Bandy talks about his latest album
Country legend Moe Bandy recently released his new album, Thank You Lord. Delivering a heartfelt project, Bandy recorded 12 heartfelt tracks and features special guests The Isaacs on “Family Bible” and The Oak Ridge Boys with Nora Lee Allen on “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” The title track, written by Mo Pitney, Bobby Tomberlin, and Cheryl Riddle offers a true reflection of where Bandy is in his life today, of which he is thankful for another mile, another day, and a life many could have only dreamed of. The album features tunes from prominent Nashville songwriters including Willie Nelson, Bill Anderson, Hank Williams, and more, and was produced by Michele Voan Capps and sponsored by Gus Arrendale and Springer Mountain Farms.
In addition, The Texas Country Music Association will be presenting the first-ever Moe Bandy Icon Award at the 2023 Texas Country Music Awards on November 12th at Billy Bob’s Texas.
Thank You, Lord is a gospel project that you released earlier this year. Why an album of religious music at this point in your career? What was the inspiration to do this record?
Well, I recorded a couple of gospel albums before. But the main reason is my family. My mother sang gospel music and played piano, not professionally, but she sang and it inspired me. So, I’ve been wanting that record another gospel album. Jimmy Capps and I — Jimmy produced several [of my] albums. This was a dream of ours to cut a gospel album. Well, in the meantime, unfortunately, we lost Jimmy [in 2020], and me and [Jimmy’s widow] Michelle Capps and I went in and cut this gospel record. We kind of dedicated it to Jimmy, too.
The title track, “Thank You, Lord,” Mo Pitney is a co-writer on there. How did that track come to you? And how did you decide to go with that and kind of have it lead off the album as the title track?
Well, we were looking for songs and Moe Pitney and Bobby Tomberlin wrote that — and I recorded some stuff from Bobby Tomlin — and they come with that song, and we just loved it.
You also have collaborations with the Isaacs and the Oak Ridge Boys. Talk about talk about some of those collaborations.
Well, it was just an honor to have them on my record, and they were so nice to come in. And The Isaacs are just incredible. The Oak Ridge Boys have been so good to me on several projects and they came in and just added so much to our album, and I just really appreciate it.
You have an award from the Texas Country Music Association coming up named in your honor. You are the first recipient of the Mo Bandy Icon Award. Talk a little bit about how you found out and what an honor that is for you. I think it’s very well deserved for your legendary career but talk about receiving that in November.
I am very flattered and honored to receive that award. I am very proud to be a Texan and to give me that award just tops it off. There are a lot of great acts that are going to be on that show and going to get awards. And to give me that Icon Award first is such an honor. I’m just very humbled.
Well, you are an icon. You are an icon of country music. You are an icon for Texas. Talk to me a little bit about how being from Texas has influenced your music and the songs that you pick for your records.
Well, I think that Texas has always had kind of a particular sound to the music. Country music and swing music have really been big in Texas for years. And so if you were raised playing music around Texas, you just played that type of music. Some of the greats have come out of Texas, and I am just honored to be a part of this program.
You still have road dates, some with our friend Jeannie Seely, some on your own all around Texas. What keeps you going? What keeps you performing?
Well, I still enjoy it. I love to perform and travel. Believe it or not, after all these years, I’ve been traveling for 50 years. I still enjoy it and hopefully, as long as I can do it well, I’m gonna keep going.
I’m in the Washington, DC area. You got to come back to Virginia. I’ve been wanting to see you. You left Branson right before I ever went there. I know Branson very well, and it was sad that I couldn’t get to see you. But come on up to Virginia. We’d love to have you. There are some beautiful venues here.
I’m gonna make it a point to do that. Yeah, for sure.
So, what’s next? You have the road dates. You have this album. What else is percolating in the back of Moe Band’s brain? You have a book that’s been out for a little bit. What else are you working on?
I have an album in the can that I recorded. I went back and did a lot of the, actually, Texas-type music. I’m looking forward to getting that out there, and that’s gonna be the next project. We got all cut and ready to go. And I did that with Jimmy Capps before he passed, so that was the last album that he did with me.
Also, we have a book that I wrote called Lucky Me. It’s been very successful. I mean the book is one of the best things that I’ve ever done and it’s where shared my life and some of the things that I’ve done over the years. It’s worked out really well.
We also have our own app. Not many people have an app. Now we have a free app, Moe Bandy App. You can get it on your iPhone.
But, we are just staying busy and trying to keep up.
