Steve Fromholz - Texas Trilogy

From the Steven Fromholz bio page:

Why was a poet/songwriter,/entertainer/musician/humorist with a last name of “Fromholz” synonymous with the State of Texas? As one Austin reporter put it:  “Fromholz was the only one of the ‘Outlaws" that remained in Texas when the great 'Progressive Country Scare’ was over; he’s as well known to Texans as Barton Springs is to Austin – and been here nearly as long!”

Steven John Fromholz was born in Temple, Texas, June 8, 1945, to Lt. Col.  and Mrs. A.A. Fromholz. After being discharged from the Army, his father worked  for Ford Motor Company and the family was transferred often. When he was 10  years old his parents divorced and Steven and little brother, James, lived and attended school (for extended periods of time) with their widowed maternal  grandmother, Hirstine “Granny” Hughes in Kopperl, Bosque County, Texas and their  older sister, Angela (who was married and ranching in  Bosque  County, Texas). Those memories of small town, central Texas were the inspiration  for Fromholz’ song The Texas  Trilogy, long recognized as the most definitive song ever written about the  State of Texas. Entertainer Lyle Lovett recorded the three-part saga on his CD  Step Inside This House, a tribute CD  to his favorite Texas songwriters. The poetry/writing style Fromholz exhibits in  The Texas Trilogy is taught in many  classrooms as being authentic, Texas poetry, both in style and cntent. He was often invited to speak to college groups and poetry societies, not only about The Texas Trilogy but other examples of  his historically oriented writing, such as Man With the Big Hat and Last Living Outlaw.

Steven’s mother eventually settled with her sons in Denton, Texas,  where Steven graduated from high school and attended North Texas State University.  Thereafter a stint in  the U.S. Navy sent him to the west coast where he began to write poetry, music,  play clubs and subsequently launched his music career after finishing his day’s  work for Uncle Sam. It’s said that Steven and long-time friend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott cut a wide swath in the west coast music scene in those days!

Steven married, his daughter, Darcie Jane was born and upon being discharged from the Navy Fromholz moved his young  family briefly to Arizona. When his marriage ended in divorce Fromholz moved on  to Colorado where he teamed up with Dan McCrimmon and the pair performed as  “Frummox.” They released one album in 1969 on the ABC Probe Label titled Frummox Here to There – today a  valuable vinyl collector’s item. The duo eventually went separate ways and  Fromholz accepted Stephen Stills’ invitation to play guitar and sing backup with the group that became “Manassas” on a world  tour.

When Rock ‘N Roll wore thin on Fromholz he briefly returned to Colorado,  married again and headed home to Texas; settling in Austin where his second  daughter, Felicity Rose Fromholz was born. Steven Fromholz literally became a  Texas legend during the ensuing Austin years, not only for his songwriting,  poetry and performing, but as a community activist. In 1993 he organized a  peaceful mooning of the KKK which made headlines all over the world, became a  standard for opponents of the Klan and has been repeated over and over in the  ensuing years by many activist groups.

Steven and his good friend, the late  Molly Ivins, gathered up a group of  friends and camped out on the steps of the Texas State Capitol when the  powers-that-be threatened to arrest the homeless street people of Austin who  were sleeping under bridges. They staged a peaceful “sleep in” complete with  little camp fires and their efforts were very effective.  No one was arrested and the homeless, thereafter, were able to keep  sleeping where ever they could find a place to "crash."

In the 1980’s Fromholz began entertaining on rafting trips in the  Big  Bend area of Texas,  subsequently becoming a river guide, white water expert, First Responder and  EMT. He “ran the Grande”(Colorado River/Grand Canyon) in 2000 which is the ultimate accomplishment for whitewater guides and in 2005 Paddler  Magazine voted him one of the 10 Best River Guides in America.

In addition  to whitewater trips he began hosting trail rides into Mexico; becoming the  first “Singing Cowboy”for LaJitas Stables in Terlingua, Texas. A long-time member of the American Legion in Brewster  County, Texas (Big Bend), Fromholz was  well known as an advocate for Texas Parks  & Wildlife and promoted their programs, facilities and projects at every  opportunity.