LONGHORN BALLROOM Has Not Left Us After All!

“Asleep At The Wheel,” Emmylou Harris, “Old Crow Medicine Show,” Morgan Wade—How does that sound for a Grand Re-Opening of a venue that opened in my birth year, 1950, as THE BOB WILLS RANCH HOUSE, a showcase for The Texas Playboys and Bob Wills? And do you remember the name, Jack Ruby? He was a later manager of this historic gathering

place that had been built by a legendary and eccentric name: O. L. Nelms. (Remember: “Thanks for helping O. L. Nelms make another million!”) Ruby has long been credited with bringing in some of the best Black performers of that day—Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Ruth Brown, etc. The Longhorn Ballroom (Texas’s most HISTORIC music venue, according to so many folks) will be “the place to be” all through the month of April to see and hear the above performers and to “dance away the night.”

Historical Note—Dewey Groom became the manager in 1958 and purchased the club a decade later. Ever heard of “The Ramones,” Tex Ritter, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Patsy Cline? Groom brought them to Dallas at this location.

From 1996 until about 2017, “The Ballroom” (216 Corinth Street) and the Mexican eatery next door were both owned and operated by Raul Ramirez. 2017 saw extensive work done to the structure, and it then reopened as a “special events” building before COVID forced its closing in 2019. But now, it is ready to be “up-andat-‘ em” and to take back its place as “The Place To Be.”

The new “reopening” was what is called, SOFT LAUNCH, and it began in March and continues into April with the above-named entertainers.

Emmylou Harris, born in Alabama and 5’ 5” tall, is probably the name most known to and popular with me, and it is hard to believe she is 75 years young and still “going strong.” She has won at least 13 Grammys, and 2008 saw her inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. This will be her 1st time to perform in this venue, and Ballroom owner, Edwin Cabaniss, says he wants to “honor history and make history.”

Final Note—“Asleep at the Wheel” is directly joined to the LONGHORN BALLROOM, because Ray Benson and his Band, besides playing here many times, played the night of May 13, 1975, the night Bob Wills passed away. Maybe Forneyites should all go to hear this iconic group and let people know that although we are growing and thriving and modernizing, we still have some “country roots.”