|
|
|
 |
|||||||
|
About the Disc Jockey / Emcee Country Music Disc Jockey Tracy Pitcox was born on January 14, 1971, in Brady, Texas. His early interests in traditional country music stemmed from his grandfather’s devotion to the sounds of Mel Tillis, Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn and other legendary figures in the industry. During his high school years at Brady High, Tracy would be very involved in the Future Farmers of America becoming the Texas State Vice President in 1989. He also won numerous speaking awards from not only the FFA organization, but also winning state competitions in both Persuasive Speaking and Lincoln Douglas Debate for three years in a row. The San Antonio Express Rural Honor Banquet honored him in both 1988 and 1998 with their “Rural Youth Award.” Pitcox began his career in radio in 1986, at the age of 15 over KNEL radio in Brady. With the help of KNEL music director Josh Holstead and Darrell Cowen, he started a traditional country music request program called “Hillbilly Hits” on February 17, 1989. The “Hillbilly Hits” radio show highlights traditional country music artists and songs that are ‘atleast twenty one years old.’ Interviews with country music legends are featured nearly every week. Special telephone guests have included Hank Snow, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, Granpa Jones, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner and many more. In studio co-hosts have included Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright, Justin Tubb, Charley Louvin, Leona Williams, Tony Douglas, Joe Paul Nichols, Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall, Clay Walker, Floyd Tillman, Hank Locklin, Tommy Cash and Jean Shepard among others. Pitcox combined a collection of over seventy of those interviews into the book “Legendary Conversations With A Texas Disc Jockey.” The three hundred page book has sold over 3,000 copies since in was published in 2008. The Heart of Texas Country Music Association was formed in 1989 and now currently has over 1,000 members. Pitcox has been chairman of the association since its inception. The association began promoting country music concerts/dances in 1990. Many entertainers have been brought to the Heart of Texas area providing entertainment to thousands of Central Texas individuals. Kitty Wells, Freddie Hart, Bobbie G. Rice, Johnny Duncan, Jody Nix, Curtis Potter have all shared their music with the fans in Brady. In February of 1999, Pitcox and the Heart of Texas Country Music Association approached the Odeon Theater Preservation Society in Mason, Texas, concerning a monthly “Opry” type show. Since that time, the organization has produced a two and half hour monthly show that features both local talent and special guests including Bobby G. Rice, Ronnie Prophet, Johnny Bush, Frankie Miller, Darrell McCall, Mary Lou Turner and others. The Llano Country Opry in Llano, Texas, was launched three months after the Mason Opry. Several legendary acts have appeared on the Llano Country Opry stage including John Conlee, the Bellamy Brothers, Gene Watson, Bill Anderson, Ray Price and even Willie Nelson made a guest appearance. There are other similiar shows located in Marble Falls and Seguin currently in operation by the organization. Country America Magazine name his an “Everyday Hero” in 1990 with a two page spread detailing his work in the nursing homes, sponsoring senior citizen dances and his genuine concern for older Americans.
The Governor of Tennessee presented Pitcox with his “Ambassador of Good Will” proclamation in 2004. The San Antonio Express News cited his accomplishments in the Texas Music industry with their Wiley Award in 2005. The Academy of Western Artist named him their Disc Jockey of the Year in 2005 and their Record Producer of the Year in 2007. The Lake Worth Special Frogs presented them with their “Favorite DJ’ award in 2008. The Llano Chamber of Commerce cited him with their first “Humanitarian of the Year” award in 2008. The Cowtown Society of Western Music voted him into their Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Brady Chamber of Commerce gave him their Presidents Award also in 2009. Pitcox is president of his own Tracy Pitcox Publishing Company and Heart of Texas Records. The traditional Country Music record label has released several projects by entertainers including Hank Thompson, Ferlin Husky, Tony Booth, Amber Digby, Darrell & Mona McCall, George Hamilton IV, Bobby Lewis, Bobby G. Rice, Frankie Miller, Cowboy Slim Rinehart, Johnny Bush, Joe Paul Nichols, Big Bill Lister, Curtis Potter, Dave Kirby, Rance Norton, Kimberly Murray and Justin Trevino. Pitcox and Justin Trevino opened the Heart of Texas Recording Studio in Brady in 2009, with Trevino producing projects for Heart of Texas Records along with other independent albums. Credits & Sources
|
The Brady/McCulloch County Chamber of Commerce made Pitcox the “Citizen of the Year” in 1992. The
Country Music Association of Texas presented him with their “Traditional Country DJ Award" in 1995.
Pitcox was also the recipient of the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from the Dallas based
Terry Awards. Sterling City, Texas, name March 11, 2000, as “Tracy Pitcox Day” citing his
contributions to the senior citizens of that county and his work with raising money for
their Depot Restoration Project. The Mason, Texas, chapter of the Masonic
Lodge presented him with their Community Builder of the Year Award in 2000.
| Printer Friendly Version |