Gary Lynn Floyd has a new name, a new CD and a new reality TV show
HAT TRICK | Floyd’s CD release party coincides with filming for his appearance on the new reality series ‘Troubador, TX.’
ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Life+Style Editor
jones@dallasvoice.com
Gary Floyd has made a big decision: It’s time to use his middle name.
For years, if you Googled him, you’d be just as likely to get another gay Texas-based musician (he of the Butthole Surfers) as Dallas’ premier crooner. While he has “nothing against butthole surfing,” he says, it’s time to stake out his own identity.
May we introduce Gary Lynn Floyd.
People might not mistake them anymore anyway. This Floyd could set himself apart by being one of the musicians profiled on the new reality series Troubadour, Tx.
“They follow about 24 singer-songwriters — what we’re doing to make our way through the music business,” he explains. That means hauling his keyboard up the backstairs of Woody’s for a patio concert.
Piano? Gay bar? This ain’t no Logo show. The nationally syndicated series (available locally on KTXA Sundays at 10 p.m.) is about Texas musicians, most of whom are shit-kickin’ straight guitar-strummers, not gay pianists with a background in Christian music.
“I wasn’t really sure they knew what they were getting when they asked me,” Floyd says. He was recruited by a friend from the music business over the summer; he began filming in late August, and has shot for about four days so far.
Floyd hass been impressed by the production values, especially considering the quick turnaround — the series has already begun airing, even though production is still underway. Floyd is not sure when his profile will air — perhaps by the end of the month, perhaps early in 2012. But he’s still filming.
In fact, Floyd’s last planned segment shoots this Sunday at the Interfaith Peace Chapel at the Cathedral of Hope. The event will also serves as the launch party for Floyd’s latest CD.
“The [disc] is called Then+Now — it’s sort of a retrospective of my songs,” he says. “It combines the best songwriting,” and includes a duet with Denise Lee that he had never recorded. It promises to be a great showcase for his talents as well as his appeal to a variety of audiences. (A portion of proceeds will benefit the chapel.)
“I hope people show up!” Floyd says. No worries: If there’s one thing Dallasites have shown themselves good at lately, it’s appearing on reality TV.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 4, 2011.
