Not many people get a chance to live out their life’s dream, especially in the field of entertainment. Moe Bandy happily counts himself as one of the fortunate few. In a career that spans three decades, Moe has achieved success at every level of country music. From his start in the honky-tonks of South Texas to performing before thousands around the world, Moe Bandy is living out his dream.
In the early 1970’s, Moe was working as a cowboy on his grandfather’s ranch in San Antonio. While there, he began competing professionally in the rodeo riding bareback broncs and bulls. But as is the case for most cowboys, Moe’s professional rodeo career was short-lived due to repeated injuries. But Moe’s first love had always been music, and with his rodeo days over, he had time to pursue this interest. He played with his band, The Mavericks, throughout South Texas and soon opened for such headliners as Loretta Lynn and the late Bob Wills.
In 1974, after several failed attempts at landing a record contract, Moe was at a crossroads. Working during the day in the sheet metal industry and performing at night, Moe knew that if he wanted to ever make it big in the music industry, he had to put it all on the line. So he pawned all his furniture to finance a $900 recording session. The gamble worked. From that recording came Moe’s first hit song, “I Just Started Hatin’ Cheatin’ Songs Today,” which led to his first recording contract with Columbia Records. His career then skyrocketed with hits like, “It’s a Cheatin’ Situation,” “Bandy the Rodeo Clown,” and “Hank Williams You Wrote My Life.”
In 1987, he changed labels to MCA/Curb Records and released the album, “You Haven’t Heard the Last of Me.” This album spawned such top ten hits as the title cut, and “Till I’m Too Old to Die Young,” as well as the song “Americana.” The theme of love for life, family, and country were readily apparent in this album, and it soon became the new Moe Bandy trademark. Over his twenty-year career, Moe recorded sixty-five albums producing over 63 chart hits, five gold albums, forty top 10 with 10 going all the way to #1. He has earned four Academy of Country Music Awards and a 1980 Country Music Association Award.
Throughout his career, Moe has performed before audiences all over the world. Moe is on stage for more than 180 dates annually in Branson, MO, as well as making many appearances around the country and in Europe. Moe looks forward to continued success in the years to come. He knows he is one of the lucky few because he lives out his dream every day.
