VALLEY COUNTRY: Texas Heat

Luck, timing and talent are all pieces of the equation that made Texas Heat a popular and successful local country band in the Rio Grande Valley.

Lead singer Ryan Baker has played country music for many years, but put together Texas Heat in 2003. A short three months after the band was formed, they found themselves opening for Dwight Yoakam at the now defunct venue, Villa Real.

The band has since opened for many recognizable names and they can often be found playing for hours at Hillbilly's on the weekends, keeping the dance floor full of two-stepping fans.

While they've been doing this for five years now, they're still having fun, so don't expect Texas Heat to retire anytime soon.

"The minute it becomes a job is the day I quit playing," said Baker. 

Band/Musician Name: Texas Heat
Since: 2003
Hometown: McAllen/Mission
Where do you live now: McAllen
Upcoming show: Friday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. "Boots and Jeans: Country Carnival" at McAllen Convention Center
Who do they sound like? Dwight Yoakam + Lynyrd Skynyrd  Texas Heat
Influences: Dwight Yoakam, Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams
Who's in the band and what's their role:
Ryan Baker, 27, lead singer/rhythm guitar who favors Godin and GNL Chris Marshall, 31, lead guitarist; Don Presley, 37, bass; Peter Shotts, ?, drummer
Favorite brands: Baker - Godin and GNL; Marshall - Fender; Presley - ; Shotts - Yamaha or DW

Check out this song by Texas Heat. "Straight Tequila" - 4,618 MySpace plays - Some classic country guitar, twang and tequila make for a typical country song, but throw in a few lines in Spanish and you have something a little more unique. If Texas Heat had a hit, this would be it.

COWBOY CRED 3 out of 5 cowboy hats

Favorite country song? "Brown-eyed Girl" by Van Morrison is Baker's all-time favorite.

What brand of jeans do you wear? Wranglers and Levis

Do you wear cowboy boots? "The majority of us do. I do sometimes," said Baker.

A cowboy hat? Some of the members wear a cowboy hat, but Baker rarely does.

How big is your belt buckle? "A little larger than average," Baker laughed.

How thick is their accent? Baker has bit of a southern accent.

What was the best concert you've seen? "The best one would probably have to be Kevin Fowler," said Baker. "The show he puts on is a high-energy show. He's always crackin' jokes and playing music and having a good time."

Do you have a pre-show routine? Baker keeps his routine short and simple. "Take a shower and get dressed. That's about it."

Favorite beer? Miller High Life is what Baker drinks.

As a country band/musician, how do you relate to Tejano music? "About as close as we get to it is we play a few Freddy Fender songs and one has a Spanish part in it. That's about as Tejano as we get," said Baker.

What is your dream gig? Playing at the Grand Ole Opry would be the ultimate gig for Texas Heat.

What would you do if you made it big tomorrow? "First I'd make sure the deal was legit," said Baker, with a laugh.

What's your hit song? "Straight Tequila" or "Middle of the Road"