Bruno Michel: Gary, you are musician, producer, own a record label and a publishing company, songwriter and family man. Seems a lot to fit in a 24 hour day.
Gary P. Nunn: Well, usually, not everything happens at the same time. I try to focus on the moment and what needs to be done. Once the current project is finished, I take on the next one. We take it easy and try not to plan too much of our schedule ahead. Nice and easy is our belief.
You helped establish the career of many artists that are well known today. Especially with your Terlingua North Chili Cook Off Festival in the 80s. Some of those artists made it to Nashville, like Pat Green. What would you change to get the focus back on music these days?
(Ruth, Garys wife laughs from the background, Gary smiles). That was more my wife's project than mine. But to answer your question. We're all under the pressure of getting commercialized. Sometimes that is frustrating, because it seems that for some people a lot of things in the business are more important than the music. Of course it's more easy to follow the actual trends than your inner voice. Not for me. My advice is: Put the music back in the center of your work.
You once mentioned in an interview that of all the awards you've collected during your career, your membership in the Texas Music Hall of Fame is the most important one for you. Is there anything that you still would like to achieve in your career?
Of course. There are many things I still would like to achieve. There are many unpublished songs. And I also would like to play more internationally. We've been pretty much focused on Texas and around over the past years. I'd really like to go back to Europe or to play in Asia.Absolut.
Long nights and parties are part of the music business. Do you as a graduated pharmacist have a special remedy for the morning after such nights?
(laughs). The remedy is called: Don't party that hard and don't drink too much. Other than that, I really don't have a special remedy.
Your parents were both teachers and they sure had a lot of good advice for you. What was the most important piece of advice you ever received from anyone?
Good question (laughs). Once a good friend told me: Get out there, focus and do your thing - and do it good. Don't let yourself be distracted from all the BS around you. I remember that every now and then and try to live along this advice.
One can truly say that you've seen Miles And Miles Of Texas - and of the rest of the world for that matter. Is there still a dream location you'd like to play?
Australia would be great. I always referred to the Aussies as Texans with an english accent (laughs).
In the early days you played bass, then after you started your solo career, you mastered the guitar and of course you play the piano. Would you consider yourself as kind of a natural talent in playing instruments?
I think so. It was never really hard for me to learn to play an instrument. Due to that fact, I was lazy in my early days and never practiced to perfection. I just started playing and singing along. In recent years I am paying more attention to learning and details.The guitar was a bit harder to learn, because sometimes I don't have full control over my fingers in the left hand due to a numb feeling.
Some people thought that after December 21 we would have to define the world anew...
...(laughs) yeah, right. A complete reset...
... obviously, since you and I are still talking today, nothing happened. What would be the three most important things you'd like to have with you when there would be a complete reset one day?
My wife, of course, my family and... (thinks)... a guitar and a good horse (laughs).
Through your Swiss wife Ruth you are somewhat exposed to the Swiss Lifestyle. How has this "Swissness'' impacted your texan thinking and living?
I certainly learned a lot from my wife's way of handling things - and I don't mean just the cooking (laughs). But I have to admit that I don't eat as many hamburgers and chicken fried steaks as I used to. On the other hand I think our Texas way of life is more relaxed and less structured, something the Swiss could profit from. But I am definitely happy that Ruth leads me in a certain way and manages the many tasks the way she does. I am very thankful for that.
Last question: If you were to interview Gary P. Nunn, which question would you ask him that I did not ask?
Wow, no idea...maybe: Why are you doing all this?
And the answer?
I always followed the path of least resistance and actually never planned to get this far in the music business. But everytime we finished a gig, there was another one coming up and so on. My parents realized my talent but they never forced me into that career. It's kind of interesting who things played out. But ok, I also never said to anyone: Don't book anymore gigs (laughs). I just took it as it happened.
Thank you for this interview.