CDs from around 100 artists, as well as shirts, hats, books and various products representing Texas music and musicians.

Jerry Jeff Walker and Robert Earl King are big sellers, and a replica of Willie, carved out of a wooden log, sits on the counter which, incidentally, is made of hay bales.

Devers noted they produce a newsletter that goes out to approximately 30,000 people all over the world. It includes special venue information and tour dates of Texas musicians.

After school hours, the Devers' two kindergarten children, Emily and Noah, help in the store. They have a cute "special" greeting to visitors, asking about different Texas artists of whom they might be interested.

Devers shared that the best part of operating Lone Star Music is the fact that, from the time he was growing up in Oklahoma, he spent all the money he earned at a part-time job purchasing records at "Jack's Records and Tapes" in Enid, always aware of his interest in music.

The hardest part was transferring all of Raney's music from Dallas, and making Lone Star Music available to Texans and visitors from other states. The two years Devers spent looking for the right location, while filling orders from his home office, seems to have been successful. As long as there is a Texas, there will be Texas music fans, and Lone Star Music is looking forward to filling that "niche."

(Contact: www.lonestarmusic.com or 800-TXMUSIC.)