Don't Tell Mama

An Interview With the Don’t Tell Mama Band: 20 Years of Music, Magic & North Texas Soul

Interviewer: For people who may be hearing about you for the first time, how would you describe the Don’t Tell Mama Band?

Glenn Lightford (Band Leader): The Don’t Tell Mama Band is an 11‑piece, high‑energy party and variety band based right here in Dallas–Fort Worth. We’ve been performing for 20 years, and our mission has always been simple: create unforgettable nights filled with great music, great energy, and a whole lot…

The songs of the 60s have a special magic that has stood the test of time, remaining just as fresh and exciting today as they were when they first hit the airwaves.

For those of us that grew up in the 60s, we remember it well as the good times of living carefree and running around with friends.  It was a time when you listened to music on your transistor pocket radio on your favorite AM radio station.

There’s just something about the music of the 60s that gets stuck in your head and refuses to leave. Here are…

Remember those good ol' days when music was more about soul and less about streaming numbers? When lyrics had meaning, and melodies could transport you back to your first dance, first love, or even your first heartbreak? This playlist is a walk down memory lane, packed with tunes that define a generation and set trends. So grab your vinyl, crank up the stereo, and let's dive into some classic songs Boomers absolutely adore! 

 Not in any particular order, make up your own playlist, and share it with us at: do…

Whether it is a soaring soprano or distinctive baritone, a great voice is the cornerstone of great music. When paired with stunning compositions and expert instrumentation, an iconic voice helps create iconic songs. * Here are some all-time great voices in music ranging from R&B icons to opera stars, pop idols and everyone in between.  Not in any particular order:

Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, Etta James, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Smokey Robinson, Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Elton…

This blog is about the making of a very popular song from 1971.  When we (collectively referring to you, the reader, and us, the DTM band as “we”) first heard this song on the radio in 1971, we were mesmerized by the orchestration, the inevitable hook line of the song and that very distinctive guitar intro.  It’s one of those songs that paints a picture in your mind as you hear it and think about the words that are being said.  A truly spectacular song.  

We are talking about “Just My Imagination” by The…

Horn sections have been around popular music since the day one caveman blew through a conch shell and his buddy joined in on a hollow yak bone. Classical composers learned to blend brass and woodwinds to create pleasing melodies, and Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman built huge careers around their horn-centric big band sound. 

But somewhere along the way, the horn section fell out of favor.  Which is a shame, because nothing adds punch to a song like a few well-placed blasts from a horn section. 

Horns never…