Texas born Richard James Dobson II was introduced to the works of classical composers by his father, while his mother adored musicals. Parental disapproval followed the teenager’s late 1950’s incurable addiction to rock ‘n’ roll. In 1960 Richard purchased a Smith Corona typewriter in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the intention of writing “that first novel.” Countless travels at home and in foreign lands followed, as did employment on land and sea. Dobson, the musician, debuted with the self-released IN TEXAS LAST DECEMBER (1977) – the recent HERE IN THE GARDEN (2013) was his twentieth solo album – and in 1989, a 177 page limited edition of THE GULF COAST BOYS [Greater Texas Publishing Company ISBN 0-9665764-0-3] was published.
Out of print for some time, it was re-published last year and is available, in print and Kindle, via Amazon UK & USA [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2nd edition ISBN-13: 978-1493589814]. Amongst numerous recollections, THE GULF COAST BOYS recalls touring with Rex (Wrecks) Bell, Mickey White and the late and legendary Townes Van Zandt. With Issue # 18 (Autumn 1978) of the sadly defunct fanzine OMAHA RAINBOW editor/founder Peter O’Brien began publishing Dobson’s regular Poor Richard’s Newsletters wherein the musician reflected on his travels, tribulations, triumphs, music, society, life and more. Four years later, Richard rebranded the still going strong newsletter Don Ricardo’s Life And Times.
The 382 page THE YEARS THE WIND BLEW AWAY: DON RICARDO’S LIFE AND TIMES [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN-13: 978-1493519521] subtitled The Newsletters Of Richard J. Dobson, gathers together all of the foregoing from 1978 through 2012, and has been available in print and Kindle since October last year.
Print copies of the 238 page PLEASURES OF THE HIGH RHINE: A TEXAS SINGER IN EXILE [CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ISBN-13: 978-1496021779], subtitled A Gulf Coast Boy Landlocked In Paradise, have been available in the States (only) since last year via MyTexasMusic ( http://www.mytexasmusic.com/richarddobson/ ). On the foregoing web site Richard writes “In 1999 I moved to Switzerland. My new book, PLEASURES OF THE HIGH RHINE, A TEXAS SINGER IN EXILE is a travel memoir, an expatriate account of making a new home in the Old World. A story of intercultural love, life on the road with a band of German rockers, the trials of acquiring a license to fish in Switzerland, train rides and bike trails, this story covers the coming of the millennium, 9/11, and its aftermath.” Last year Amazon retailed a Kindle version, and as of 21st February 2014 a print version has been available.
Dobson’s an avid admirer of the great American novelists of the early/mid twentieth century, and when it comes to stringing words together that inspire and touch the reader, Richard is NO slouch. His narratives, whether international or personal, are history in the making. A must buy for any self-respecting Texas music fan.
http://www.richard-j-dobson.ch/htm/news.htm
From the desk of The Folk Villager
