Lucky Boyd, November 13th, 2004
Lucky Boyd is one of those honest performers who bring a plethora of talents to his craft. His song-writing carves out a wide path through the 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 influences of southern rock, country, Gulf Coast blues, rootsy folk music and even gospel blend into his own unmistakable sound ("Texa-billy" per his manager) that has helped him garner a strong regional following. His talents are being noticed, and in a big way. The Lucky Boyd Band won two of six major awards at the 1999 Acoustic Jammy Awards in Houston, with Boyd being named Best Male Vocalist and slide guitarist Gary Ragan being named Best Musician. Boyd's band was among 20 finalists nationwide who submitted a live recording of one original song to attempt at placing in the finals. The band was also a featured performer at Galveston's 2001 Mardi Gras - with Boyd penning Galveston's Official 2001 Mardi Gras song, "Houston, We Have A Party".Boyd, who was born in Port Arthur, Texas, has lived in the state his entire life. He got his start gigging as a solo artist in the Fort Worth area, and has been performing in clubs from Austin to Houston since the early 1980s. Boyd has shared the stage with the likes of Ricky Van Shelton, David Allen Coe and The Marshall Tucker Band. He hosted an acoustic open-mike jam session Thursdays at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café in Galveston from 1996-99, and now currently hosts the Lone Star Open Mic in Galveston every Wednesday (the Open Mic is sponsored by Boyd's own innovative website, "mytexasmusic.com"). Lucky is a featured performer at the Seabrook Music Festivals as well as other events throughout the state. He currently plays sold-out Galveston shows regularly with Texas music stars Shake Russell & Dana Cooper. He released his debut CD, titled Let's Go, last year on Campsite Records, and can be found on two compilation CDs out of Houston; Standing Room Only, Volume 1, and SRO Live III.
Lucky's music has been requested from countries as far away as Australia, Spain, Holland and Germany, with more international recognition right around the corner. When he isn't working on his music, Boyd also takes time to help those in the community less fortunate. In 1998, Boyd spearheaded an effort that allowed the installation of 700 air conditioners in the homes of low-income residents of the Gulf Coast area, as part of a state social agency program, and continues to this day serving as the Deputy Director of Community Action Council.
While Lucky Boyd is the driving force behind his music, he will be the first to tell you that he is fortunate to have found four confident, versatile players (The Tollbooth Violators) who perform with him on stage and add a unique character and flavor to the band's sound.
Greg Barr, on bass guitar and backing vocals, was elected to Canada's National Capital Music Hall of Fame in 1995 for his work as a musician and rock critic in Ottawa, Ontario. Barr holds down the rhythm with his thick bass lines and adds a jazz-influenced flair to Boyd's arrangements.
Gary Ragan, on slide and lead guitar and backing vocals, was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and brings a swampy, groove-laden sound and air-tight, melodic riffs to the project.Ray Payne, on percussion, adds the vital ingredient rarely seen in most "texa-billy" bands. His precise tempo and eclectic flair make him one of the most watched members of the band.Billy Joe Donnelly, on special effects guitar/harmonica rounds out the sound with his blend of classic rock guitar and one-of-a-kind pizazz that you won't hear again for a long time to come.
At a concert, Lucky Boyd will bring an audience to tears with a shimmering, delicate ballad, or his hilarious satirical outlooks on everyday life, then have them shouting and stomping along a minute later with a twangy, country-blues rocker.
Lucky Boyd's music glides through the subconscious with the ease that your feet slide into a well-broken-in pair of snakeskin cowboy boots, leaving a satisfying feeling that lingers after the last chord has been played. As his name suggests, the only thing standing between Lucky Boyd and national recognition is a lucky break!
Musically, his original songs and arrangements sprawl across a limitless expanse as wide as the Lone Star State. His influences of southern rock, country, Gulf Coast blues, rootsy folk music and even gospel blend into his own unmistakable sound ("Texa-billy" per his manager) that has helped him garner a strong regional following. His talents are being noticed, and in a big way. The Lucky Boyd Band won two of six major awards at the 1999 Acoustic Jammy Awards in Houston, with Boyd being named Best Male Vocalist and slide guitarist Gary Ragan being named Best Musician. Boyd's band was among 20 finalists nationwide who submitted a live recording of one original song to attempt at placing in the finals. The band was also a featured performer at Galveston's 2001 Mardi Gras - with Boyd penning Galveston's Official 2001 Mardi Gras song, "Houston, We Have A Party".Boyd, who was born in Port Arthur, Texas, has lived in the state his entire life. He got his start gigging as a solo artist in the Fort Worth area, and has been performing in clubs from Austin to Houston since the early 1980s. Boyd has shared the stage with the likes of Ricky Van Shelton, David Allen Coe and The Marshall Tucker Band. He hosted an acoustic open-mike jam session Thursdays at the Old Quarter Acoustic Café in Galveston from 1996-99, and now currently hosts the Lone Star Open Mic in Galveston every Wednesday (the Open Mic is sponsored by Boyd's own innovative website, "mytexasmusic.com"). Lucky is a featured performer at the Seabrook Music Festivals as well as other events throughout the state. He currently plays sold-out Galveston shows regularly with Texas music stars Shake Russell & Dana Cooper. He released his debut CD, titled Let's Go, last year on Campsite Records, and can be found on two compilation CDs out of Houston; Standing Room Only, Volume 1, and SRO Live III.
Lucky's music has been requested from countries as far away as Australia, Spain, Holland and Germany, with more international recognition right around the corner. When he isn't working on his music, Boyd also takes time to help those in the community less fortunate. In 1998, Boyd spearheaded an effort that allowed the installation of 700 air conditioners in the homes of low-income residents of the Gulf Coast area, as part of a state social agency program, and continues to this day serving as the Deputy Director of Community Action Council.
While Lucky Boyd is the driving force behind his music, he will be the first to tell you that he is fortunate to have found four confident, versatile players (The Tollbooth Violators) who perform with him on stage and add a unique character and flavor to the band's sound.
Greg Barr, on bass guitar and backing vocals, was elected to Canada's National Capital Music Hall of Fame in 1995 for his work as a musician and rock critic in Ottawa, Ontario. Barr holds down the rhythm with his thick bass lines and adds a jazz-influenced flair to Boyd's arrangements.
Gary Ragan, on slide and lead guitar and backing vocals, was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and brings a swampy, groove-laden sound and air-tight, melodic riffs to the project.Ray Payne, on percussion, adds the vital ingredient rarely seen in most "texa-billy" bands. His precise tempo and eclectic flair make him one of the most watched members of the band.Billy Joe Donnelly, on special effects guitar/harmonica rounds out the sound with his blend of classic rock guitar and one-of-a-kind pizazz that you won't hear again for a long time to come.
At a concert, Lucky Boyd will bring an audience to tears with a shimmering, delicate ballad, or his hilarious satirical outlooks on everyday life, then have them shouting and stomping along a minute later with a twangy, country-blues rocker.
Lucky Boyd's music glides through the subconscious with the ease that your feet slide into a well-broken-in pair of snakeskin cowboy boots, leaving a satisfying feeling that lingers after the last chord has been played. As his name suggests, the only thing standing between Lucky Boyd and national recognition is a lucky break!
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