The Tucumcari-Quay County Chamber of Commerce is about to release a 14-song CD filled with songs that refer to the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., according to the Quay County Sun.
The Chamber of Commerce will sell the CDs to tourists and the locals as a Chamber fundraiser. In the beginning of the research, Beaulieu says he located half of the songs with a simple amazon.com music search while the remainder required a little more time and effort.
Two of the songs have a similar title, “Tucumcari Tonite” and “Tucumcari Tonight,” which also happen to be the community’s motto. Dorothy Shay performs “Two Gun Harry from Tucumcari”, Andy Mason sings “There’s Nothin’ to Eat in Tucumcari”, Michael Hearne’s “Two Miles Out of Tucumcari” is also included on the album along with pop singer Jimmy Rodgers, folk singer Jimmie Driftwood, and a group called the Colin Sphinctor Band, another called Proverbial Coolaid as well as a number of others.
The project involved securing recordings to transfer to the “Songs of Tucumcari” CD, contacting artists for permission to use their music for the fund raiser, and making certain licensing requirements were met. Many of the songs are old enough to be in the public domain.
About 1,000 CDs will be available, and will go on sale March 18 at the chamber’s monthly business-after-hours event at the Main Street Project office at 207 S. Second St.
Bob Beaulieu, executive director of the chamber, says he hopes to soon have the chamber’s Web site set up so it can accept PayPal payments and post song samples.
One of the songs will be Rodgers’ version of “Tucumcari.” Here’s Rodgers hamming it up with Jimmy Durante before performing the tune:
“The Road Crew” is proud to be a part of this Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce CD project. Thanks including our song, “Tucumcari Tonite.” Best wishes to the chamber.