I WAS IN THAT BAND! EP 37 - Danny Balis

I WAS IN THAT BAND! EP 37 - Danny Balis

This week on I WAS IN THAT BAND!, I sit down with my old friend, Danny Balis. You may know Danny from his years in Dallas radio, but at heart he's always been a musician and songwriter. We talk about his current projects, Sir Daniel Esquire and Silver Skylarks, his love for the Denton music scene, and the community that helped shape him. Danny shares stories about growing up in West Texas, finding his way to Dallas, and how music became a lifelong pursuit. We also discuss the creative drive that keeps him writing and recording after all these years. As always, there are plenty of laughs, stories, and reflections from a life spent making music with friends.

I WAS IN THAT BAND! EP 36 - Don Cento

This week on I Was In That Band!, Grady sits down with guitarist, producer, songwriter, and longtime friend Don Cento. Don has spent decades following his own creative path, whether that meant jazz, rock, Americana, instrumental music, or whatever else happened to catch his imagination. The two share stories from years in the DFW music scene, memories of gigs and mutual experiences, and talk about Don's refusal to chase expectations in favor of following his muse wherever it leads. It's a fun and wide-ranging conversation between old friends about creativity, curiosity, and making the music you want to make. Don Cento is a musician, producer, songwriter, and recording engineer whose work has included the bands Shibboleth and Chomsky, along with collaborations with Sarah Jaffe, Bonnie Whitmore, Jerry David DeCicca, and many others. His newest project, Cento Threeo, features Phil Spencer on bass and Norm Bergeron on drums. Their debut album, Halfway to Mellowtown, is out June 19, 2026.

I WAS IN THAT BAND! EP 35 - Jimmy McDonough

Jimmy McDonough joins Grady Sandlin on this episode of I WAS IN THAT BAND! for a sprawling conversation about music obsession, biography writing, bootlegs, producers, record collectors, and the emotional toll of telling someone else's story honestly. Best known for acclaimed books on Gary Stewart, Neil Young, Tammy Wynette, Al Green, and Russ Meyer, Jimmy reflects on the overwhelming response to I Am From The Honky Tonks and the nearly 40-year journey that brought the Gary Stewart story to life. The two dive deep into Gary's unreleased recordings, the mystery and romance of bootleg culture, and the idea that unofficial tapes often reveal the real heart of an artist's story. Jimmy also shares stories about Neil Young, David Briggs, Willie Mitchell, the Hi Records rhythm section, and the producers and sidemen who quietly shaped some of the greatest records ever made. Along the way, the conversation explores the disappearing art of long-form biography, the struggle to preserve music history in a disposable digital culture, and why Jimmy still feels compelled to chase unfinished stories — including a long-discussed Jack Nitzsche project. A funny, emotional, and deeply insightful conversation between two lifelong music obsessives about records, memory, mythology, and the people behind the music.

I WAS IN THAT BAND! EP 34 - Nathan Brown

This week Grady visits remotely with longtime friend Nathan Brown — better known to many as Browningham — originally from Fort Worth, Texas. Nathan talks about his musical beginnings, the creation and evolution of Browningham, and the years he spent taking his unique DIY project on the road before eventually settling back down in Fort Worth. Along the way, the conversation dives into music culture, touring life, and Nathan's famously passionate — and occasionally unpopular — opinions about music. More than anything, this episode feels like an honest catch-up between old friends who've spent decades around the North Texas music scene. This also marks the first remote interview ever featured on I WAS IN THAT BAND!

I WAS IN THAT BAND! EP 33 - Reggie Rueffer

This week on I Was In That Band, I sit down with North Texas mainstay Reggie Rueffer — a true musician's musician whose career runs deeper and more varied than most folks realize. Reggie first made his mark with the band Spot, whose hit song broke nationally. From there, he stepped onto even bigger stages, including a standout run playing fiddle for country legend Charley Pride. Reggie shares stories from the road, lessons learned from playing with a Hall of Famer, and how he's navigated a career as a multi-instrumentalist across genres. These days, you'll still find him in the mix around DFW — playing bass, fiddle, and singing in a variety of projects.