by Wayland D. Clark
The International Western Music Association (IWMA) honored Hot Texas Swing Band as a winner and nominee during the awards ceremony hosted in Albuquerque, NM. The band won the 2021 Cowboy/Western Swing Album of the Year for its latest album Devil on My Tail and was nominated for 2021 Duo or Group of the Year. The album hit #1 on Western Way’s Cowboy/Western Album chart and #2 on the Western Swing Album chart. Two of the band’s previous albums, Ain’t Dead Yet and Off the Beaten Trail, both reached #1 on the Western Swing Album chart.
Bandleader and bassist Alex Dormont of Hot Texas Swing Band (HTSB) said the band was thrilled and honored to receive the award. “We’re very proud of Devil on My Tail and our original music we created together during the challenging times musicians faced over the last couple years.”
The latest record features seven original songs by Dormont and one by guitarist Rick McRae and other cuts including songs by Johnny Gimble, Howard Vincent and Enno Morricone and was recorded in Dripping Springs at The Zone Recording Studio and is engineered by Pat Manske. “Thanks to IWMA DJs around the world for the airplay. We’re grateful for their support of Western Swing Artists and for all the musicians keeping our long and vibrant musical tradition alive and thriving.”
Dormont, a long time resident of Dripping Springs, has recently been living the life of some of his previous albums and songs, such as the albums Off the Beaten Trail and Ain’t Dead Yet, and its title track of the same name. In July he got off the beaten trail when a brain tumor, removed in 2013, grew back to a size causing a seizure and collapse at a local show at Hill Country Senior Activity Center. Hospitalized for weeks after two surgeries, one to remove the benign tumor and another to cover part of the skull, the formerly active life-long musician was bound to a wheelchair and has had to relearn how to walk. On several calls made to the hospital after getting out of ICU Dormont would answer his cell phone, “Ain’t Dead Yet” and often played a ukulele and sang to callers, hospital nurses and staff. On one occasion the caller asked, “Can people in the hospital hear you playing and singing?” Dormont’s reply, “I hope so.”
Approaching the age of 68, Dormont is slowly but steadily getting back on “the beaten trail.” The music has his fans waltzing and two-stepping, but faith, his wife Grace, family, friends, fans, a lot of determination and his love of music has kept Dormont moving forward by taking one day and step at a time. “There haven’t been any big leaps or great strides to write about,” he posted in a recent email, “just slow but steady steps of progress as I get back on my feet more and more every day.” Dormont has been making musical progress too. The band played at Luckenbach Dance Hall recently for three and a half hours and it was the first time he’d worn a cowboy hat since surgery. And he’s finished six new songs and writing more that will be on a new HTSB album to be recorded when he’s ready, hopefully next year.
Hot Texas Swing Band’s performers top the list in a collection of select musicians out of Austin’s live music scene such as McRae, Cat Clemons, JD Pendley, Selena Rosanbalm, Liz Morphis, Ryan Neuhauer, Billy Curtis, Steven Vague, Joey Colarussio and with Dormont’s songwriting they combine to tip their hats to western swing, honoring past traditions of artists like Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel, while intensely applying rockabilly, Latin beats and original material pleasing fans and critics with energetic live shows and recordings. Indeed, “Ain’t dead yet.”
Playing for almost a decade, there have been a dozen or so other accolades and awards for HTSB. Find out more about Hot Texas Swing Band, the awards, performers, up coming gigs and their music at hottexasswingband.com.
