Bum Phillips is an extraordinary and unique individual who is clearly and unabashedly Texan. I strove to create music that represented the unique qualities that Bum brings to life. We were lucky enough to get to visit Bum and Debbie and some of his children at their ranch in Goliad, TX. Bum loved country and western music but revealed to us that he also loved the soundtrack to the film The Searchers starring John Wayne. That music was composed by one of the fathers of film music, Max Steiner, who was born in Austria and had a background in conducting and composing operetta. I tried to stay true to the “Texas” feel that Bum evokes while composing this music. Aaron Copland and Charles Ives were big inspirations but so were the operas of Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss. I particularly admire the opera Carmen for the way Bizet was able to mix the tradition of European opera with the particularly Spanish feel. There were two other eclectic influences were in my mind while composing. First was the exciting music Sam Spence and company recorded for NFL films. This sound of epic orchestral music mixed rhythm section (bass and drum kit) has a direct connection with football for me. The other was the song Luv Ya Blue. I grew up in Houston in the 1970’s and experienced the Luv Ya Blue era first hand and that song permeated Houston culture at the time. Go Blue!!!
– Peter Stopschinski
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