Taking a trip back to my first PD gig at WYZB in Ft. Walton Beach, FL - Audio imaging pieces from 2005.  Voice super star, Steve Wood, and I wrote and produced these along with morning show star, some "Big Nic" Allegretto.

WYZB Imaging Composite 2005

Larry Davis (Nights 6pm-10pm)KRBE Houston - December 1997

104 KRBE Larry Davis (Nights) December 1997

KMSO Missoula MT - 102.5 Mountain FM - TM Studios 99 1/2 ZPL - December 2025

KENT FINLAY, DREAMER TELLS STORY BEHIND TEXAS' MOST CELEBRATED HONKYTONK AND SONGWRITING COMMUNITY

Cheatham Street Warehouse book marks one-year anniversary 
of iconic musical mentor, songwriter and venue owner's death

AUSTIN, Texas – News: The highly anticipated Kent Finlay, Dreamer: The Musical Legacy behind Cheatham Street Warehouse hits shelves March 2 through Texas A&M University Press. “To have been able to listen to Dad unravel his yarns and capture his wisdom, wit and words like fireflies in a jar has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” says Jenni Finlay, who wrote the book with Brian T. Atkinson (author of I'll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt). “Kent Finlay, Dreamer will help keep him alive and with us forever.”  

Finlay, who passed away last year on Texas Independence Day at 77, skyrocketed aspiring artists for more than four decades. You know the names: George Strait. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Todd Snider. James McMurtry. Eric Johnson. The list literally goes on forever. Each songwriter's an unmatched talent with one common thread: Finlay launched their careers from the stage at his legendary Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas. Finlay simply was the most respected lyrical editor and talent scouter in the Lone Star State – not to mention a singular songwriter himself.

Kent Finlay, Dreamer: The Musical Legacy behind Cheatham Street Warehouse tells his story through Finlay's intimate interviews with her father about an entire life dedicated to music along with Atkinson's detailed conversations with songwriters about his stunning influence. “[Kent's] part of Texas music history is huge,” says country superstar George Strait in the book's foreword. “He and his great little honky tonk gave me and a whole host of others a place to learn our craft and to learn how to be, sing and play music on stage. I'll never forget those days. Thank you, my friend. You are The Man.”

“Songwriter. Mentor. Curator. Teacher. Historian,” longtime acolyte Owen Temple says in the book. “Kent Finlay has helped create the best of what Texas music has been and is.” “Kent's impact on Texas music – all music, really – is undeniable,” Atkinson says. “He nurtured a community purely devoted to the art and craft of songwriting and the results speak for themselves. Like Ray Wylie Hubbard says in the book, Kent was a guru, a Yoda. He could spot a sincere songwriter a rifleshot away.”

Indeed, Finlay made no bones. His beloved Cheatham Street Warehouse has always existed for creation. Songs begin on Cheatham’s stage. They grow. Breathe. Live. Earn more miles. Finally, they mature into shape. Finlay's songwriters night, an open mike for original songs he hosted for nearly every Wednesday night for more than forty years, developed talent with stunning frequency.
     
Clearest evidence: The Class of 1987. “That was the most exciting year,” said Finlay, who opened the legendary San Marcos, Texas-based venue in October 1974. “The regulars at songwriters night were me and a bunch of nobodies: Todd Snider, James McMurtry, Terri Hendrix, Bruce Robison, Hal Ketchum, john Arthur martinez and sometimes Tish Hinojosa. Those were the basic regulars and nobody had every heard of them.” However, those young writers understood the gig’s value. “Cheatham Street would let me play my songs,” McMurtry says today. “That took balls back then.”

For interview requests, contact Cary Baker: cary@conqueroo.com; (323) 656-1600
For more about TAMU Press, contact Christine Brown: christinebrown@tamu.edu; (979) 458-3982

Yesterday's Oatmeal

A demo of my afternoon show on WZZK in Birmingham, Alabama

WZZK demo

This is a really, really important one for every one of you to hear. I sat down with Shane Nicolich, a fan who asked a very very good question at a keynote I gave that I invited to come hang out for a day at Vaynermedia. Shane has survived a traumatic brain injury, along with a host of other things, but has stayed positive throughout everything in his life. He's looking to further build his personal brand, so we sit down and charge right into his instagram, developing what I called the $1.80 strategy. Engagement is necessary in our world, so give this one a listen and start now. &lt;3

Winning Instagram with the $1.80 Strategy | #TBT

Here are some of my sounds and styles.  Everything from Movie Trailer to Characters to Everyday reads.  more at my website:  www.LarryDavisVoice.com

Thanks for listening.

LarryDavis-SuperDemo

Here's some of my narration from Border Wars on Nat Geo.  I love voicing this character, as it's based on my Uncle in Texas.

LarryDavis-SouthernTVNarration

Keith Sweat - Twisted (Sexual Healing Remix)

KC!! Crew Chief & Middays @Q104KC - Front porch sittin’, sunset junkie, family guy, coffee snob, bookworm, karaoke fool. I like country music. 🎶🎶🎶

WYZB Imaging Composite 2005

@radiotodd

Recent comments

Kuhn

Related tracks