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Polk Shelton |
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The first song Polk learned was Rick Nelson's "Lonesome Town". His first group included friends Minor Wilson and Gordon Fowler. Minor and Gordon played 50's Telecasters. Polk and Jim Chapman joined in to sing "It's So Easy To Fall In Love", by Buddy Holly, at an Austin High School (now ACC Rio Grande Campus) in 1957. Minor and Gordon are still good friends and get together to pick. |
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Polk
left Austin High School his senior year for reasons that will be left to
your imagination. His Dad enrolled him in Kemper Military School in
Boonville, Missouri. Polk took a cherry Gibson Les Paul Jr. guitar and
small Gibson Amp with him. Polk had lots of empty weekend evenings to
listen to records and practice chord exercises from the Mickey Baker Jazz
Guitar Book One. Polk has specialized in rhythm guitar, content to strum
accompaniment for himself or another vocalist instead of competing for the
hottest, fastest licks. |
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Polk returned to Austin in 1961, enrolled in U.T., and started working on a BBA. He joined and fronted several Austin bands including The Silvertones and The Nite Lites from then until he graduated in 1965. The bands played such Austin venues as Lake Austin Inn, The Jade Room, The New Orleans Club, The Pier, The Waterfront, Soap Creek and private parties. Polk was alternating Friday and Saturday at The New Orleans Club with Rocky Erickson and The 13th Floor Elevators for awhile. |
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Polk went to St. Mary's Law School 1965 - 1970 and continued to work as a musician with The Jim Richards Trio in San Antonio. His repertoire was Rock and Blues in Austin. He added Country, Jazz, Show Tunes, Pop, and stand up comedy routines in San Antonio Area Clubs, Military Bases, and The Pearl Pavilion at Hemisfair World Fair. Additional venues included The John T. Flores Country Store in Helotes, Adolph's Store on Lake Medina, The Scotchman Club, Circus Club, The Cantina, and The White Room. Polk stepped back from performing music and put on his lawyer hat in 1970. |
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However,
after a long sabbatical from his muse,
he formed The Polk Shelton Band and played The Saxon Pub twice a
month from around 1996 - 2000. He also played a monthly single at The
Feedmill in Johnson City during 2002. He currently co-hosts an Open Mic on
behalf of the Austin Songwriter’s Group,
at BB Rovers on Old Jollyville Road the 2nd Sunday of each month
with Billy Goertz. |
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Polk
has been the featured singer / songwriter on two videos: |
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Exploring Entertainment
(1998) |
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_ Front Porch Music (2000) produced by B.J. Gober. |
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Both performances have aired on Austin Access TV in the past and the
latest one-hour show continues to be programmed in 2006.
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Member,
Past President, Board Member:
Austin Songwriters Group (ASG) 1994 - 2006.
(www.austinsongwritersgroup.org) |
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Records:
Askel, San Angelo, TX, Polk Shelton & The Front, Produced by Ron
Newdoll, Accurate Sound Sound Co.; Sabre, San Antonio, TX (Doug Sahm old
label) 6 record sides co-produced Johnny Henderson & Marvin
Montgomery, Sumet Sound Studios Dallas. |
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Contests:
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Finalist Country Song
Contest Kerrville (1975) predecessor to Kerrville Folk Festival. Rod
Kennedy called it The Country and Western Jamboree at the time. Two
songs he had recorded with Sabre, “Writing On The Wall” and “Just
Between The Setting Sun and Daybreak”
were finalists. Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings were among the judges.
Bill Campbell backed Polk on lead guitar.
Polk says, “Didn't win, but I sure had a good time!.” |
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_ Winner, ASG Song Competition, Jazz / Instrumental, "Path of Light" (1998) |
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