January 8, 2000
Houston doesn’t have the reputation of Nashville or Austin, but we have some musical gems of our own. We’ll kick off the second season of Texas Nights House Concerts appropriately with one such local treasure, as we proudly present Denice Franke. Over the past few years, Denice has quietly, and beautifully, joined the ranks of Houston’s best while steadily gaining a reputation that has spread throughout the region, nation, and the world. Denice is a regular at local venues such as Anderson Fair and The Mucky Duck. She has developed a strong following over the past several years at Kerrville, making it to the main stage in 1999, while turning heads at other festivals and venues across the country and in Europe.

Denice Franke’s most recent CD, “You Don’t Know Me”, is a breathtaking offering from her heart, supported by several friends that just happen to be among the Texas artists’ elite. Denice’s warm, pure, and captivating voice ideally suits the passionate, sometimes haunting, imagery of her muse. The addition of Gene Elders on violin, Mike Sumler’s piano, Paul Pearcy on percussion, Glen Fukunaga on base, with supporting vocals by Ian Matthews and Tommie Lee Jackson, and production by Eric Taylor makes this CD a masterpiece of the genre and a brilliant Texas contribution to the world. As good as the CD is, it is in her live performance that Denice Franke rises to new heights. From the first note, her voice will grab your heart embarking on a captivating journey of emotional reflection clearly guided by the craftsmanship, power, and presence she brings to the stage. If you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Denice Franke live, you owe it to yourself to experience this show. You won’t be able to leave without the CD, but you will leave with a new favorite.

Larry Lyon opens
I was first introduced to Larry Lyon last June on the streets of Kerrville. He played a song for me that happened to be the last song I heard before leaving to come home. I knew then that I wanted him to come play for us, and when I found out he lived in the area, things worked out. Larry has written some exceptional songs and will be a great addition to our line up this year. Come see what I mean.

For the love of the song,
Barney & Beverly

Visit Denice Franke online
http://www.denicefranke.com/main.html