L  o  n  e        S  t  a  r        H  i  s  t  o  r  y

As I did last year, I'd like to open this year's introduction with a heartfelt thanks to all of the educators and administrators who invited me into their schools during the 2005-2006 school year to perform for their students.

When I was a student... many, many, many years ago, I recall glossing over Texas history without gaining much of an interest in, or appreciation of, the curriculum.  A few years later I heard Marty Robbins' Ballad Of The Alamo, and began to realize what I had missed.  

We live in an age that author Morris Berman calls "the twilight of American culture".  Our society is driven by an all-encompassing commercialism that places little or no value on intellectual or academic pursuits.  In such an age, it becomes more and more difficult for young people to overcome the "white noise" around them and develop an interest in learning.

A few years ago I released a CD entitled The Eagle & The Snake: Songs Of The Texians.  The CD featured a collection of songs which depicted a chronological journey through the history, culture, and folklore of Texas.  The CD met with critical acclaim and went on to produce a national hit, I've Been Everywhere (In Texas). 

Using my songs as educational material had never occurred to me,  but soon after the release of The Eagle & The Snake: Songs Of The Texians I began hearing reports of educators using my music to augment their Texas history curriculum.

I developed Once Upon A Time In Texas: A Musical Presentation For Students Of Texas History in 2003 and began promoting the program to elementary and intermediate schools throughout Texas.  By the end of the school year I had performed at 70 schools in Texas and one in Germany!  Now at the end of the 2005-2006 school year, that number has jumped to over 400 schools.  I'm proud to say that Once Upon A Time In Texas is the most in-demand school assembly program for Texas schools.

Performing for young people over the past few years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I realize now that if someone had brought a program like this into my school when I was studying Texas history, it would have made all the difference in the world... for me, and for a lot of other students.

I am looking forward to many fun and rewarding performances during the 2006-2007 school year.  I have developed www.lonestarhistory.com to help teachers and administrators understand what my program is all about, and I hope that educators as well as students will find my "History Links" section a comprehensive and useful portal into the world of Texas history online.

I invite everyone to visit my main music web site at www.brianburnsmusic.com to find out about my other recordings, bio and press, news, tour schedule, etc.

I have been lucky to have a career that allows me to travel the great state of Texas, to meet its citizens and students, to visit legendary places from Luckenbach to Goliad, to perform for audiences ranging in age from 8 to 80, and to share our illustrious history through my music.  The history of a people truly is best illuminated through its music.

I look forward to visiting some of our incredible elementary and intermediate schools this year and sharing a few songs and stories with you!

Sincerely,
Brian Burns