This page is for stories by the Chicks' original fans, and how they were captivated by the music and artistry before Sony catapulted them into the national limelight. If you saw the Dixie Chicks before I Can Love You Better became a surprise hit, please send me your story! I won't reprint any personal information without permission, so let me know how you would like to be credited -- anonymously, or by name, city, and/or email or URL.

Send those stories to robertb@dixie-chicks.com, and relive the history of the Dixie Chicks!

I assume the lawyer types will be happy and leave you alone once you remove the mp3 files, but if they still try to make trouble for you, let me know if you need a character witness.

You're probably the #1 publicist and keeper of the faith for the original Dixie Chicks (certainly on the Web), and they haven't had to pay you a dime.

In my case, I never listened to the sound files (I don't even have the player), but based on the info on your site (and of course having heard the New Chicks), I determined I HAD to purchase the old CDs if they were still available, and then you steered me to Miles of Music, where I bought the Crystal Clear CDs. If not for your site and your help via email, I doubt I would have bought the old CDs or even known they existed, much less where to get them.

What would be nice is if Crystal Clear Sound would stamp out a few more of the old CDs and if music stores (or someone like CDNow) would carry them. Whether we will ever see a Best Of The (Old and New) Dixie Chicks album like you suggest on your site, is another question.

What would be really nice is if the Dixie Chicks would pay you to design their new site rather than sending their lawyers after you - but of course they didn't send their lawyers after you, just like I doubt they decide who designs their website or even what goes on it. With 3 concerts a week in different cities, I'm surprised they have time to add new songs to their repertoire, much less keep track of what all their newly hired help is up to.

And I even understand where the lawyers are coming from. They probably have to defend intellectual property against even minor infringement, or the next person will take it a little farther, and farther, until people are selling bootleg CDs through the mail.

Feel free to cite me as an example of how you have helped, not hurt, the sales of their products, if they continue to harass you even after you lose the sound clips.

- Ken

Ken Hohhof's mixedsignal.net now hosts the All-Inclusive Dixie Chicks Page. He gave it a stable, reliable home after it lost its lease at dixiechicks.com.

-rb

Westminster, MD, Summer 1998
story added 1/8/1999

Hi

I was really disappointed this year when I went to see the New Dixie Chicks (country Spice Girls). I drove to Westminster Md, (135 miles one way) and had also thought of seeing them at Bethlehem, and the NJ State Faire, based on their old albums, and the time I'd seen them on Austin City Limits, and on some show with my all time favorites Riders in the Sky. I had reviews from Germany of I believe it was the Thank Heavens For Dale Evans album. I expected to see an all girl western band, there used to be some great ones around -- Ann Jones and The Western Sweethearts, Abbie Neal and the Ranch Girls, came to mind. The original Dixie Chicks had this sound.

Well, when I saw them they had back up musicians (male) also definitely ROCK, the bass and drum were the lead instruments. One song and I was ready to walk out,appearnace wise they looked like truck stop girls. Now I know I've heard from people how nice they are, etc., etc. I didnt stay because I didnt give a damn but I understand they also are not fan friendly. I am old country music, and well what they play now sure isn't country. I was very disappointed, since I based my wanting to see them on their old music.

They used to wear western clothes, right? They should have changed their names when they changed their styles etc. They went where the money is, fine, but then don't try to draw traditional music fans. Even call themselves THE NEW DIXIE CHICKS if they are ashamed of their old music.

I just drove 270 plus miles for a bunch of stuff I don't listen to -- the electric bass is not a lead instrument but it was that night. I had based my wanting to see them on albums I'd heard. I dont listen to country music on the radio much any more, I was a DJ and quit over top 20 playlists, and stuff that wasnt country.

I am a CD buyer yet... in the last 6 months have bought CD's by Micheal Martin Murphy, Ian Tyson, Confederate Railroad, Old Dogs, Iris DeMent and David Allen Coe. I attend "country music shows..." in December [1998] I saw Bill Anderson, Jan Howard, Jean Shepard and Jack Green, and in January [1999] I have tickets to see Roy Clark, and also Mel Tillis and in February, Riders in the Sky.

I was really thrilled when I saw the Dixie Chicks were in the tristate area, and I had planned to see at least 2 shows. Westminster, MD is not near Philadelphia, PA. I'm just glad I hadn't talked some one else in to going with me to see the "country spice girls"

Anything I say is taken as sour grapes, they are big time and I'm not. I got flamed over that, but I also quit radio rather then "sell out" the music I love and play.

Good hearing from you, I'm in my 42nd year in country music.so I am not in the demographics that music, TV, and advertising aim for anymore.

Happy New Year

Tequila Sunrise

New York City, July 1998
story added 6/16/1999

Well, being one of the few 17-year old country music fans from New York, I take every oppurtunity to see my favorite artists when they are in the area. I had heard the Dixie Chicks, and seen their videos, and loved their sound, but never bought much music... just listened to what I heard on the radio. But that all changed on July 9,1998.

I was in New York City for a free concert given by the local radio station, Y-107. Hal Ketchum, my favorite artist before the chicks, was live and free in Manhattan, and Hal was as usual, incredible, however it wasn't the concert that I remembered that day, it was prior to the concert that the greatest music played.

Preparing for the concert, they just played random cd's, and i got my first taste of Dixie. I was amazed, and on my way driving down to Nashville for a vacation the next day, I made my family stop to purchase Wide Open Spaces, and immediately played it for them. I am proud to say that there are now 4 Dixie Chicks Fans in my family instead of just one. I have attended their live shows, and continue to love their music more with each time I hear it.

The irony in this letter is that Hal Ketchum is also known for his hit Past The Point Of Rescue. The pre-Natalie Dixie Chicks played a great version of this song on Little Ol' Cowgirl in 1992!

-rb

Private autograph session, 1998
story added 6/16/1999

I'm Derek Fisher from Calgary, Canada. I had a one-on-one experience with the chicks when I won a trip to their private autograph session. I got their autographs as well as my picture taken with them. As has been said before they are truely fan oriented. My story is sort of an interesting one.

During the autograph session there was a radio station booth that announced that Wide Open Spaces was top of the charts again for the week. When they announced it I cheered but I was alone with my cheering. One of the radio station DJ's made the comment "Geez have another drink!", I thought quickly on my feet and said "I haven't had one yet, I was waiting to see if the Dixie Chicks wanted one". Natalie said "Sure I'll have a ginger ale if you are buying!" So I bought her a drink.

That's the end of my story, you make up your mind whether you want to use it or not.

The Dixie Chicks' biggest fan,

Derek Fisher

A Country & Western club in January 1998
story added 6/16/1999

Actually my "discovering" the Chicks has more to do with catchy album titles than having heard them. Several years ago (we're takin' 8 or 9 ) I was at Blockbuster Music in Buffalo Grove, IL and saw the cassette Thank Heavens for Dale Evans. I briefly looked at it because I figured that any group who would mention Roy or Dale probably deserved a listen. However, being on limited budget I passed.

A few years later, Borders opened a store near work. I again saw the cassette and having remembered it, bought it. Instant fan... Great blend of styles (bluegrass, early rock, etc.), perfect harmony and I could sing along with it in the car. The Chicks had produced an album which met all of my qualifications for great music, so I immediately ordered the other two.

About a year ago, prior to the release of Wide Open Spaces, the Chicks did a tour, which brought them nearby to a County & Western Club. I was probably one of the few people in the crowd who knew who they were. The acoustics was terrible, and the Chick sound had turned from unique to very 90's Nashville... Vanilla.

I bought the album the week that it was released, listened to it and immediately went about trying to find if Laura or Robin Lynn had done any work since they left the group.

There were a few songs that I really liked on Wide Open Spaces, but my favorite, a ballad (gave the CD to one of my daughter's friends so I don't have the title available) hasn't been released yet.

[You Were Mine, the song Ernest referred to, later spent two weeks at #1 -rb]

I really enjoyed the blend of music.. celtic, early rock done in harmony, Emily's banjo playing and Robin's songs.

I was able to secure a copy of Domestic Science Club's "Three Women"... great album! Unfortunately, DSC has also broken up.

I spent 12 years in Texas, the last 8 months as an announcer at a little country station in Gainvesvile (KGAF), and weekends in Sherman at KIKM.

Ernie

A bar outside of Chicago, early 1998
story added 6/16/1999

A friend of mine met the Chicks in a bar outside of Chicago just as their first song came into the top ten. He didn't know who they were at the time, and still doesn't really listen to country music, but he sure does kick himself now for not knowing who they were then and getting to know them better.

I kick him now too and wished he got to know them better. They are one of my all time favorites, have seen them 2 times in concert and hopefully again in April in Ames, Iowa. They put on a great show!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CRS Convention, Nashville, TN, February 1998
story added 6/16/1999

This is a long one... the Dixie Chicks encounter is near the end, but the whole story is pretty interesting... especially if you're into Nashville name-dropping! -rb

The Best Birthday I Ever Had

It was February 26, 1998, Michelle and I was in Nashville for the week to help out with the CRS convention (Country Radio Station Convention). We were set-up to work the front door to check badges make sure the artist knew where they were going. Well after a while they started to bring the artist through a back entrance so that no one will stop them to talk to them on the way to the artist taping. In the artist taping they would tape radio station promos like "Hey this is Shania Twain and you are listing to Young Country 95.7". Well being that we traveled the furthest the director Brian wanted to give us the coolest jobs so he set Michelle and I in the tunnel in which the artist would past through. The first person I seen come through the hall was Brian White. He was pretty nice but not very talkative. Other artists passed by but they weren't as popular so no one was interested in talking to them.

Next, Trace Atkins walks through the tunnel with his manager. He stops about three quarters of the way and his manager walks up to me to ask me where should he go. I pointed him in the right direction and he goes to tell Trace that he will be right back. His manager leaves and Trace starts to walk towards me. It is just he and I in the hall at first. He then introduced himself to me and asked me if I wanted a smoke. I told him no then he asked if it was ok that he did so. He started in small talk telling me where he was from then he asked me questions about myself and come to find out he performed across the street from my grandparents house in Louisiana and knew where they lived. After about 15 minutes his manager finally showed back up. Trace thanked me for the conversation and then went on.

The next artist to pass by was Clay Walker. Clay had his little group around him but when he was walking through the tunnel he noticed that my wife and I were from Houston. He started talking about Houston and how much he loves it because he live about 20 min away from it in Humble. His people dragged him out and he stood waiting for his booth to open up. Well he was waiting a while so he walked back over to my wife and sat down and started to talk to her for a while until they called his name. He was a very down to earth type of person.

Next, Steve Warner. Steve's manager walks through the tunnel making sure that there was no one in the hall to talk to Steve. He walked up to me and asked me to go on the other side of the door so that Steve does not see me when he walks through because he will stop and talk to me forever and they were on a tight schedule. I did so. They did not stay for long and on their way back down, my wife and I was standing in the hall. They started to pass us up with his manager walking in front of him. His manager passed us up and Steve stopped to talk he introduced himself and asked about us. After a while his manager finally dragged him out. Steve was the most caring of all the artist that we met there.

My last experience in the tunnel was Shania Twain. Shania's manager came through the tunnel and made sure all of the doors were closed so that no one would see her. He asked me to stand on the other side of the door. Well there was no way in hell I was going to miss getting a hello from Shania herself so I stayed put. She passed buy lifted her head, smiled and said hello. Then kept walking. Shania arrived late and stayed late after it was over so that she would give all the radio stations their promo.

We went in to clean up and there was the Dixie Chicks about to leave. Natalie recognized Michelle and waved. Michelle and I walked up to their table and Natalie asked if she was Deanna's friend. Deanna is Michelle's best friend. Deanna moved to Nashville and was going to school at UT in Murphresburro. Deanna moved there when Natalie moved there to record with the Dixie Chicks. Natalie and Deanna were roommates at South Plains College in Lubbock.

Natalie asked if we were going to see them perform tonight and we agreed to meet them later. Later that night we went to John Michael Montgomery's concert sat front row where he gave me one of his picks. We then went to the old Rymann Theater to see Hal Ketchum and Leann Rimes perform. We left the concert early so that we could catch one of my old friends' play at a café. He is the fiddle player for Jeff Carson. We grew up taking lessons together and going to fiddle contest together.

We got there and the café was already full. Deanna said that the Dixie Chicks were across the street and was about to start their sets. We ended up in an up stairs pub where they were performing. All the Chicks told us hello and went to their set.

We stood next to the President of Sony Nashville the whole time. When it was over everyone started to leave. I was looking around standing by myself in a corner when I looked down and I heard someone singing Happy Birthday to me I looked down and it was Natalie doing so. I did not see her at first because I stand 6'3" and she is not very tall at all. After she sung Happy Birthday to me she gave me a hug.

We walked back over to Deanna and Michelle and Emily and Martie came over we all decided to go out and listen to Sheri Austin. We all piled into Simon, their manager's vehicle and went over to the bar. The bar we went to was the same bar that Collin Raye filmed his video "I Can Still Feel You" before he went out into the streets of downtown Nashville. Their we listened to Sheri perform. After a few songs and drinks we said goodbye to the Chicks and Simon and we became Dixie Chicks fans for life.

Since Blue Plate Special is a small regional band, they're about as unknown as a band called the Dixie Chicks were in 1989. Anyone with a new story about Robin's latest effort should feel free to send me the latest info!

-rb

Thank you for the compliments! More info on Tommy Nash is always welcome. I don't know how much a copy of Home on the Radar Range would cost (see the Discography for more information), but a copy of Thank Heavens for Dale Evans recently went for over $50 at eBay...

-rb

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