Linden, Texas

AARON THIBEAUX WALKER, (1910-1975).   Aaron Thibeaux Walker, also known as T-Bone or Oak Cliff  T-Bone, the only son of Rance and Movelia (Jamison, Jimerson) Walker, was born in Linden, Texas, on May 28, 1910.  A blend of African and Cherokee heritage, T-Bone's family lived in the Bear Creek Community outside Linden.  In his youth his mother left her husband and moved to Dallas, where Aaron attended Northwest Hardee School through the seventh grade. His mother played guitar, and his stepfather, Marco Washington, played bass and several other instruments. Family friendship with country blues artists Blind Lemon Jefferson and Huddie (Leadbelly) Ledbetter familiarized him with the blues from infancy.

The term “ Paying your dues” took on a new meaning when this man came along. D. Royce Baird has seen 40 years of music history pass before his very eyes... from the hallowed halls of the recording studios to sleeping in the backstreets and alleys of Nashville , Tn. The phrase “Been there....Done it!” are a familiar sound in this camp. If you are looking for total entertainment .....then you've come to the right place. Church and school functions were both early outlets for his burning desire to create music. At age seven the young musician began taking piano lessons for four years until making the change to guitar and vocals. Songwriting would become a natural addition to his many talents. To date, D. Royce Baird has released five albums with record sales in excess of 2.5 million. His most recent release," From The Barroom...To The Cross” is most definitely destined to break those records.

J. R. (Sparky) Martin was born in Atlanta , Cass County , TX , in 1956 and grew up just across the State line in Ida, La. Music and construction took him to many places, but he always came back to his roots deep in the ARK-LA-TEX. He came back to Cass County as a permanent resident in 1990. J.R.and his wife Diana now reside in Bloomburg, Cass County, Texas.  Through the years J. R. has performed with many groups playing a wide variety of musical styles, from Traditional Country to Rock to Blues to , well you name it. Drumming became a passion to him at a young age, and at the age of 16, J. R. was playing in a Louisiana Honky Tonk with a Cowboy Band. From that point on, the thrill of performing was in his blood. His style has been described as aggressive, with an emotional dynamic that leaves no room for doubt, that he puts his Heart & Soul into every beat of every measure.

Dan " Lucky" Boyd ( Linden) - Lucky Boyd might be a newcomer to Linden, but he is far from new on the Texas Music scene.  Lucky's song-writing  carves out a wide path through Texas' music genre, spinning diverse tales of broken hearts, American pride , feeling the blues , poking fun at life , or just rocking the night away at a roadhouse bar .

     Musically, his original songs and arrangements sprawl across a limitless expanse as wide as the Lone Star State. His influence of southern rock , country , gulf coast blues, rootsy folk music and even gospel, blend into his own unmistakable sound ("Texas-Billy" per his manager) that has helped him garner a strong following .

     His talents have been noticed, and in a big way.

Mick & Rick Wall were born in rural Cass County, Texas in the Dalton Community on September 12, 1947. They developed a love of music at an early age. In the early 1960s, they formed a band called The Extremes. The band consisted of Rick Wall (bass), Mick Wall (key board), Ronnie Franklin (drums), and Doug Loffer (guitar). They performed at various venues around Northeast Texas , including the hot spot for teen dances - the Linden American Legion Hall. During this period they became friends with Richard Bowden and Greg Attaway, who are currently on the board of directors of the Music City Texas Theater (the old American Legion Hall). Rick and Mick performed professionally on the road in the 60s and 70s. In 1978, Rick transitioned into construction management, got married, and started a family. He is the Director of the Safety Council of East Texas, and Board Member of the National Association of Reciprocal Safety Councils. In 2003 Rick came full circle by becoming a volunteer consultant to the Music City Texas non-profit corporation, and has been active in the rebirth of the music heritage of Cass County . In October of 2007, Rick became a member of the Board of Directors, Music City Texas, Inc.

Richard Bowden was born in Linden, Texas on September 30, 1945. In 1963 he put his own band together with some friends, Don Henley, Jerry Surratt, and Freddie Neese – the FOUR SPEEDS. Freddie Neese was replaced by Joey Brown and the band’s name changed to FELICITY. In 1969 Joey Brown left FELICITY, and Richard took over guitar duties. Mike Bowden, cousin of Richard, joined the band as their bass player. Jerry Surratt was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1970 and was replaced by Jim Ed Norman.

In lieu of biographies, we would share this interesting, brief history of Linden’s The Bowden Boys Country/Western Band of the mid1930’s as told by Curtis Bowden, the only surviving member of “The Little Band That Quit Too Soon”.

The Bowden Boys Country/Western Band

If we start at the very beginning, we would have to start with my brother Elmer. My Dad had an old violin (we called it a fiddle) that had belonged to his dad. Dad could play it, but not too well, but Grandpa was a very good fiddle player. Since he didn’t live with us, the old fiddle was neglected until Elmer took a liking to it, and we could see that he had a special talent for it.