| If you have a favorite Little Longhorn
anecdote, some history, or just a comment, email it to GinnysLittleLonghorn
and we'll insert it on this page. Below are some comments
and stories that we've received from visitors, musicians and
music fans from all over..
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Hey from the U.K. What can I say? - Ginny's was legendary to us way before we ever made it to Austin - anyone who digs Dale Watson is going to know all about that - but the REALITY of how great a lil' ol' place it is FAR exceeds the legend - and THAT'S rare!
We are totally in love with the place - it's our favorite bar in the whole world - and we are so proud and grateful that folks like Billy Dee, Roger Wallace and Jim Stringer let us sit in there and do a couple - we can look people in the eye and say we have played Ginny's - it doesn't get any better than that if you love playing honky
tonk! There is a VERY small family of folks here in the UK who have been lucky enough to get to the Longhorn, and we're gradually meeting them when they come up to us after a gig and start talking. None of us can talk about it without smiling...until realise how much we miss it!
Really glad you set this site up (Jim?) - God bless you for it, and Ginny and all the staff, and all the musicians who play for tips, and the regulars who give the tips. Remembering you guys makes it a little easier over here when we're trying to spread the word....and double thanks to the lovely Debbie who first took us in - we love
ya, Deb! Oh - and we are proud to say that we are, as far as we know, the only Shiner sanctioned UK band!! Cool, huh?
We have inflatable Shiner bottles as part of our set-up, so we're spreading the word about Shiner Bock too...... and where precisely in Texas it should be drunk....yall know where that is, don't
ya? OK - I'll shut up - I could go on for hours - you can probably tell.
Until we next hit town.....
--Cheers, Harley Dave
Y'all have a great day and don't forget to check us out at
www.toocountry.co.uk
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Just got home from my first ever
trip to the US. Me and my buddy, spent a few days in Austin,
and went to Ginny's three nights in a row. Apart from meeting
some of the nicest and friendliest people on this planet, we
got to hear some amazing music: Justin Trevino, Dale Watson
and Jake Hooker. To qoute a Darrell McCall song: "What Do
You Do After Texas" - we went to Nashville, which was a
letdown. So if you wanna hear the real deal, and meet some
friendly folks as well - go to Ginny's.
--Per Kammersgaard, Sonderborg, Denmark
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I started coming to the
Longhorn sometime around '96 or '97 after hearing about it from many friends. From the
first time I walked in, it was obvious that the Longhorn is a special place
with an atmosphere and a musical vibe all its own. Since I'm from out of town,
it always felt great when Don would say hi and seem to remember me.
Even if he didn't, the first few times, it was a welcoming and neighborly
way to act, and I've always felt at home there.
Like everyone else, I guess,
I love the way the Longhorn regulars combine with the quality of
music played there every night and create the Longhorn's wonderful way of
being a laid-back neighborhood watering hole with great country music.
I love the way they just book the music they want and keep it in the
family, so to speak. I love dancing on the little dance floor and hanging
around outside between sets. I love the way I can show up and always know I'll
see a friend there, even if I haven't been in Austin for three or four months.
I love the 8x10s on the back wall and the snapshots by the jukebox.
So
thanks, Ginny. I have a lot of very good memories of Don and you and the
Longhorn, and I hope you continue to flourish there for many years to come.
--Junior,
Lawrence, KS
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It all started the first week of
January 1997. We were in Austin for our annual kick-off
meeting and were staying out at Barton Springs. Every night a
bunch of us would head into town in search of great live
music. Early that week we were fortunate to stumble into
Babe's on 6th where Dale was sitting in with Don Walsers band.
We came back the next night when Dale and the Lone Stars were
the act. Another guy named Dale who hung around with the band
said what we really need to do was to come out the next night
and see Dale at Ginny's.
The next night I took two vans
full of mostly Britts (this company was headquartered in
London) to Ginnys and while many of us no longer work
for that company we stay in touch and the gang from across the
pond still talk about that night.
Since then I have been
fortunate to both have business in Austin roughly once a year
and one of those Britts has since moved there. So at least
once a year I get back and always build a Ginny's trip around
it. Additionally, I have managed to catch up with Dale several
times during his eastern tours. Well, God willing and the
creek doesn't rise, we are heading back for the first week in
Feb. See y'all there.
By the way.....they should make
Ginny's a National Historic Monument.
--Gary "One of the Boys from
Philly" Fedor
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My friend Jeff took
me to Ginny's for the first time. I had one night in town. He took me to
a small Cinderblock shack in an industrial area. Not very promising to an
ignorant visitor. But my buddy had moved to Austin because of his love of
music, bars and drinking, so he knew better (Now, I think he's
refined it further
to living down the block from Ginny's).
A pool table
filled the entrance, a jukebox on the right, a thin bar stretching into the
haze on the left, tables and chairs, crowded and full, smoky and hot. The
room so tight that every shot at the pool table required bystanders to move
aside but none cared. A young chiseled faced cowboy wearing a hat with
sharp angles matching those on his face stalked the table. Young fillies
flittered past, real country music drifted from the juke; we got a cold cheap
beer and found a seat. At the counter sat an older, finely dressed Hispanic
couple, soon to be dancing, on the corner was hunched a gentleman tenderly
nursing his dear half pint and slicing a sausage from the jar, young
multi-raced clean cut college kids talked some cryptic deal
near our
table, dusty guys straight off work milled around at the back,
curved women
with dusty looks lingering around in the back of my mind,
couples and singles,
old and young, and not a harsh word in the place, not a
sidewise glance,
not an indecent word to be heard.
Within the
hectic din, the calming presence of the couple working the bar
held sway. He was
tall and thin with a graying beard and a hat, resembling an Abe
Lincoln'sbetter-looking
Lone Star brother. He and the Mrs.'s popping open
bottles, relaxed and unruffled, smiling, and running a sweet
honky-tonk. "Maybe
Dale will play tonight," my friend said, and he did.
And with that, when I visit the
great Austin area, I'll include a visit, or
two, or three to Ginny's. And maybe Dale will play. Or other
good times ensue.
Relaxed Sundays, the only concern being the random target of
chicken shit
droppings. Once sharing a piece of birthday cake for the
lovely chick with
sticks (and sneaking in a "birthday" kiss), and
another time being compelled
to take a bite of an arrant pickled hard boiled egg passed
along to me
by a woman sitting near. Whether charming strangers or
annoying friends, it's
always been some sort of pleasure. Even when I had, as I often
do, a tear
in my beer.
Brother Bri from Hopland
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Ginny is a blessing to
all of us. She is a worthy role model and sets a fine example for all us to try and
follow. She is sensitive to the needs of all of us without even realizing
she has just made our day by her smile or the words she says to us. She
gives everyone she meets nothing but unconditional love and support and
that is the sign of a great person.
She is always there to give all of us love and support no matter what it is. She listens to us and helps
guide us through any and all of our issues and never expects anything
in return. My Husband David and I could not imagine a more deserving person
to help out in any way we can. We are proud to be in Ginny's circle of
friends and family (what a great circle).
We are all truly blessed by you being who you are "Ginny" mom and mentor and motivator. Thank You my dear
friend, we Love You!!
Have a Great Day!!
Terry G.
Mrs. Terry Gaona
System Analyst/Trainer
Texas Youth Commission
Information Resources Division
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I had never heard of
"Ginny's" until Sep. 2000. My friend Campbell
Bodels, (a extremely knowledgable Country Music fan), from
Ireland came to San Antonio and he wanted to go to Austin to
see some places that he had heard and read about. Two
places in particular, The Broken Spoke and Ginny's Little
Longhorn Saloon. We went to the "Spoke" first
and toured the memorabilia room. We then drove to
Ginny's. Upon arrival, Campbell look at the building and
said "I don't even want to go in." I replied,
"Campbell, you have come all the way from Ireland to see
this place because you have heard so much about it, lets go
in." He agreed, we parked and went in the front
door. As soon as we got through the door Campbell
pointed at a picture on the wall and exclaimed,
"Thats Dale Watson".
I asked, "Who in the hell is
Dale Watson?" He proceded to tell me all about Dale
and having seen him many times in Europe. This was on a
Monday and Dale was playing on Thursday night. His
daughter had already made plans for a huge get together at the
Far West Rodeo in San Antonio for that Thursday night.
Campbell really dosen't like large venues or The Candy Ass
music from Nashville. He informed his daughter that he
and I were going to be in Ginny's on Thur. to see Dale.
I was hooked on Ginny's and Dale! Campbell
comes to the US once a year and we always manage to get up
there together. I have returned many times, getting
to know Don & Ginny, all the other great folks that
hang out there and hoping Dewey will lay one on one of my
numbers some Sunday afternoon. I try to be there whenever Dale
is performing. The Little Longhorn is a historic treasure
and it must be preserved. Let's all join in and put
something in Ginny's Tip Jar.
Larry (The Edsel Man) Bender
San Antonio, Texas
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It is always a treat to visit
Ginny’s each time we visit our sons, Greg and Brian, in
Austin. (A couple of Brian’s photos are on the Ginny’s web
site.) On one of our trips, we made our usual Thursday night
pilgrimage to see Dale Watson and the Lone Stars. That
evening, an entourage representing past and present Texas music
came in through the back door and stood, danced, sang and played
during the night. Included in the group was one of the
original Texas Playboys, the drummer from Asleep at the Wheel,
and various and sundry personalities who always seem to filter
in and enjoy Ginny’s. To make a long story short, the
daughter of Bob Wills was one of the visitors. Seating
being very limited, I had the honor and pleasure of her sharing
my seat with me for the evening. You just don’t know
who’ll you run into and sit with when you visit Ginny’s.
Steve Bass
Bakersfield, California |
I’ve
only visited Ginny’s once,but that was enough to know how
special this place is. I was lucky enough to see Dale on
my visit. Sitting at a table with friends drinking Lone
Stars, playing dominos, and 10 feet from Dale is an experience
I’ll never forget. Since my visit I’ve kept up with
the Ginny’s scene through Bill Groll’s web site, and have
been able to see so many people and bands having a great time.
Brian Trapani
Martinez, California
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