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Palo Duro is Spanish for "hard wood," something Coronado and his boys were mighty glad to see when they stumbled into the Canyon that now bears the name. But Palo Duro is also the name of a Western Music trio that has been spreading in popularity like the great canyon they are named after. The group is dedicated to the creation of authentic western entertainment, like you might have heard in a cow camp 100 years ago. Just like those old-time performers, they do material written by people they've heard or know personally, along with things they wrote from personal experience, and a sprinkling of great old classic cowboy songs. The group researches the material and shares the "story behind the story" with the audience when they perform. The "elder statesman" of Palo Duro is Jim Anderson, singer, songwriter, poet, and storyteller. He was raised on a family-owned farming and ranching operation in West Texas and Colorado, and having run the operation for fifteen years, his songs and poetry reflect his feeling for the land and the heritage that can only come from first-hand experience. To Jim, the land, the heritage, and the music go hand in hand. As far back as the age of six, when he was given his first guitar, any time people gathered at the house, the barn, or behind the chutes, there was music - and Jim was there to join in. The lead singer and Bass player is Jim's son, Cody Anderson. Cody was a musician in his own right as far back as junior high school, when he played clarinet and sang in the chorus. That's the advantage of a country school: Kids do everything - they have to - and his graduating class of 14 students was the biggest one in years. He participated in both sports and the arts, winning awards in both football and band. Even though Jim had a band traveling across West Texas and New Mexico at the time, he could never get Cody over his shyness to sing with the band. Finally, a few years ago, Cody said "yes" to a talent show before he had time to think about it, and had to save face and perform! That broke the ice, and he's been growing in confidence ever since. Now he brings his own style to the music and poetry, and has the ability to make his audience feel what the lyrics are saying. Teresa Zimmerman plays the fiddle for Palo Duro. She started playing at age 7, she played in Orchestra in both Junior High and High School, and attended South Plains College as a music major. She adds her own flare to the group, built from years of playing with various groups and touring with the Texas Music Gospel Jubilee and appearing at many of the Opries around the country and also performing at various Cowboy Gatherings. Teresa’s love of music comes naturally, as she was born into and toured with the famous Walker family. She traveled with Connie Walker (her Grandfather) and the Texas Drifters from 1992 until 2001. In 2002 she came to Palo Duro and the rest is history Palo Duro's album, "Comanche Moon," contains fifteen tracks that tell the story of the Texas panhandle in song and poetry. The album received West Quest’s Historians Award for preserving and promoting the history, heritage, tradition, and spirit of the American West.
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