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Big Al Bettis
Blues / Country / Rock



HOUSTON, Texas
United States

Profile Views:  5084




Last Login:  7/22/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Big Al Bettis

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/bigalbettis  

   Big Al Bettis: General Info
Member Since10/16/2007
Band Websitebigalbettis.com
Band MembersThe Veri Teri Greene - Guitar Dr. Rock Romano - Bass - The BIG ALBUM sessions: Houston: Rock, Teri, James Rose (drums), Carolyn Wonderland (vocals), Travis Too Tall Bettis (guitar); engineered by Rock Romano at Rock's Red Shack Recording Studio; Nashville: Josh VanValkenberg (drums), Pete Sternberg (bass), Travis; engineered by Don Sullivan, Streeterville Studio
Sounds Like
Record LabelBig Al Records
Type of LabelIndie





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 4 2008 8:00P
Luling BBQ & Bar - JULY 4th PARTY ON THE UPPER DECK - FREEDOM FEST FIREWORKS Houston, Texas

Big Al Bettis's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

SEE VIDEO!!! Art Car Klub New Years Eve 2008 Dance of the Firecracker Hats  (view more)

The BIG ALbum Release  (view more)

[View All Blog Entries]

   About Big Al Bettis
Visit The Official Website of Big Al Bettis
Big Al is a veteran of over thirty years experience in R&B, rock, blues, country and bluegrass. His music and guitar style blends these traditions, honed in clubs, concerts and jams from coast to coast and steeped in the traditions of Austin and Houston, Texas: big, loud, hot licks, soulful and toneful.


He has shared the stage with some of the best in the business and recently was named as one of the Guitarzillas (12 best in Houston) to perform live on KPFT’s Smokin Joe’s Roadouse Show.


As Al tells it, “My brother’s Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley records blew my mind when I was five years old; I didn’t know what that feeling was, but I wanted more of it, and it was rock & roll. Chuck Berry is on Top is the greatest rock & roll record ever made, period. I grew up listening to the soul stations at the far right hand side of the a.m. radio dial, in Houston, James Brown, Wolfman Jack out of Mexico. At the family ranch in West Texas you could pick up the Grand Old Opry and country truck driver stations late at night. My cousins in Fort Worth had a great collection of the original Sun and RCA rockabilly records. I saw James Brown and the Beatles for $5 in the Sam Houston Coliseum.”


Big Al’s early influences were the Memphis Stax soul goups, the Boogie Kings from Louisiana, the British invasion and surf instrumentals. His first paying gig at 12 was with the Malibus, opening for Billy Gibbon’s band the Coachmen (pre-Moving Sidewalks and ZZ) at a church carnival. “Then we got our driver’s licenses at 14. My three years of Flamenco guitar lessons were out the window and I was cranking it up at the Jr. High dances and parties out in the sticks.”


In Virginia he teamed up with fellow Texan Tom Faulkner. They wrecked their grade point averages rocking up and down the east coast and southern frat parties on the weekends. There Big Al developed a deep love of bluegrass as well as Marshall Amplifiers. “There was this ageless guy named Freddie Goodhart who would smoke his pipe and play banjo; he played with Mac Wiseman back in the day and taught me all the old tunes.”


Bettis moved to Austin and took up with a progressive country band, becoming friends with members of Willie Nelson and Rusty Weir’s bands and opening for David Alan Coe, Doug Sahm and others. He picked up the pedal steel guitar and reunited with Faulkner in a popular regional band, the Coconuts.


Big Al was part of the Austin scene during the heyday of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. On Mondays the Thunderbirds were playing Rome Inn and you could see Stevie Vaughan for $1 cover on week nights. Sixth Street was just getting started. “I joined a rocking and soulful band, Mother of Pearl, with a great singer and writer, Ernie Gammage; we had a style called ‘Guacalypso,’ garnered some critic’s choice awards and played the Armadillo World Headquarters.” Bettis became a member of the Austin All Stars, a revolving group of the established players.


“On any given Sunday or Monday with the All Stars you might jam with Eric Johnson, Van Wilks, Al Kooper, Stevie, Double Trouble, etc., or whoever was passing though town. “I remember one night looking over and Carole King just appeared singing background vocals; another time we were doing some Stones song with Bobby Keys and Ian Mclagen. That was a daunting experience, learning on the fly. If you didn’t have your chops together, you would not be back.” The All Stars recorded one album and Al produced a cut on a Christmas Collection featuring Eric and Van.


After relocating to Houston and starting a family, Big Al hosted a blues jam for about six years with Teri Greene at DanElectros Guitar Bar. “The jam continues to this day and I still play shows with Van Wilks at every opportunity. I also played for several years in the Sheetrockers with a legendary cat known as Little Jr. One Hand (Freddie Cisneros) who came from the Forth Worth Jacksboro Highway blues roadhouse and showman tradition.”


After years of fronting the jams and writing, Al decided to record a CD of his own. Bettis’ son Travis had become quite a lead guitarist and was making a name for himself in Nashville with some of the songwriters, B.B. King’s Club and Lee Brice’s touring band. “The opportunity to work with Travis and record with some great players in Nashville as well as Houston was very fulfilling. Travis is featured on several cuts and it’s a special thing.”


Of the new CD, Big Al says, “This is the kind of music I love to play and to listen to: it’s got to kick ass; it’s got to be a good song; It’s got to have good guitar tones, feel good and make you move, either your feet or your heart. There is very little difference in my mind behind the blues, R&B, or pure country. It’s all real music and from the heart. B.B. King said that country is the white man’s blues. Truer words were never spoken; consider the source. Rock, country, blues, Cajun, its all American music. We just have a certain twist to it here in Texas, especially on the Gulf Coast; must be the humidity, the mosquitos, the Bar-B-Q, the Mexican food, the soul.”


Echoes of all the years and experience are here on the BIG Album. Give it a listen and see if you can keep your feet still. Play it loud.

   Big Al Bettis's Friend Space (Top 16)
Big Al Bettis has 202 friends.
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 Carolyn Wonderland 


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 Freddie Cisneros 


 Tom Faulkner 


 Kenny Cordray 


 DAN ELECTROS GUITAR BAR 


 Luling Barbeque & Bar 


 Streeterville Music Group 


 BluesGuy Schwartz 


 DR. WU' 


 Romeo Dogs 


 JukeHounds 


 kevin 





Big Al Bettis's Friends Comments
Displaying 46 of 46 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
MM55productions





Jul 9 2008 11:45 AM

It’s Time to Vote in The Houston Press Music Awards 2008
Please Click on the Banner Below to Vote for Fondue Monks as best Funk / Soul Band
Rozzano Zamorano as best Bass Player




Please vote for the Fondue Monks song, “Portrait of a Man” in The Next Gretsch Greats online competition... IT’S EASY TO VOTE - Click on the banner below and sign up with Gretsch, then search song database for Fondue Monks and click the “VOTE FOR THIS SONG” box… Each person can vote once per day every day between June 15, 2008 and July 16, 2008 - IT’S THAT EASY!!!


Mary





Jul 7 2008 8:49 PM

Thank you for the wonderful time July 4th ! A good time was had by the entire family.
Robin Kirby





Jul 3 2008 11:14 AM

Hey Al...
Photobucket
August Sky





Jun 23 2008 1:13 PM

Hola from August Sky.
:-) Blues and Rock- way to be!!!augustsky@comcast.net
Robin Kirby





Jun 25 2008 10:30 AM

Happy Wednesday Al ;)
Hope your day Rocks!
One love, Robin
Linda (FREEBIRD)





Jun 27 2008 7:08 AM

DRIFT OFF NOW TO PROFILEFANTASY.COM
PROFILEFANTASY. COM
Have a great 4th of July, hope you set the place on fire! Wish I could be there!
I'll be down at the Waterfront in Louisville on July 3rd for the Gary Allen concert.
Keep the blues alive Big Al, love you!!
Linda
Robin Kirby





May 30 2008 2:41 PM

Hey Al :)
Just dropping by to listen to ya again
weekend
:) Robin
Mississippi Blue


Is Online


Jun 7 2008 11:50 AM

i wish you a nice and wonderful weekend :-)
Have fun where ever you are
love and peace ;-)
Kristan





May 13 2008 10:53 AM

Hello Big Al! I just wanted to pop in and say Hi to my favorite Dad...haha. Thats a pretty slim category, but none the less, you are FABULOUS. I have the laptop sitting on my stomach, and your grandson is literally dancing to your music in my stomach...Hmmm. We may have another musician on our hands.
Have a great day, love u!
Robin Kirby





May 5 2008 1:09 PM

Cinco de Mayo
:) Robin
The StringBenders





May 4 2008 2:48 PM

THANKS FOR THE AD BIG AL !!
YEAH JIM'S ON MY SIDE OF THE STAGE SO WE HAVE LOTS OF FUN !!
PK
Myspace Graphics - Beavis & Butthead
Mary





May 3 2008 8:57 PM

Enjoyed the hell out of your performance today at the Return of Guitarzilla ! It must have sounded great over the air on Joe's Roadhouse.
Keep Rockin'
The Wanderer





May 2 2008 6:22 AM

Have a rockin weekend.

The Wanderer





Apr 30 2008 7:19 PM

Just wanted to share this info from my bulletin board with you.
"If someone by the name of 'Ashley Marc James' wants to add you to their list don't accept it. It is a virus. Tell everyone on your list because if somebody on your list adds them you will get it too. It's a hard drive killer and a very horrible virus. Please pass this on to everyone on your list. We need to find out who is using this account. Apologies for the inconvenience.
"
Jim





Apr 24 2008 4:53 AM

Big Al,
Nice to meet you on Myspace. I found you through Billy Gibbons
Myspace page. Nice to meet another blues fan from Texas! Love that V. Got one too, take a look @ my pics.
Your new friend,
Jim
JukeHounds





Apr 24 2008 11:27 AM

Big Al,

I have been Rockin' to your CD All Week!

Great Stuff!

Donald Ray
Robin Kirby





Apr 21 2008 10:44 PM

Hello Al...
how are you?
Hope your week is
filled with smiles :)
Robin Kirby
Robin
Robin Kirby





Apr 12 2008 1:54 PM

Hope your weekend ROCKS!
a ..
One love, Robin
U-Boy - Drummer


Is Online


Apr 9 2008 11:15 PM

Me on tour in Alabama!Me standing next to Uriah sign in Alabama
Mississippi Blue


Is Online


Apr 5 2008 2:19 PM

A Friend Is Like A Four Leaf Clover:
Hard To Find And Lucky To Have!
Have A Great And Wonderful weekend!
And I Hope You Feel Good!
A Big Hug For Your Friendship!
U-Boy - Drummer


Is Online


Apr 2 2008 5:41 PM

Hey Big Al it's Uriah Guajardo Drummer of Sunset Heights! Your Rocken as usual! Give me a shout sometime! your friend UriahUriah GuajardoSunset HeightsUriah Guajardo
Robin Kirby





Mar 24 2008 6:12 PM

Hey there Al...
SXSW went really well
met lots of cool people!
Hope your Easter Rocked...
Photobucket
Robin
marlo





Mar 19 2008 10:37 AM

You blew ém away at southbydueeast 2008 - as always. . . thanks!

Marlo
Funky Mustard





Mar 11 2008 7:44 AM

Right on !

Letz do IT !
MOJOFROMOPOLIS





Feb 28 2008 4:08 PM

BIG AL!

Good to see ya....

Photobucket
MR. RICHARD





Feb 25 2008 10:44 AM

'JUST STOPPED BY TO SAY HEY & ALWAYS "THANX" FOR THE ADD.
GREAT RESPECTS FOR YOUR WORK...

ROCK ON !

MR. RICHARD
Hustle & Flow Photography Services





Feb 18 2008 10:29 AM

Photobucket
Cold Shuffle





Feb 1 2008 11:18 AM

Snit's Dog & Pony Show





Jan 31 2008 9:07 PM

Photobucket
Linda (FREEBIRD)





Jan 5 2008 6:27 AM

My God Big AL, I havent heard Last Date since I was in high school. I loved that music!
Happy New Year!
Drop by my site soon, I would love to hear from you anytime....
Much love,
~Linda
Kristan