God's Country by Nashville Fats

Originally, Fats penned a song about being armed with a gun, but Steve

diplomatically suggested the "arming" be changed to "the Word of God"!!

Fats liked Steve's idea that being "armed with the Word of God" is dangerous to the devil. They rewrote this song together, and it soon became one of Fats' most popular tunes. "Armed and Dangerous" will also be on "Grace" Steve's soon to be released third CD. Watch for it on cdbaby.com

"There's a blues band down in Old Town, trying to conjure up some kind of crowd, but you couldn't hear one single note they were playing, 'cause the silence was so loud." These lyrics from "His Shadow Never Turns" CD are some of Fats' most personal. He never forgot what it felt like to play in an empty bar to "the tables and chairs."

If you are a fan of Country harmonica, be sure to listen to Nashville Fats' beautiful, haunting version of the traditional instrumental "Shenandoah."

Fats spent many hot summer sountern evenings on the front porch with his pickin' buddy and neighbor Daniel Putnam Green, strumming the guitar, writing songs, playing chess and studying the Bible. Occasionally they would go inside to watch "The Real Macoys." One night they heard Grandaddy Macoy say he "was takin' a shine

to" something. The phrase caught their attention so they returned to the porch with their guitars to write "Taking a Shine to Jesus."

"He's Knockin' On Your Door" is a good old-fashioned dance song. Ever waltz to a gospel song? Try it, it's fun!

Performing on the Christian coffeehouse circuit gave Fats

a lot of joy and "Gospel Boogie" was his acknowledgement

of that slice of his life.

Fats would often warm up his fingers before a gig by playing "Lieberstraum" by Franz Liszt. He enjoyed playing the song so much he recorded it. His recorded version has a light country lilt.

The "She was a tall and proud old woman" verse of "Pray for America" was originally written for his young daughter Ruby when she was learning about the Statue of Liberty in elementary school. Years later, while visiting friends and family in Oregon, the other verses were added. A friend was about to lose his farm, his brother-in-law was having a hard time with his lumber business, and an always hard-working but unemployed cousin couldn't find a job. "Pray for America" was his way of showing the admiration and compassion he felt for them and their situation.

The Country Blues tune, "Call on Jesus," is a tribute to

old-timey country blues gospel songs.

"Balaam's Donkey" is perhaps Fats' most important Country song. The line, "If the good Lord can use ol' Balaam's

donkey, he can sure use an ass like me" was Fats' motto, and most often delivered message. God can (and will) use anyone!

"Greensleeves" was included on this CD because it was the

oldest song Fats knew, and he believed that for a song to have the staying power of so many centuries, it must be a pretty good song. Who was he to argue with history?

Fats was often asked why he combined Babe Ruth, Marie Antoinette, Billy the Kid, and Cesar Chavez all into "That's How It Is." A humid June day in Austin, Texas, spent in a cool hotel room watching The History Channel, was his inspiration for this eclectic song.

The Peter Thorpe Memorial Fund (PTMF) is making "God's Country" available to the public to keep the music and extraordinary legacy of "Nashville Fats" (Peter Thorpe) alive. Listen to the samples of these songs and know that your purchase of this CD will help the Peter Thorpe Memorial Fund help others.

Just released on cdbaby.com "BLUE TRAIN"

Go to cdbaby.com/ptmf

Twelve songs by twelve exceptional artists.

http://www.ptmf.org/bluetrain May '04

Now available at cdbaby.com "NOTHING BUT THE BLUES"

11. A compilation of 11 of Fats blues tunes. Ocotber '05

"LIEBERSTRAUM" (by Franz Liszt) and "ARMED AND DANGEROUS"

(by Fats and Steve Rupe). Recieved the most digital plays

this reporting period (May'05-August'05).

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