Rex Warren, A Conscious Cowboy Honing his style in the dance halls and bar rooms of the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo native, Rex Warren, has made his home in New Mexico since 1990. You can hear the West Texas wind and the high desert of New Mexico in the music and lyrics of his songs. Multi-media consultant and life-long friend, Doug Stewart, has dubbed Warrens’ music as “Avocado Rock”. Blending elements of country-rock, bluegrass, blues and folk with influences of Spanish and Native American cultures, this music is distinctively Southwestern in flavor. Albuquerque Journal music critic, Kenn Rodriguez places Warrens’ music…. “squarely in the realm of…country-rock pioneers like The Eagles, and The Flying Burrito Brothers”. Rachel Heisler of UNM Daily Lobo says of Warrens’ original compositions, “…contagious, powerful…unpretentious…and laid back.” In his new CD of 14 original songs, Rex Warren and Walking Rain , Raise Your Voice, acoustic instruments, and top notch players were employed. Walking Rain, composed of Bob Bruen on mandolins, and Coale Johnson on various guitars bring their many years of San Francisco Bay music experience to the heart of this recording. San Antonio native and celebrated singer/songwriter, Terri Hendrix gives a stellar performance on backing vocals. Terris’ touring partner and producer, Lloyd Maines brings his inspiring multi-instrumental talents and Grammy Award winning production talents to this CD as well. Rounding out the musicians are long time bass player for Michael Martin Murphy, Gary Roller, Southwest legend Bill Hearne on guitar , Grammy Award winning engineer and co-producer for the record, Doug Geist on percussion, jazz musician, Mike Astor on drums, singer/songwriter, Tommy Elskes on spoons, and Debra “Debo” Orlofsky on accordion. Half the songs on this record have a spiritual message prompting another close associate to call Warren a “Conscious Cowboy”. Defying labels, Warren advises, “this Southwestern musical experience is best enjoyed with a cold cerveza and guacamole and chips.”
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