Biller and Horton

You know Dave Biller's fantastic guitar work from backing such artists as Dale Watson, Wayne Hancock, Dave Stuckey and the Rhythm Gang,  the Asylum Street Spankers and Deke Dickerson.  He further showcased his abilities on his recording projects The Hot Guitars of Biller and Wakefield on Hightone Records and Travis County Pickin' on HMG, not to mention numerous other recordings and guest appearances.

Bobby Horton, also a gifted veteran of the rockin' music scene, is one half of the Horton Brothers, and has toured extensively with bands such as the Bellfuries, Deke Dickerson, and many others.  Additionally, he has lent his talents to several recordings including Dave Stuckey and the Rhythm Gang's Get A Load of This on HMG, Cave Catt Sammy's Comin' On Strong on Big Bellied Records, and every release from Texas Jamboree (Nick Curran, the Jive Bombers, and Horton's own project, Bobby Horton and Derek Peterson 14 Jaw - Breakin' Hits).

In the early part of 2002, Bobby Horton started writing a few steel guitar instrumentals. It wasn’t long before Dave Leroy Biller became his partner in crime and they worked up an album’s worth of songs. The Biller and Horton idea was pitched around for a couple of months before Vinylux Records stepped up to the plate and struck a deal with the guys.  The end result, texotica, is now available.

"I felt that it was very important for us to write our own songs," says Horton. "There’s no need to rehash ‘Steel Guitar Rag’ or ‘Boot Heel Drag’. Besides, two of my favorite steel albums (Speedy West’s Steel Guitar and Herb Remington’s Steel Guitar Holiday) consisted of well-written, original compositions."

The album is not entirely a steel guitar record. Horton picked up his guitar on a couple of songs with Biller switching over to the electric bass. This record covers a lot of ground while remaining focused on the songs. You can hear shades of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, exotica kingpin Martin Denny, Santo & Johnny, Mickey Baker, Jerry Byrd, Alvino Rey and Les Paul.

Other musicians on the Biller and Horton session include Buck Johnson (drums), Billy Horton (upright bass), Erik Hokkanen (fiddle), and the reclusive T Jarrod Bonta (piano).

texotica was recorded at the recently relocated Fort Horton Studios in Austin, Texas.  Click on the album cover to order it now on our website.

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