But Susan�s story didn�t begin there and it doesn�t end there either.
Susan was born in Fridley, Minnesota, the second daughter of a third generation railroad worker. His job kept their family on the move; among other places Susan lived in Nebraska, Illinois and Montana during her childhood years. She graduated from high school in Amarillo, Texas and it was there that her music career began. Well, not exactly.
Susan�s mother was a piano teacher and Susan�s first musical influence. Later Susan honed her skills in school and church choirs. But it wasn�t until she was a senior in high school at Amarillo that she picked up a guitar.
Susan decided she wanted to become a forest ranger and moved to Montana, a place she still considers her spiritual home. She studied for a time in Missoula, Montana in pursuit of that career and played music in small venues on the side. She came back to Texas when her older sister had her first child to be part of the process and to see if she could be of any help. While in Amarillo she auditioned with the Groobees.
The previously all-male members of the Groobees recognized Susan�s talent. She joined and became an integral part of the group. Over the next few years, the Groobees released a number of albums under the tutelage of Lloyd Maines, Natalie Maines� father. Scott Mellott and Susan wrote most of the material and between them produced a wonderful catalogue of music. They traveled and played the Texas scene, sometimes with crowds so small the take barely covered the cost of buying gas to get to the next gig. But those that heard them liked them. The gigs got bigger, the crowds larger.
Susan describes this time in her life as a struggle but also as a time when had a lot of fun. She was doing what she loved: writing, touring and singing the songs. All of this surrounded by good company.
Keeping a band together is a difficult thing, harder even than preserving a marriage, because multiple members are involved and many sacrifices of time and personal choice must be made to keep everyone headed in the same direction. The Groobees did well while struggling. It was success that did them in. When the Dixie Chicks picked up Wide Open Spaces, money began to pour in. Some of the band members got married and had new obligations other than music to consider. Susan says if you ask the other members of the Groobees what led to the breakup, you�ll get a different version from each�each true from his own perspective. Susan believed it was time to drop everything else, hit the road and conquer the world.
The breakup came fast and it hit hard, like a bad divorce. For a time it left her reeling.
Her first solo album, Chin Up is a reflection of that time and the difficulties she was going through. Some of Susan�s critics will tell you the songs are too personal and painful. Well, not every cd can be all things to everybody. For me I find the cd a personal testament to the devotion Susan had to the Groobees and the craft she loves. It is only when one�s heart is fully invested that the pain and confusion of the loss reaches the level she describes.
Critics beware. If you live long enough and wholeheartedly leap into anything like Susan did, you�re likely to find yourself in that place at some point. If and when you do, Chin Up may help you navigate those dreaded waters.
Susan�s second and latest offering, Outerspace, continues to chronicle Susan�s recovery. The song, I�m Happiest When I�m Moving, reveals the wanderlust that�s part of her makeup and exposes some of the scar tissue left over from the breakup of the Groobees: a fear of deep involvement and commitment to new relationships. The second track on the album, Company Man, is reminiscent of songs that made the Dixie Chicks famous. I hear some songs from a jaded place, but in others like First Sign of Spring I find signs of hope, love, rebirth and newfound dreams for the future. Her talent as a wordsmith shines throughout the album.
One thing I�ve learned about honesty: not everyone will like it.
The first step in getting through difficult times is an accurate evaluation of where you are. Susan has done that. She held up a mirror, took stock, honestly described what she saw and is making changes she hopes will give her a satisfying life and a successful career as a musician. She�s back on her feet, singing and touring, pressing forward, writing and producing new material. She has finally arrived at a place where she can look at the work she did with the Groobees and think about not only what could have been or what was lost, but also just how good what the Groobees produced really was.
And it was very good.
My Best Feature is a wonderful song from the Groobees� Buy 1, Get 11 Free album telling us all the reasons Susan is what she is with Susan�s patent twist of humor. And Miles City from Wayside describes the scene of a mother traveling to see her son in a juvenile detention facility, and questioning just how it is she has arrived at this place. The song never fails to haunt me, and leaves me thoughtful, pensive and hitting the repeat button.
Part of Susan�s problem is that it�s hard to find all of her work on a Susan Gibson album. I�m hoping she�ll soon remedy that. A few of her better efforts are to be found elsewhere.
Susan contributed her voice and her talent to two songs on Mike McClure�s best cd (in my opinion), a cd called Twelve Pieces . The first song Wicked Game of Hearts is just fantastic. Don�t know what else to say. Listen and you�ll know. Harder to Ignore is also incredibly good. So good, I�m tempted to suggest maybe these two should look into doing additional ventures together. Certainly you should by this cd.
There�s one more song Susan did with Mike during his years with The Great Divide called Hung Down Dead that still gets airplay at KNBT and for good reason. I sometimes play it for inspiration when things are not going well in my world. The album is called Dirt And Spirit.
Susan is a beautiful woman inside and out�a big boned girl with thick blond hair, clear blue eyes and a radiant smile. She has a rich wonderful voice, catchy lyrics and a unique style. She�s quick-witted, humorous and definitely worth catching at a live show if you get the chance.
Her musical career took a detour for a while after the breakup of the Groobees but she�s on track again. I suspect there�s more to come from Ms. Susan Gibson.
I look forward to it.
Here�s her website: http://www.susangibson.com/
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About the Author – Don Henry Ford, Jr.
When Don’s not writing books he lends out his talent to Americana Roots to put together great articles like this. If you’ve enjoyed what you read, then pick up Don’s latest book Contrabando: Confessions of a Drug Smuggling Cowboy at your local bookstore or online at Cinco Puntos Press.