Biography

Texas-based Dick LeMasters’ Roots/Americana/Blues album “One Bird, Two Stones” is receiving airplay and excellent reviews from around the world, following its December 1, 2014, release:

One Bird, Two Stones is a solid album that would snuggle nicely beside the likes of Ray Wylie Hubbard with a raw-boned electric edge to many of the songs … Paul Kerr, Blabber’n’Smoke, Scotland

One Bird, Two Stones, hits all the right bases. These songs have a solid Texas vibe and can hold their own … Calvin Powers, Americana Music Show

Dick LeMasters has put together a fantastic album and can be immensely proud. I certainly look forward to hearing more and more from a very talented musician! Tony Fitton, Blues in the Nite, England

Reminiscent of ZZ Top in its best moments of wandering blues-rock beauty, [LeMasters’ song Big Ol’ Buick] is the ideal vehicle for Texas rock guitar. LeMasters is also an excellent singer and songwriter – something the remaining ten songs on the album abundantly prove. Ctrl.Alt.Country, Belgium (Translated)

[T]here isn't any weak moment in this album. LeMasters belongs to the kind of demanding songwriters who only include a track in an album if they are totally satisfied with it. Sam Pierre, Le Cri du Coyote, France

[LeMasters’] electric guitar solos are excellent, he makes the guitar cry, scream, moan … it brings great energy and a certain urgency – to get [his] stories across. Johanna Bodde, Insurgent Country, The Netherlands

Dick LeMasters is not only and primarily a guitar rocker, but also a great songwriter. Eric Schuurmans, Rootstime.be, Belgium (Translated)

The[se] eleven … very nice … songs are partly framed by catchy blues-rock riffs, partly by a gentle troubadour-like approach…. Huub Thomassen, Real Roots Café, The Netherlands (Translated)

The playing is always highly skilled, the vocals are evocative and at times the guitar work is virtuosic, with the songs varying from slow atmospheric blues or country ballads to some incredibly fiery rock, all underpinned by that signature lead guitar sound. Mike Morrison, Americanrootsuk, England

-- Included in the Top 40 Albums of 2014 by the Americana Music Show

-- Named in the Individual 2014 Top 10 Albums lists of Euro Americana Chart Reporters Johanna Bodde and Martin van der Laan

-- Recognized in the “Tips” Section of the December, 2014, Euro Americana Chart

-- Included in the Independent Blues Broadcasters Association’s November, 2014, Top 50 Chart

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Main website: www.DickLeMastersMusic.com | www.facebook.com/dlemasters | www.reverbnation.com/dicklemasters l www.longneckroad.com
Dick LeMasters | 409-880-6159 | DLeMasters@DickLeMastersMusic.com


Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas, are refinery towns. On January 10, 1901, the Lucas Gusher blew in just south of Beaumont, destining the area to become a petrochemical hub. Over the next several decades countless thousands of workers flocked to the area, creating a cultural melting pot. These people from diverse cultures and backgrounds all brought their music with them.

Located on the eastern border of Texas, adjacent to Louisiana, the styles of music thrown together in Beaumont included Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, Swing, Country, Jazz, and Rock-n-Roll. The Beaumont-Port Arthur area spawned a vibrant and active live music scene, especially during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Some of the better-known artists to hail from the area include Janis Joplin, Edgar and Johnny Winter, The Big Bopper, and George Jones. Billy Gibbons and ZZ Top played their very first show as a band at the Elks Lodge in Beaumont. The area truly has a rich musical history.

Dick LeMasters was born and raised in Beaumont. Although a generation younger than many of the musicians noted above, LeMasters shared many common experiences with them. Some of the coincidences are striking. The Winter family lived in the same neighborhood as the LeMasters family, LeMasters’ father and the Winter Brothers’ father served together in the Army Reserves in Beaumont, and LeMasters’ mother and aunt both taught Edgar and Johnny in junior high school. Dick LeMasters attended high school with The Big Bopper’s son, Jay Richardson.

LeMasters played the piano as a child and excelled on the baritone saxophone in the high school jazz band. But playing rock music on the guitar was always a goal. Starting with a pawn shop bass guitar in the 9th grade, he taught himself to play bass and then guitar by looking at the pictures of chords in music books.

During his teenage years in the 1970’s, Dick LeMasters gravitated to what was at the time known as “Progressive Country” music. This movement, which had its start in nearby Austin, Texas, combined the rural feel of country music with the instrumentation and more relaxed attitude of rock and folk music. Jerry Jeff Walker, Townes Van Zandt, and Guy Clark were favorites of LeMasters, along with more rock-oriented Texas songwriters such as Joe Ely.

Dick LeMasters began writing songs while in high school – but he says you won’t be hearing any of those early efforts. And, despite playing off and on in bands over the next few decades, LeMasters does not regret waiting until his 40’s to seriously delve into songwriting and performing. “I think my life experiences are my strongest asset as a songwriter,” he noted.

As a singer, LeMasters credits a move from loud, electric bands to acoustic performances with improving his singing ability. “Being able to actually hear yourself sing is huge when it comes to singing the right notes.” he quipped.

A father of four (all of whom are currently in college, which is a reason you really should purchase his CD … maybe even buy two!), the inspiration to take a serious foray into music came after LeMasters “coached” three of his children for a performance at a school talent show. “I figured if I could teach a band of 4th and 5th graders to play a very good version of “Born Under A Bad Sign,” I could put together my own band of adults,” he stated.

Once LeMasters got serious about a second career in music, things began to move quickly. A duo with acoustic musician Keith Rodgers led to LeMasters forming the band Longneck Road. LeMasters’ original song “The Way You Walk,” which appears on the band’s debut CD, Texas Rock, skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Radio Free Texas site and held the No.1 position for weeks.

As the principal songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for Longneck Road, LeMasters achieved quick and significant success, opening shows for Chuck Berry, The Charlie Daniels Band, Ronnie Milsap, John Anderson, Joe Nichols, Craig Morgan. Paul Thorn, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, and others. Longneck Road continues to perform as a three-piece band, and is comprised of Ron Arceneaux on bass, Adam King on drums, and LeMasters on guitar and vocals.

One event at which Longneck Road has performed is an annual Janis Joplin Birthday Bash held in Port Arthur, Texas. During the recording of his current album, “One Bird, Two Stones,” LeMasters learned from Port Arthur studio owner and recording engineer Floyd Badeaux that Janis Joplin had recorded with Badeaux in the very same room while she was a high school student. More synchronicity.

In addition to performing with Longneck Road, LeMasters performs across Texas with duo partner Douglas Greer. The duo is planning a European tour for 2015. Douglas Greer’s album “Just A Man” reached No. 1 on the Euro Americana chart in 2006. The duo performs both LeMasters’ and Greer’s original songs in addition to classic rock and country music.

LeMasters devotes a considerable amount of time to songwriting and makes frequent trips to Nashville where he performs at writers’ nights and other showcase venues. He has performed at the Commodore Grill and The Listening Room in Nashville, among others. LeMasters also performs quarterly at a Texas Songwriters’ Café event and has performed at Nashville Songwriters Association International songwriting events in Houston, Texas, and at Austin Songwriters Group events in Austin.

Although LeMasters believes that his songwriting for other genres helps with his Americana/Roots songwriting, he notes a distinct difference between writing for Nashville and writing for himself. “Douglas Greer often has to remind me that I am just as ‘qualified’ as some Nashville publisher or song evaluator to know what is a good song and that sometimes I need to just go with my gut feeling and write a song the way it feels right to me,” he commented.

The eleven songs chosen for the “One Bird, Two Stones” album highlight LeMasters’ strengths as a songwriter. From songs of lost love to story-telling songs using characters to paint a picture, to sing-along anthems, Dick LeMasters has crafted a powerful album.

The album features LeMasters himself on rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass guitar and vocals. Douglas Greer adds background vocals, and Longneck Road member Adam King plays drums and also contributes background vocals. Harp man and renowned tube amp designer and builder Dan Moser adds harmonica parts on the songs “Three Fifty Seven” and “Held On Too Long”.

The folks in Texas know how to work - whether it’s pulling a long shift down at the refinery or staying up all night finishing a song. You can definitely hear that oil town work ethic on Dick LeMasters’ album “One Bird, Two Stones”.