Radney Foster - In it for the Long Haul - Conversation on a New Mexico Mountaintop

This episode of the Tasty Brew Music Podcast is a conversation I had with Texas Songwriter and author Radney Foster…. Initially a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, Foster made his recording debut as part of the Foster & Lloyd duo, recording three studio albums and with nine singles on the country charts. Foster began his solo career in 1992 and his album Del Rio, TX 1959 produced four consecutive Top 40 hits. Overall, Foster has had thirteen songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the Top Ten hits "Just Call Me Lonesome" (#10, 1992) and "Nobody Wins" (#2, 1993). His songs have been recorded by Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Keith Urban, Hootie and the Blowfish and Jack Ingram. He is now producing, writing screenplays, short stories and novels. He’s been one of my favorites since I discovered him nearly 20 years ago on a KGSR Radio Compilation CD.

I was in Red River to attend Larry Joe Taylor’s Annual Hot Chili Days and Cool Summer Nights Music Festival featuring Texas Singer/Songwriters. Radney was the featured performer at a kick off event on a mountaintop currently serving as Michael Martin Murphey’s Bitter Creek Ranch and through the kindness and tenacity of his manager (and wife) Cyndi Hoelzel, we were able to find a precious block of time before Radney had to leave for sound check. Although Radney, via Cyndi, had agreed to the sit down weeks in advance, with no cell service in town, unknown daily schedule until the day of and limited internet connectivity, it was very challenging to find a suitable venue for our conversation. We settled on the second floor lobby of the rustic Red River Lodge next to the Mother Lode Saloon, windows wide open to the street during an ongoing rain shower. Radney has done yeoman’s work with SongwritingWith Soldiers, a non-profit transforming veterans’ lives by using collaborative songwriting to expand creativity, connections, and strengths. As the mother of a Marine suffering from PTSD, it was an honor and privilege to spend this precious time with Radney Foster….enjoy!