Glendale Dr. trio plays Sweetwater Grill & Tavern
By Kathy Edwards McFarland
Tuesday, February 19th
Enjoy the musical forces of fiddle-meister Dale Morris, Jr., superb guitarist Glenn McLaughlin, and Drew Phelps (the hardest-working bassist in Texas) play a variety of Gypsy Jazz, Western Swing and Country on Sweetwater’s patio stage, 115 S. Elm St., Tuesday, February 19, from 7-9 pm.
Drew is friend with both Dale and Glenn; having met Glenn “a good ten years ago,” while touring with the Quebe Sisters; and Dale, “about five years” while working with Dave Alexander at the upscale (now closed) Stampede 66.
“We found we had real good chemistry as a trio,” said Drew. “And we wanted to work together again.”
About Dale Morris, Jr.
An award-winning fiddler from the age of six, Dale grew up around the contest circuit influenced by Benny Thomasson, Orville Bums, The Solomons, The Franklins, Joe Venuti, Keith Coleman, Buddy Spicher, Tommy Jackson, and a few others. He attended the Fiddlers’ Frolics for the first time at the age of six and remembers the encouragement given by Cliff and Velda Fryer in his early contest years.
Upon graduation from high school, Dale went to college on a music scholarship and performed with the jazz band at Weatherford College, in Weatherford, Texas. Dale has spent time in Branson, playing with World’s Favorite Hobo, Boxcar Willie, and Marty Stuart and The Hot Hillbilly Band touring the US and Canada.
In 2001, he started touring with country music legend, Ray Price. Thus far his work with Ray has led to numerous television appearances and tours with Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson as part of the Last of The Breed Tour. His music has appeared on motion picture soundtracks, television jingles, and music videos. Dale is a highly sought after studio musician and has recorded with such artists as Charley Pride, Deryl Dodd, John Mayall, Bob Wills Texas Playboys, Ray Price, Marty Stuart, Chuck Rainey, and many others.
About Glenn McLaughlin
Glenn resides in Fort Worth, where he continues his professional freelance music career playing solo performances, fronting his own groups, and joining others such as The Ginny Mac Band (Ginny Mac is his sister!), The Gypsy Playboys, Gypsy Cattle Drive, Johnny Case Trio, Mikki Daniel, Bobby Dade Band, Joe Savage Band.
He has shared stages with the likes of The Texas Playboys, Tommy Allsup, Asleep at the Wheel, Hot Club of Cowtown, Woody Paul (Riders in the Sky), Ricky Turpin, Johnny Gimble, Tommy Morrell, Joey Carter, Brave Combo, Leon Bridges, The Sidekicks, FUMC Big Band, Johnny Mack, Randy Rheinhardt, Stas Vanglevski, Rapidgrass Quintet, Roy Williams, and others.
About Drew Phelps
Bass player Drew Phelps grew up in North Texas — in Denton to be exact. Playing bass guitar while in junior high school, he was turned onto the music of the Allman Brothers and Freddie King. It wasn’t until he entered college that he turned to bass. During the 1980s, he hooked up with veteran modern jazz musicians like James Clay and Nuradeen Fameen. Awarded a scholarship to the School of Fine Arts at the Banff Centre in Canada, he went on to study with modern bass player Dave Holland. Along the way, Phelps has recorded with a variety of groups, playing a variety of musical styles — the Dixie Chicks, Dallas jazz pianist Dave Zoller, and fusionist and hard bopper Ronald Shannon Jackson. He released his debut album Round to It in 2000.
For many years, Drew played bass for The Quebe Sisters Band, whose music was influenced by Americana, Progressive Western Swing, Jazz-influenced Swing, Country, Texas-Style Fiddling, and Western
Denton Jazz Chronicles 