Traditional West Texas fiddle tunes with a couple of great originals from Joe. Joe is a fourth generation fiddler from McAdoo, Texas. 1968 Texas State Fiddle Champion (at age 16) and 1976 Winner of the Super Picker Award from the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences.
CREDITS
Moonlight on the Colorado: Joe Stephenson
Produced and engineered by Lanny Fiel
Thanks to Mark Murray and Studio C
Joe Stephenson: fiddle, mandolin, flattop, electric and rhythm guitars, bass, and vocals
Lanny Fiel: rhythm guitars and piano
Rick Martinez: harmony vocal on “Farther Along”
Donna Stephenson: bass on “Wonderin’”
All songs by Joe Stephenson
Gindust Music (BMI) unless otherwise noted.
Recorded in Lubbock, Texas, October 1987
(Except “Wonderin’” and “Orange Blossom Special” recorded October 1990.)
Original Album Release:
Adobe Records
A subsidiary of Adobe, Inc.
P.O. Box W
Shallowater, Texas 79363
© ℗ Adobe Records 1991
Copyright assigned to Gindust Music (BMI) 2021
Special thanks and acknowledgement to Tom Woodruff whose contribution made possible this recording as well as the entire Ranch Dance project.
LINER NOTES
Joe Stephenson is the fourth-generation fiddler in the Stephenson line. His folks’ farm near the West Texas town of McAdoo hosted many fine musicians, among them Texas-fiddle greats Benny Thomasson and James “Texas Shorty” Chancellor. Joe’s fiddle style came early to bear the stamp of these founders of Texas fiddle, and in 1968 at the age of sixteen he was Texas State Fiddle Champion.
Joe spent time in Nashville for awhile. (You might have seen him on Hee Haw or Austin City Limits or later in Golden Colorado fiddlin’ at the Lazy H Chuckwagon.) But today and everyday you’ll find him in Colorado Springs, Colorado doing The Lord’s work with The Colorado Cowboys for Jesus.
The tunes on this album represent his dad’s legacy.
They belong to the Texas branch of the Southern tradition and have been polished by several generations of fiddle masters into gems of the region’s style. Joe’s renditions bespeak West Texas, yet transcend region: His surprising talent releases the universal, enduring qualities of these tunes.
Joe dedicates this album to his dad, Nathan Stephenson, and to his family.
