Country music legend Moe Bandy has come a long way from his bull riding days in Texas. Not to mention his years as a sheet metal worker and playing at honky tonks at night. In the mid and late seventies when the slick country-pop of Kenny Rogers and John Denver, and the Outlaw sound of Waylon & Willie was all the rage, along came journeyman traditionalist Moe Bandy. The Texas singer with his twin fiddle/steel guitar in the band kept Texas-style honky tonk alive.

       But it wasn't easy. In 1972, Bandy met record producer Ray Baker on a hunting trip and convinced him to listen to some demo tapes he had made. Baker agreed to produce the singer if Moe paid for the recording sessions. An excited Bandy pawned all his furniture and financed a session. The records were released and went nowhere. The following year he took out another loan to pay for a further recording session. Out of this came "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today" which Baker released as a single on Footprint Records manufacturing only 500 copies. The song took off and was acquired by GRC, an Atlanta label, who released it nationally where it became a Top 20 hit.

THE HITS KEEP ACOMIN'.

      Moe Bandy followed his first hit with several singles on GRC, including the Top Ten hits "It Was So EasyTo Find An Unhappy Woman" and "Bandy The Rodeo Clown" which is his favorite and was penned by Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shafer. His songs never strayed far from the traditional honky tonk fare, delivered with a knowing sense of humor. Loving, cheating, drinking and patriotic songs formed the core of his repertoire.

     Bandy signed with Columbia Records in 1975 keeping Baker as a producer. "Hank Williams You Changed My Life," his first single for the label, was an instant number three hit. After that he had a string of hits which included "Here I Am Drunk Again," "She Took More Than Her Share," "I'm Sorry For You My Friend," "Cowboys Aren't Supposed To Cry," and "She Just Loved The Cheatin' Out Of Me."

     In 1979 he teamed up with Janie Fricke with the number three hit "It's A Cheatin' Situation" which became the CMA Song of The Year. Bandy had another successful duet that year with Joe Stampley. The two also released the album JUST GOOD OL' BOYS which gave birth to the number one title track and the Top Ten hit "Holding The Bag." The following year the winning streak continued with the Top Ten hits "Yesterday Once More" and "Following The Feeling," a duet with Judy Bailey.

     He teamed up with Stampley again in 1981. Once more the pair reached the Top Ten with "Hey Moe Hey Joe" and charted with "Honky Tonk Queen." The same year Bandy had solo hits with "My Woman Loves The Devil Out Of Me" and "Rodeo Romeo." He continued to chart in the Top 20 including the Top Ten 1983 hit "Let's Get Over Them Together" duet with Becky Hobbs.

      In 1986 Bandy switched record labels and signed with MCA/Curb. He also switched producers, abandoning his old collaborator Ray Baker for Jerry Kennedy. His sound changed as did his popularity, but he continued to cut Top Ten hits including "Til I'm Too Old To Die Young" and "Americana."

     Throughout his career so far, Moe Bandy has received a CMA Award, American video Award, four ACM Awards, five Gold Albums, 40 Top Ten Hits and ten Number Ones. And it's not over yet!

THE LEGEND BOUNCES BACK.

      Bandy continues to perform to packed houses at his Moe Bandy Americana Theatre which he opened in 1991 in Branson, MO. More than anything else he loves to perform especially for his countless fans. But his record career is still on fire.

     Recently he hooked up with Dennis Money, producer and president of Sweetsong Nashville, an independent label, and owner of the Evergreen Recording Studio. The two have put together an album, LEGENDARY COUNTRY, which reflects Moe Bandy's honky tonk roots and is very refreshing compared to what Music Row has been offering. The first single off the CD is "Long Shadow," penned by Don Goodman, Johnny Morris, and Pal Rakes, and was released to radio on October 3rd.

     Bandy is very excited about the project, "It was lots of fun working with Dennis, and I can't wait to do it again," he said enthusiastically. Currently the album is available at Ernest Tubb Record Stores or you can get a copy by going to www.moebandy.com on the web. A Three CD Moe Bandy Box Set is also in the works.

      All in all, there are a lot of hits still left in Moe Mandy and it seems like the Money guy is about to make it happen!