“It sounds like the Texas Panhandle looks. Sometimes it’s really ugly. Sometimes it’s wide-open space and beautiful. Sometimes it’s too dirty to make out what is going on.”

That’s how Ryan Culwell, a 1998 graduate of Perryton High School and son of Robert and Rhonda Culwell, describes his music. The Perryton native—now a professional musician in Nashville—recently released his second record, “Winter Wheat,” which is available at Perryton Office Supply & RadioShack.

Elements of home are not only found in Ryan’s sound and inspiration, but also in one of his music videos. For his recent song “Golden on the Plains,” Ryan wanted to feature Perryton and the Texas Panhandle. He called his friends in the Panhandle and asked them to shoot footage using the 8mm app on their iPhones. “We edited together and came up with something I love,” Ryan says. (You can view it here.)

After seeing the video, we had to catch up with Ryan and learn more about his career in music. Here’s what he had to say.

How did you get into music, singing, and songwriting?
Writing has been part of my life since I was a kid. My dad is really into guitar, so I fell into songwriting by default. My dad taught me how to play “Midnight Special,” and I didn’t want to bother with memorizing the words so I just made up my own verses.

What was your music involvement when you lived in Perryton?
I played drums for Jim Nance in the junior high band, but I bet he wishes I hadn’t. The percussion kids always sit in the back of the room, and it is a really great place to get in trouble. I couldn’t read a bar of music for a million dollars. All I really did was hit people with the drum mallet. I tried to start a rock-’n’-roll band a few times, but it never took.

How would you describe your style of music?
Technically, it’s an Americana sound with a lot of folk influences. People like to think I sing country, but I don’t think that is correct. Imagine the difference in West Texas and the South. They have something in common, but they are all together different. That’s where I sit in relation to “country”—about 1,000 miles to the west but nowhere near California.

Who/what are your inspirations?
[Bob] Dylan, John Lee Hooker, Townes [Van Zandt]

I have been reading Grapes of Wrath over the last year. I can only read a little bit at a time because it’s such a close subject to me. I read the same sections over and over again. Everyone you will ever meet in Perryton was written into that book. It took reading that book to understand a lot of things about myself and about the place I grew up in.

What types of music do you like to listen to?
I have about 72 hours of Bob Dylan on my computer that I cycle through as much as possible. Also Josh Ritter, Joe Pug, Springsteen’s Nebraska album. I like stuff that sounds rural, and I like narrative. There are a lot of good writers out there that you won’t find on the radio. People like Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt.

When did you decide to go to Nashville? Why did you decide to go there?
If you were a fisherman you would be foolish to live in or around Amarillo. The same holds true for music. In that metaphor, I moved to the ocean. The Internet has made it possible to make music from anywhere, but I needed to be surrounded by other people doing what I do. It has been about two years, and we love it, but it’ll never be what Texas is to me.

How is Nashville going?
Things seem to be going great, but generally, I try to keep my head down and just keep working. That said, I am really pleased with what is happening with my career. I have made a lot of friends who are down in the trenches with me working on what we hope is great music. It has generated a good amount of interest from certain corners of the music industry. For the most part, I am writing and recording. I have recorded 18 songs in the last year or so. I will release a full-length album early 2014, and my Winter Wheat EP just came out.

How did you come up with the idea for the music video for “Golden on the Plains?”
I think about home a lot. That stretch of land between Perryton and Pampa is one of my favorite places on the earth. I was out on some of T. Boone [Pickens]’s land not long ago, and it seems like one of those places the whole world is missing out on. I just got some of my friends to take videos around the Panhandle with their phones and send them to me. I think it worked out really well.

Did receiving the videos make you miss home?
It really worked the other way around. I missed home, so I made the video.

Do you have a tour schedule, or will you be playing in Perryton any time soon?
I am playing in Canyon on May 17th at Palace Coffee at 8 p.m. If anyone decides to drive over, they should get there a little early, because last time it sold out pretty quickly. Hopefully, I will bring a band to Perryton later this year. To stay in the loop, just head to my website and sign up for my e-mail list.

If people are interested in listening to your music, where’s the best place for them to buy it?
Perryton Office Supply & RadioShack has my new EP, “Winter Wheat.” I hope everyone will swing by and pick it up. Otherwise, check my website (www.ryanculwell.com) for the digital release coming soon. My previous record, “Heroes on the Radio” is available on iTunes and Spotify.

What are your future plans?
Hopefully, I will be touring full time by this fall and preparing to release a new record early 2014.

Anything to add?
It’s great that so many people from home have been so supportive. Thanks, everyone.

Smith was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. She was inducted as a “Veterans Era Artist,” a category for which singers qualify 45 years after they first reach national prominence.

Singer/songwriter Bill Anderson discovered Connie Smith when she was performing at a talent contest at the age of 22. Her first single, “Once a Day,” was the number-one song on the charts for eight weeks. It was the first time a debut single by a female country artist had topped the charts. Over her career, she has had 30 top 20 hits. Last year, Connie released her 53^rd album. She still tours with her band and performs on the Grand Ole Opry. She is a regular on her husband’s show, “The Marty Stuart Show,” which airs on Saturday nights on RFD TV.

Tickets for Connie’s Perryton show are $25 for the general public, and only cash or checks are accepted. If you would like to donate $500 or more, you can attend a private meet and greet with Connie, receive a VIP badge and an autographed picture, and sit in a special reserved section during the concert. Proceeds from the event will go to the Arts Academy of the Plains Foundation. The foundation provides scholarships for area students who wish to study the fine arts. All donations are tax deductible.

Tickets are available at the following locations:

Conservatory of the Plains office
213 S. Main St.
Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

 AB-Normal Sweets ‘N Antiques
315 ½ Main St., Spearman
Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

This year’s graduating class joins the previous 243 graduates who have successfully completed the nine-month course. Along with taking local tours, the graduates have learned about personal development, business betterment, and teamwork.

The current graduates, as well as the sponsors for this year, will be recognized at the celebratory luncheon.

If you would like to attend, please RSVP to the Chamber of Commerce (435-6575) by Friday, April 29.

Last year the show included 75 tables of artifacts, but this year it’s expected to top that with 100 tables. Prehistoric artifacts will include flint tools and projectile points, and historic items will include metal artifacts such as artillery buttons, shell casings, and remnants of cooking equipment.

Professional archaeologists will be on hand to answer questions throughout the day. If you have an artifact you’d like a professional to identify, you’re encouraged to bring it. (Buying, selling, or trading artifacts isn’t permitted.)

The Stone Age Fair is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free, and food and drinks will be available to purchase.

Museum of the Plains

1200 N. Main, Perryton
435-6400

His presentation—“You Can’t Just Give It A Shot!”—will cover leading and teaching by example, giving others positive attitude, and providing “can-do leadership.” It’ll be a fast-paced, lighthearted evening that will help you get yourself and others to do things.

Registration begins at 6 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to attend. Bruce’s presentation is free to the public thanks to the generosity of Allred Construction and Barnett Insurance. Be sure to tune into KXDJ Tuesday around 9:45 a.m. and KEYE Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. to get a preview of the presentation.

About Bruce

Bruce Wilkinson is one of less than 800 people worldwide to be designated a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). He is president and chief leadership officer of Workplace Consultants, Inc. and Wilkinson Seminars and Presentations. He has presented in all 50 states and to major companies, such as Coca-Cola, WRIGLEY, the IRS, and Anheuser-Busch, to name a few. He has degrees in safety engineering and occupational safety and health.

Entertainment will include inflatables and a bungee trampoline; carnival games; and performances by the Perryton High School Show Choir, Perryton Children’s Choir, Flipz gymnasts and cheerleaders, Perryton Dance Academy dancers, and South Plains College ballroom dancers. Food will include chili, hamburgers, hot dogs, and other concessions, along with carnitas by the local Catholic church and Aqua Frescas by United.

The third-annual Bustin’ for Justin 5K Fun Run/Walk is also held on Saturday. Registration is from 8 to 8:30 a.m., and the race begins at 9 at the park. Prizes will be awarded to the top three in each age division. Entry forms can be found here.

Local residents Sam and Dr. Jenny McGoughy started the 5K as a way to raise money for March of Dimes after their twin sons, one of which passed away, were born five-and-a-half weeks early. They’ve made it their mission to help end premature births, and they’ve become the #1 family team in Texas and the #3 in the nation in terms of fundraising.

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes was started by President Franklin Roosevelt to fight polio. After the original mission was accomplished, the organization’s focus shifted to premature births and birth defects. Since then, the March of Dimes has led the way in discovering the genetic causes of birth defects, promoting newborn screenings, and educating medical professionals and the public about healthy practices. Its ultimate goal is to end prematurity.

Child Safety Seat Guidelines

The best way to keep children safe is to make sure they are in appropriate seats in the backseat of the vehicle. The law requires safety seats for children under the age of eight, unless they are taller than 4’9”.

Guidelines for child safety seats are as follows:

• Use a seat that is appropriate for the child’s age and size.
• Make sure it is installed properly in the vehicle.
• Ensure that it is adjusted to fit the child securely.
• Check the seat’s manufacturer’s note on weight and height restrictions.

For more information, visit AgriLife’s Buckle Up.

The restaurant offers specialty pizzas, build-your-own pizza options, salads, calzones, cheesy breads and breadsticks, and desserts. It is adding wings with blue cheese dressing to its menu as well. For those who want to try a little of everything, there is a daily pizza and salad buffet.

Galen opened Pizza Duo in Perryton in part to increase the available activities for local children and to provide a place where parents can bring their children. To achieve this, there are three bounce houses, one with an 18-foot slide, along with several jungle houses. Galen also plans to have local talent sing at the restaurant once a week.

The restaurant also has two private party rooms available for $25 per hour. It’s recommended to book the rooms at least two weeks in advance.

Pizza Duo
321 S. Main
434-0033
Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 3–9 p.m.