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Mystery Ridge Recording and Publishing is a small, family-owned business. Our primary focus is to produce our own brand of new or original music with strong roots in the past that is played in a style reflecting both bluegrass and oldtime traditions. For the past twenty-five years, on Saturday afternoons in his store, The General Mercantile and Oldtime String Shop, Steve Hartz has played oldtime music with friends or other folks who might drop in. That would also include Steve's wife, Sheryl, who dropped in for the first time about 19 years ago. As a result of playing and singing these old fiddle tunes and songs, Steve developed an interest in writing music in this older style. He wrote tunes for years, and when he completed his first album, Crooked Steep and Rocky, Mystery Ridge Recording Company came about. Steve completed his second personal recording project, By the Muddy Angelina in December 2001. In addition, he has also recorded Miki Lynn's first two albums on the Mystery Ridge label. We are proud to announce the completion of Steve's third recording project, Settlers of the Western Woods in April 2008. Now Available!! Settlers of the Western Woods is our latest hard bound book and CD package. It includes more original music by Steve Hartz, as well as authentic music from the 1800's. The tunes and contents of the book are about aspects of East Texas history including early settlers and their journeys to Texas, steamboats and port towns, Texas Indians, wandering minstrels, heroes, outlaws, and more. If you are interested in geneology, southwestern pioneer history, or oldtime music, this should be of interest to you. For audio samples of different tracks, please
CLICK HERE---->Sound Files We are thankful for the many kind remarks from folks who have reviewed By the Muddy Angelina. To see quotes for reviews from Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, Cowboys and Indians Magazine, The East Texas Historical Society, The Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, The Gilmer Mirror, and The East Texas Journal, click here.
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The building which houses the General Mercantile and Oldtime String Shop is located in historical downtown Nacogdoches, Texas and is nearly 100 years old. It was once the site of Stone's Cafe, where Bonnie Parker worked before joining up with Clyde Barrow. Steve has operated the Oldtime String Shop out of the building since 1978, and has always had a love for the older ways of life. After finding out that the building was also formerly a general store, he and Sheryl decided to continue the tradition and run an old-fashioned general store sometime after 1990. Since that time they have sought to carry a variety of oldtime merchandise ranging from acoustic musical instruments and accessories to housewares, toys, and clothing.
For more information about us, and to see our selection of hard-to-find oldtime merchandise, as well as our unique Mystery Ridge recordings, please continue to browse our site and online catalog. Thanks! Attoyac Valley String Band Soon after the release of By the Muddy Angelina, Steve formed the Attoyac Valley String Band with Sheryl and friends Dirje Smith and Brian Tarrant. The band plays oldtime string band music with various combinations of instruments which include fiddle, mandolin, guitar, cello, bouzouki, and banjo. They enjoy performing for weddings, parties, and other occasions. Dr. Bluefield's Attoyac Valley Medicine Show  Standing: Mel Finkenberg, John Smith, Steve Hartz, Gary Coover, Brian Tarrant. Seated: Lana Henry, Sidney Rose Hartz, Sheryl Hartz, Dirje Smith. The Attoyac Valley String Band also performs oldtime medicine shows. Using a 1928 Model A huckster wagon and a totally vintage appearance, the Attoyac Valley Medicine Show includes comedy and buck dancing, along with unique oldtime string band music. The music is a mixture of original and traditional tunes which are focused on the "lost culture" of earlier times in East Texas. This "medicine show approach to music" is designed to transport the audience to those earlier times. The current medicine being peddled is Dr. Bluefield's Indian Herbal Nomomaladaise, which is actually a delicious edible mayhaw syrup. This is an act that can be fun for the whole family. Please see the schedule below for upcoming public performances.
This site was last updated on January 31, 2010. Come back soon! You are visitor #: |
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