Caprock Chronicles: The Maines Family: Nine decades of West Texas music, part 2

Editor’s Note: Jack Becker is the editor of Caprock Chronicles and is a Librarian Emeritus from Texas Tech University. He can be reached at jack.becker@ttu.edu. Today’s article about Lubbock’s musical Maines family is the second of a two-part series by frequent contributor Chuck Lanehart, Lubbock attorney and award-winning Western history writer.

As the elder Maines Brothers Band faded by 1970, the “little” Maines brothers — now the “new” Maines Brothers Band — began a steady rise in popularity in Lubbock and surrounding areas. With the advent of “liquor by the drink,” bars sought musical talent to draw customers, and the boys found themselves in high demand.

An early lineup featured brothers Lloyd on guitar, Steve on guitar and vocals, Kenny on bass and vocals, Joe Stephenson on fiddle, Ronnie Middleton on guitar, and drums were handled by either Steve Braddock or John Dwyer. Frank Carter, who played pedal steel for the elder Maines Brothers, gave Lloyd a steel guitar, and Lloyd soon became proficient with the challenging instrument.

In the early 1970s, Lloyd hit the road with Joe Ely’s band, Steve left for college and Kenny was recruited to play lounge shows in Las Vegas. When Steve returned from college, the 1974-76 Maines Brothers Band was a blend of two generations. Steve played guitar, little brother Donnie played drums, Uncle Sonny sang, Fernie Reed played bass, and Curley Lawler played fiddle. They performed at places like Lubbock’s Palomino Club.

Kenny tired of his Vegas gig and returned to Lubbock, and the band regrouped in 1976, with Steve and Kenny joining Donnie on drums, Randy Brownlow on keyboards, Randy’s brother Jerry on bass, and Richard Bowden on fiddle. They played regular gigs at various venues around Lubbock and in 1978 recorded an album, “The Maines Brothers and Friends,” at Lubbock’s Don Caldwell Studios.

Early in 1980, Lloyd rejoined the band, and the group continued recording at Caldwell Studios. They released albums “Route 1 Acuff,” “Hub City Moan,” “Panhandle Dancer” and “Amarillo Highway.” In 1983, the band signed with a major label — Mercury-Polygram Records — and recorded the albums “High Rollin’” and “The Boys are Back in Town.” After leaving the label in 1986, they recorded two more albums, “Red, Hot, and Blue” and “Wind Storm.”

In 1985, their single, “Everybody Needs Love on Saturday Night,” was a top-20 Country hit. Other fan favorites included “Amarillo Highway” written by fellow Lubbock musician Terry Allen, and “Break the Fall,” written by band member Jerry Brownlow.

Although their hard-driving sound is undoubtedly influenced by rock music, the Maines Brothers were known as country artists. Their style would be described as “Aggressive Country,” and they toured nationally with Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, Reba McIntyre, Barbara Mandrell, The Judds, Brooks & Dunn, Jerry Jeff Walker and other top acts.

Over the years, there were personnel changes, as Cary Banks replaced Randy Brownlow on keyboards, and little sister LaTronda Maines Moyers sang on recording sessions, sometimes performing live with the band, always introduced as “the prettiest Maines brother.” Mark Gillespie filled in for Donnie on drums for a couple of years.

In 1984, the Texas drinking age increased to 21, and there was a general downturn in the regional economy, which reduced live performance opportunities for the band. By the 1990s, the Maines Brothers played sporadically. In 2000, as opening act for the Dixie Chicks, the Maines Brothers almost stole the show at Lubbock’s United Spirit Arena. They performed local reunion concerts in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.

The Maines Brothers Band was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in 1993, and in 2012, Lloyd Maines was himself inducted into the Walk of Fame.

Lloyd now lives in Austin, where he is an acclaimed producer, studio musician and live performer. He is a member of the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame. Steve is Director of Athletic Events at Texas Tech University. Kenny — who served as Lubbock County Commissioner in the 1990s — performs regularly as a solo act in West Texas. Donnie is retired from the cotton business and lives in Graham. LaTronda and husband Wally Moyers own Moyers Group, a Lubbock sound technology company.

The Maines family musical gene was passed on, notably by Lloyd and wife Tina, parents of Natalie Maines (born in 1974), lead singer for the Chicks, the best-selling female band and best-selling country group in U.S. music history. Natalie’s oldest son, Slade (2001), is a talented guitarist who plays in the Chicks’ band.

Kenny and wife Sharon’s oldest son Brian (1982) is a worship drummer at First Baptist Church in Lubbock. Donnie and wife Ronda’s son Chad (1983) plays drums in various groups in the West Texas region. Their son Casey (1986) plays electric guitar with several bands in West Texas. Brady (1999) and Breck (2003) Moyers, sons of LaTronda and Wally, are musicians. Other Maines progeny are musicians but not currently active.

The Maines Brothers Band tries to come together for a concert every year, and they reunited April 15 at Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theater. Rehearsals will bring the entire family together for food and fun, reminiscent of the days in the 1950s when the family gathered in Granddaddy Ray and Mamaw’s kitchen near Acuff for old-fashioned “pickin’ and grinnin’.”

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Caprock Chronicles: The Maines Family: Nine decades of West Texas music, part 2