Ronnie Furr: News

Ronnie Furr: Genuine Okie
By Gabby Cardin
He stands on the stage, guitar dangling from a strap around his neck, and a signature red and white bandana hanging almost abscenely from his back pocket. His tight jeans and long sleeved, pearlbutton western shirt have creases sharp enough to make a ginsu knife jealous. The white cowboy hat is vying for attention with his smiling equally-white teeth. The long, lean cowboy has the polished look of George Strait seasoned with a pinch of Alan Jackson and just a smidgeon of Jimmy Buffet for good luck. Not only does he play that guitar, he plays the crowd like a fine violin--or in this case, a fine fiddle. The crowd wants to dance; the cowboy obliges. That long, lean cowboy calls himself Ronnie Furr and is one of the most successful entertainers in the Valley.
Ronnie and wife, Terri, live in a 35-foot 2006 Hitchiker fifth wheel, parked at a McAllen RV resort. He spends most of the winter season in Rio Grande Valley patrolling the roads between Brownsville and Mission with the vigilance of a Texas lawman. Be it a honkytonk, flea market or a RV resort, if there is a stage big enough to hold his gear, he has probably played it. And if he has played it, there is a good chance he brought quite a crowd with him.
That becomes quite a blessing when an activities director is trying to book an act. When you book Ronnie for a gig, you get him, his wife Terri, and at least 40 people who are willing to put down $4 to dance to his music. And the 40 people will change from gig to gig.
"That's why you book Ronnie Furr--he's sure money," one activities director was quick to say. You've heard of the parrotheads, deadheads and trekkies, Ronnie's Rowdy Roadies is what they like to be called.
Another piece to this puzzle is his little lady. Terri, Ronnie's bride since 2003, is a staple at any Furr engagement. She might be dancing with a WWII veteran, showing an anxious group of young ladies a new line-dance, or hawking tickets for their next soiree. Terri is a woman of many talents. Not only does she do justice to a pair of jeans, she also handles his bookings, public relations and even, on occasion, sings a duet with her husband.
The Valley is replete with good musicians. Ninety percent of them are country-western entertainers. They are in direct competition with Ronnie Furr. But the vast majority of them are also retirees from other occupations.
The Furrs have no retirement or social security check coming in the mail. Of course, that's because they are not old enough to retire. Ronnie's music is their single source of income. Keep in mind that entertainers in the Valley generally receive 80 percent of the ticket sales. But 80 percent of nothing does not put much food on your plate. But fortunately for the Furrs, the lack of a crowd is no longer one of their problems. One jealous musician just shook his head and muttered, "they can't get enough of that Ronnie Furr."
Make no mistake about it, Ronnie Furr can sing a song. Also, don't mistake Terri Furr for just another pretty face in the crowd. They compliment each other nicely. Ronnie can concentrate on singing, writing and otherwise entertaining his devoted fans. Terri does her job by making sure the crowd is involved in all his shows whatever it takes. The same is true of the business side of his career. She makes sure the calendar is up to date. His website is her domain and she rules over it with a silken hand. She collects the cash, sells the CDs and makes sure everyone gets the right size T-shirt. Probably even puts gas in the pickup.
What lies down the road for the Furrs? Would they like to take another shot at the big time? Nashville is 500 miles from Ronnie's hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma. That's only a 10 hour drive. When the wind blows out of the east, you can almost smell the "sharps and flats" as they float toward the heavens. The allure is powerful. And it is going to win. Their pickup will pull their fifth wheel eastbound on Interstate 40 again.
As for now, Ronnie is satisfied with playing his songs in the Rio Grande Valley. He's proud of the music that he's written. He's proud of the music that he sings. He's proud of Ronnie's Rowdy Roadies. He's proud of his bride. For the next few weeks, he'll continue to climb up the stairs of endless stages in the Valley. That long, lean cowboy will be on the stage, guitar and bandana, both hanging from somewhere. His success comes from what he is. Genuine Ronnie Furr--just a good old boy from Oklahoma.

Tulsa artist plays at home before giving Nashville one more shot
Ronnie Furr's hoping that the fourth time's the charm.
The singer-songwriter and 2004 Spot Music Awards finalist has lived in Tulsa all his life, but, like many country artist, he has also made some forays into Nashville.
"I went out three times, and the longest time I stayed was four or five months, when I got a job in construction down there," he recalled recently.
This time, however, he says it's for good. And part of the reason is that, for the first time, he not taking on Music City by him self.
"I've been wanting to make it in the music business for years, but I just didn't know a lot about the business end of it," he said. "I was taking all my time writing the music. And then, when I meet Terri, she said she would take care of the business part."
He and his wife, Terri, meet a little more than two years ago. An advertising sales representative with the Tulsa World at the time, she started booking Furr as a side project.
"I was with him just about everyday," she recalled. "I fell in love with him, and I said, 'lets do this thing together.' "
Now, both have quit their day jobs in Tulsa, and they will be heading out to Nashville at the end of the month, after Furr plays two local engagements. One is set for Bixbys Green Corn Festival on Saturday from 2:30 until 4p.m. - his third appearance at the annual event-and the other for the West of the Arkansas River Reunion at American Legion Post No. 1 in Tulsa, where he's scheduled to play from 6 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Then, they're off in their fifth-wheel vehicle, which Terri said "will be our full-time home."
"When I was down there the last time, seven or eight years ago, it was just after I'd made my first 10 song cassette," Furr said. "I was pretty proud of it. I'd let people hear it in laundromats, libraries, health clubs. People would hear one song and want to buy a copy without me even asking. So that kind of boosted my ego. I thought I had a product.
"I got in to see several people in Nashville, and I remember one major label-I think it was Giant- where the A&R lady brought in a music publisher to hear my songs," he added. "It happened so quickly, I didn't even get the fellow's name, but they listened, and they didn't seem very impressed. That was a letdown, and it kind of hurt my feelings."
This time, though, he is more than ready to put his feelings on the line and take another run at Music Row.
"Terri doesn't take no for an answer, and I guess I do," he said. "With her I'm ready to try again. It's so much easier for somebody to promote you than for you to promote yourself."
Furr is scheduled to come back to Tulsa for a few days in September, for a series of shows and the Tulsa State Fair. He has also got dozens of bookings in Texas, where he has become a popular act at RV Parks. In between the live gigs, he and Terri will be hard at work in Nashville, taking one more shot at getting Furr and his music to the next level.
"I think we've got two different ways we can go," he said. "Either a major artist will do one of our songs, or someone might take me as an artist, and promote and distribute my music." He grinned. "I'd rather have the second thing happen than the first, but I'll take either."

Ronnie and his wife Terri are on the way to Nashville. They have consolidated to living in a 5th Wheel trailer and will be touring the country. Starting in July their first stop will be Pine Island to have a farewell party with their family and friends. This will be over the July 4th holiday weekend. Ronnie will be performing on Saturday July 2nd at 7pm. Then their plans are to live in Nashville for the remaining year 2005. In December the Furr's will be on the road to South Padre Island where their tour of the Valley will be. There they will stay through the month of March. Keep watching for them to come to your neck of the woods. If you would like to contact them please send an email. They would love to hear from you.

Friday, December 10

Local boy Ronnie Furr has been singing country music for most of his life. If you haven’t caught him in concert yet, he’s staging his very own Christmas show tonight at Bob’s, Cain’s Second Stage, 423 N. Main. Doors open at 7pm.

Area United way
volunteer leaders announce
2004 CAMPAIGN A SUCCESS
The Tulsa Area United Way celebrated the official end of its 2004 campaign Thursday, Nov. 11 with the announcement that it is projecting it will meet and perhaps slightly surpass the campaign’s goal by raising $20.8 million.
“The leadership team of the campaign is projecting $20,801,888 million for the final number,” said Terry Carter, 2004 Campaign Chair and Sr. Vice President and CFO of QuikTrip, Corp. “We still have many companies running campaigns plus there are companies and individuals who have just today asked to be included. Based on that commitment and enthusiasm, the Campaign Cabinet and I believe this $20.8 million is a good number.”
Carter said this was a challenging campaign given the economy and all that a recovering economy brings.
“Even as we speak we have companies still running campaigns,” said Carter. “The enthusiasm of companies and the public has been overwhelming. This is truly a community-wide campaign – each and every donation has made a difference.”
“To achieve this success in such challenging times is truly heroic and a real tribute to the people in our community,” said Kathleen J. Coan, President and CEO of the Tulsa Area United Way. “The real winners tonight are our 68 member agencies who are struggling to provide needed services in a time of decreased funding from all sources.”
Along with Carter, Coan stressed that the number announced tonight includes projections on campaigns that are still in progress and that pledges will continue to be taken through the end of the year. People can still support the United Way financially by calling 583-7171 or by pledging online at www.tauw.org.
“This campaign reflects the confidence that people have in the United Way to meet the health and human service needs of our community,” Coan said. “Every individual and every company that has been a part of this journey can take pride in the positive difference they are making in many peoples’ lives.”
The campaign announcement was made at the annual final report program held at the Exchange Center at Expo Square. Along with the campaign report announcements, those attending enjoyed a dinner show featuring entertainers donating their talents for the enjoyment of the United Way volunteers. These include world-renowned pianist Larry Dalton, fiddler Jeff Smith and vocalists Ronnie Furr, Bradd Gillespie, Chuck King, Lisa Stefanic and Dr. G. Barry Epperley. All were accompanied by the Tulsa Community College Signature Big Band directed by Epperley.
Founded in 1924, the Tulsa Area United Way is the largest non-government funder of health and human services in the Tulsa area. The upcoming campaign will allow the Tulsa Area United Way to fund local programs offered by its 68 member agencies. The Tulsa Area United Way receives support and provides help in Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Rogers, Tulsa and Wagoner counties.

By John Wooley - World Scene Writer

It doesn't matter what day-or even what time-you head out to the Tulsa State Fair this year. If you want to see country singer-songwriter-guitarist Ronnie Furr perform, he's there for you.
Furr begins appearing in the New Stockyard Arena at noon Thursday-that's today-with at least three more shows there each day of the fair. From Thursday October 7th, he'll also be running over to the Grace Health Pavilion at the Expo Building Center for 3:30 and 5:30pm appearances.
Furr was typically understated when he talked about his up coming marathon.
"Well," he said with a grin, "for starters, we think this'll give us more name recognition."
That's what he is looking for these days, along with a touring gig, a recording contract and, maybe, a band.
Although he plays a guitar and sings to preprogrammed musical tracks now, he's no stranger to a band situation. Back in the late '70's and the early '80's, Furr was in a number of groups, including Clear Creek, one of the acts-along with the likes of Charlie Scott and Ronnie Dunn-that regularly played at Tulsa's giant cowboy dance hall, Duke's Country. After Clear Creek and a couple of other groups fell apart, Furr left the live arena to concentrate on song writing, and for the next decade he worked on his music only in the studio.
"Eventually, you know, it was time to get out there and start doing it," he said. "It was time to get back to performing. It was time to get serious about getting my own music out. That's how all of this got started."
Furr laid down bass and drum tracks for his songs, getting other Tulsa musicains-including his steel-guitarist father-to go in and play the other parts he needed. Then, armed with a guitar and the completed backing tapes, he started looking around for the right venues.
"I thought, 'where are people not playing, some place where I could get in?'" he recalled. "They weren't playing at flea markets, they weren't playing at senior-citizen homes, so those are the places where I started. I played any place I could get."
That's also how he began doing other peoples songs again, just as he had in his band days.
"I wanted people to hear my originals, but when I played, they would come up and ask me if I knew any George Strait," he noted. "At the beginning, I couldn't play any, but I went out and found the tracks and added those kinds of songs to support my originals."
These days, a Furr performance features one original every two or three numbers.
"A lot of the (cover) songs I do aren't really heard that much," he pointed out. "I pick songs I like-' I Just Can't Get Her Out of My Mind' by Johnny Rodriguez, or 'Sawmill Road' by Diamond Rio, which didn't get much air play when it came out. I do songs like those, and people come up and tell me 'That's Great. I haven't heard that in a long time.'"
These days, Furr is booked by his wife, Terri, and the venues he played at the beginning of his solo career have given away to restaurant and club gigs.
On October 13th, for instance, he'll start playing Redneck Country every other week with fellow singer Alan Pitts; he also plays every Tuesday at Cafe USA in Sapulpa, often packing the room. He and Terri recently began with the legendary impresario Jim Halsey, getting advise on how to best accomplish their goals.
"A lot of people have told me I don't need a band, but my goal is to go to Nashville and get a good band together, while she is learning about booking the bigger places," Furr said.
"At this point, Ronnie's ready to go on tour," Terri Furr Added. "He's seasoned. He's ready to get out in front of thousands of people and make himself heard."
He's liable to see those thousands, too-albeit as an accumulation rather than in one big show-between now and October 10th, when the gates close on this year's Tulsa State Fair.