State Parks Centennial

TEXAS MUSICIANS COLLABORATE ON ALBUM CELEBRATING STATE PARKS

by Louie Bond

The celebration for 100 years of Texas State Parks picked up the tempo with the release of the first single from Texas Wild, a genrebending album featuring Texas artists covering Texas classics, with all proceeds to benefit our wild things and wild places.

Produced by Austin singer/songwriter Walker Lukens, Texas Wild blends the traditional Texas mix of blues, cumbia and country with unexpected modern flavors like hip-hop, R&B and electronica.

“Your average Texan can easily name eight to 10 classic songs made by Texan artists from genres as diverse as country, blues, rock, Tejano, folk, hip-hop and R&B,” Lukens said. “What other state can claim to have made significant contributions to so many genres? Texas Wild features fresh takes on classics from all these genres— it’s a funky and soulful best-of-Texas playlist for whenever you’re feeling state pride.” 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with Rambler Sparkling Water, sponsored the album, to be released on vinyl this fall. 

“Texas music has helped shape our inimitable spirit, just as the iconic landscapes of our Texas State Parks have inspired our last 100 years,” says Anne Brown, executive director of TPWF. “In places like Garner State Park, music has inspired magical summer nights for decades; visitors have danced to Texas tunes beneath the stars at the historic pavilion since the 1940s.”

(Hey Baby) Que Paso, popularized by Tex-Mex supergroup the Texas Tornados, and covered by Houston artist Fat Tony featuring Paul Wall, is the first public taste of the highly anticipated album. The single is now available on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.

The second single, Ryan Bingham covering the Toadies’ Possum Kingdom, will arrive June 13. More will follow this summer, culminating with the digital and limited-edition vinyl release of the entire work this fall.