Voices of the
BIG BEND
Jim Glendinning recreates some of his popular radio interviews from “Voices of the Big Bend,” an original production of KRTS,
Marfa Public Radio, which is broadcast throughout the region at 93.5 FM.
by Jim Glendinning
TODD JAGGER
Musician, photographer and business
entrepreneur Todd Jagger was born on
Nov. 9, 1956 in Washington, D.C. to
Mavis and Sid Jagger. Three sisters com-
pleted the family. His father was assistant
director of the Urban Renewal Agency,
and the family lived in Washington until
1961. Early exposure to music started
when he borrowed his sisters’ 45s and
heard rhythm and blues for the first
time. He took piano lessons and went to
his first Led Zeppelin concert when he
was 12. This was the 60s; there was lots
of music.
His father moved to Austin and sold
real estate. Here Todd went to elemen-
tary school, junior high and high school.
He started playing with garage bands,
“not good but fun,” and studied guitar
with the renowned Wayne Wood for two
years – an experience he recalls with
pride.
In 1975, through friends, he met
Jimmy Ray Harrell, an intuitive match-
ing of talent which continues today.
They started playing their style of music
(“throwback music”) part country, part
blues, influenced by Bob Wills among
others. Todd played mandolin, Jimmy
Ray guitar, piano and accordion. Todd
finished his college education in 1981 at
Trinity University in San Antonio with a
B.A. in Communications.
Of equal interest to him as music was
his photography, which he practiced
from an early age. In his younger days, it
was his first interest, and he showed
good talent. A collection of his photo-
graphs are in the Harry Ransom
20
Photo by Jim Glendinning
Photo by Jim Glendinning
TODD JAGGER
Fort Davis
Collection at the University of Texas,
Austin, the largest photograph collection
in the world. His images have appeared
in a National Geographic book and in
national magazines. Inspired by Ansel
Adams, his pictures are of border land-
scapes in Big Bend and beyond. He still
carries his camera wherever he goes.
Todd married at age 19 and had a
daughter, Charis, born in 1980, and a
son, Caleb, born in 1983. There was a
second marriage and divorce in the late
80s, and then in 1993 he met Anjela
Garcia, with whom he lives in their
home in the Davis Mountains.
After a stint with the Austin Lounge
Cenizo
Fourth Quarter 2010
RICK RUIZ
Alpine
Lizards in 1990, he was ready to leave
Austin. In 1991 he moved to Big Bend
and got active in business ventures and
real estate. He launched the Harvest
Moon & Tunes Festival in Fort Davis
from 1993 to 1995. There was great
music, including the yet-to-be discov-
ered Dixie Chicks, but it was ahead of its
time. He also opened a gelateria and a
coffee shop and established Overland
(1996), the first Internet service provider
in the Big Bend.
“Border Blast,” hosted by Todd and
Jimmy is one of the longest running
music shows on Marfa Public Radio.
This past August, he and Jimmy Ray
Photo by Jim Glendinning
LUCY FERGUSON
Presidio
organized a Folk Alliance event in Marfa
for musicians, which they will repeat.
The Border Blasters’ (2009) CD is selling
well. “Jimmy Ray makes me a better
musician,” Todd says. “Besides, “we
mesh well and have fun.”
RICK RUIZ
“Our mission is to provide dynamic
musical performances that are marked
by quality and diversity, are driven by
passion and are at the service of our cus-
tomers/audience.” So reads the Web
page of Grupo de la Paz, an Alpine
band headed by Rick Ruiz, known for