Music review by Leigh Ballard
Templeton Thompson, cowgirl and singer-songwriter, is a rising star in the country music world. Her latest music video, “When I Get That Pony Rode,” is available for listening on the Mid-South Horse Review website. It has been the #1 music video on CMT.com.
Templeton and her husband Sam Gay (from Memphis, TN) were the musical entertainment for the Southern Horse Bonanza held March 8-10, 2013 at MTSU’s Miller Coliseum. They are no strangers to the horse world. Templeton has been a cowgirl since “before she was born,” she says. “My sweet, horse-crazy mama was riding while she was pregnant with yours truly. I came into this world horse crazy! I've also been writing songs with and about the wonderful horses in my life since I was a kid.”
Templeton’s music video, “When I Get That Pony Rode,” was directed by Cindy Meehl of Cedar Creek Productions. Cindy, also the Director of the documentary BUCK and the instructional DVD series, asked Templeton to provide music for the 7 Clinics series. So, Templeton and Sam created the music on the Buck Brannaman CD set. Templeton’s music has also been on several other “horsey” music videos, like those for Proud Spirit Horse Rescue in Mena, Arkansas. Her song “A Horse That Can Fly,” which she told the crowd was inspired by Seabiscuit, is the song for the Frankie Lovatato DVD set “What It Takes To Be A Jockey.”
Templeton and Sam played for the vendors and clinicians in the Miller VIP lounge after the first night’s event ended. They were together on acoustic guitars only, and gave the crowd a sampling of their repertoire, which ranges from a sweet blend of lilting harmonies to raspy blues country rock. The small venue allowed the couple to chat comfortably with the audience about the origins of each song. On Saturday night, Templeton gave a solo performance in the arena, singing several of her newest cowgirl songs including “When I Get That Pony Rode.”
Templeton is an accomplished and widely sought after session vocalist and songwriter in Nashville, TN, and her work is on the albums of artists such as Jo Dee Messina and Reba McEntire. Sam has written songs for some major label artists. But their original music together is something special. Depending on the song, you might laugh or you might cry: their music has a wide emotional range. It can be thoughtful and sensitive, but also hardheaded and full of self deprecating humor.
The song, “Lessons In There Somewhere,” a bluesy country tale about a stubborn cowgirl who’s “gonna ride a wild-eyed palomino, a real el diablo” says: “I was sure of myself right up until I hit the ground. I bet there’s a lesson in there; it’s probably obvious, staring me in the face, but I don’t feel like learnin’ today!” The perky and upbeat song “Follow Me Around” says “If you want to see what happy looks like…If you want to see what lucky looks like… If you want to see what love looks like… Follow me around.” From “Guardian Angel” comes the advice: “Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.” The song “I Love to Run” was written about the racehorse Barbaro for Allison Pareis’ documentary “Sculpting the Wind and the Making of the Barbaro Memorial Statue.” Templeton also sings one of the most beautiful ballads I have ever heard, “From These Hills,” co-written by Sam with Lynn Langham.
Templeton’s zest, passion, and enthusiasm for her music and her animals are inspirational. Visit the websites www.templetonthompson.comor www.planetcowgirl.com for more information about Templeton, Sam, and their music. And don’t miss her music video, “When I Get That Pony Rode,” on the Mid-South Horse Review website.
Templeton Thompson, cowgirl and singer-songwriter, is a rising star in the country music world. Her latest music video, “When I Get That Pony Rode,” is available for listening on the Mid-South Horse Review website. It has been the #1 music video on CMT.com.
Templeton and her husband Sam Gay (from Memphis, TN) were the musical entertainment for the Southern Horse Bonanza held March 8-10, 2013 at MTSU’s Miller Coliseum. They are no strangers to the horse world. Templeton has been a cowgirl since “before she was born,” she says. “My sweet, horse-crazy mama was riding while she was pregnant with yours truly. I came into this world horse crazy! I've also been writing songs with and about the wonderful horses in my life since I was a kid.”
Templeton’s music video, “When I Get That Pony Rode,” was directed by Cindy Meehl of Cedar Creek Productions. Cindy, also the Director of the documentary BUCK and the instructional DVD series, asked Templeton to provide music for the 7 Clinics series. So, Templeton and Sam created the music on the Buck Brannaman CD set. Templeton’s music has also been on several other “horsey” music videos, like those for Proud Spirit Horse Rescue in Mena, Arkansas. Her song “A Horse That Can Fly,” which she told the crowd was inspired by Seabiscuit, is the song for the Frankie Lovatato DVD set “What It Takes To Be A Jockey.”
Templeton and Sam played for the vendors and clinicians in the Miller VIP lounge after the first night’s event ended. They were together on acoustic guitars only, and gave the crowd a sampling of their repertoire, which ranges from a sweet blend of lilting harmonies to raspy blues country rock. The small venue allowed the couple to chat comfortably with the audience about the origins of each song. On Saturday night, Templeton gave a solo performance in the arena, singing several of her newest cowgirl songs including “When I Get That Pony Rode.”
Templeton is an accomplished and widely sought after session vocalist and songwriter in Nashville, TN, and her work is on the albums of artists such as Jo Dee Messina and Reba McEntire. Sam has written songs for some major label artists. But their original music together is something special. Depending on the song, you might laugh or you might cry: their music has a wide emotional range. It can be thoughtful and sensitive, but also hardheaded and full of self deprecating humor.
The song, “Lessons In There Somewhere,” a bluesy country tale about a stubborn cowgirl who’s “gonna ride a wild-eyed palomino, a real el diablo” says: “I was sure of myself right up until I hit the ground. I bet there’s a lesson in there; it’s probably obvious, staring me in the face, but I don’t feel like learnin’ today!” The perky and upbeat song “Follow Me Around” says “If you want to see what happy looks like…If you want to see what lucky looks like… If you want to see what love looks like… Follow me around.” From “Guardian Angel” comes the advice: “Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly.” The song “I Love to Run” was written about the racehorse Barbaro for Allison Pareis’ documentary “Sculpting the Wind and the Making of the Barbaro Memorial Statue.” Templeton also sings one of the most beautiful ballads I have ever heard, “From These Hills,” co-written by Sam with Lynn Langham.
Templeton’s zest, passion, and enthusiasm for her music and her animals are inspirational. Visit the websites www.templetonthompson.comor www.planetcowgirl.com for more information about Templeton, Sam, and their music. And don’t miss her music video, “When I Get That Pony Rode,” on the Mid-South Horse Review website.
