Art Greenhaw

Greenhaw was born in Dallas, Texas, United States.[8] Like most of the other Doughboys down through the years, Greenhaw started in music at an early age. At the age of eight, he picked up the guitar, and by the fourth grade, he had his own band, "The Doodlebugs". Later, during the psychedelic era, came a rock band named "The Inner Soul".[9] With The Inner Soul, Greenhaw met physician George Miller, the father of rock musician Steve Miller. The elder Miller hired Greenhaw's groups to play at various parties.[9] Greenhaw's interest in guitar led him to country music. At the same time, Greenhaw studied classical music as a child at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Piano Preparatory Department from 1966 to 1970. Greenhaw received his bachelor's degree in political science from SMU in 1976.[10]

Starting in 1983, Greenhaw served as the musical director and band leader of a weekly country music revue, the Mesquite Opry. He first worked with the Light Crust Doughboys when he booked them to play at the Mesquite Folk Festival in 1983, which Greenhaw had founded.[10] Greenhaw became excited about the prospects for the band, which had been working only sporadically for several years. Walter Hailey, the Doughboys' master of ceremonies in the 1950s, was born in Mesquite and a friend of Greenhaw's family.[11]

Greenhaw has been bassist and co-producer of the Light Crust Doughboys since 1993. He set into motion a plan through which the Doughboys would create for themselves a new golden age. That plan resulted in the Doughboys making frequent appearances in theaters throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Greenhaw's experience as a rock guitarist has affected his bass playing. He usually plays with a pick, a feature more common to rock bassists than to jazz, country or western swing players. Greenhaw brings great variety to the Doughboys' bass position. His approach changed the bass sound of the Doughboys' rhythm section; the bass, before always supportive, now is more melodic and noticeable, as in rock music.

Greenhaw has also organized unusual performance and recording opportunities for the Doughboys. In 1997, Greenhaw took the lead in composing and arranging the music and recording the soundtrack for a documentary film about actor Bela Lugosi, Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula.[12] He worked on the project with then University of Oklahoma instructor Gary Rhodes.[13] The project received a rave review in Filmfax magazine.[14] Also during 1997, the Doughboys participated in a cooperative recording effort entitled The High Road on the Hilltop, this time joining up with the Southern Methodist University Mustang Band.[15] This collaboration came through Greenhaw's previous connections with the SMU. Greenhaw's father, Frank, also earned a degree from SMU and from 1941 to 1945 was student director of the Southern Methodist University Mustang Band.[9] Greenhaw wrote three of the songs recorded: "High Road", "Texas Women" and "Hangin' 'Round Deep Ellum".[16] The 2005 album, 20th Century Gospel : From Hymns to Blackwood Brothers Tribute to Christian Country, included contributions from Greenhaw, the Light Crust Doughboys, the Jordanaires, and Nokie Edwards. AllMusic commented that it was "A pristinely recorded and expertly played slice of truly American music, 20th Century Gospel is an uplifting work that resonates with the participants' obvious love of making music."[17]

In 2006, in conjunction with the Diamond Anniversary of the Light Crust Doughboys, ASC (America Sejung Corporation) were commissioned to produce a limited edition series of seven fretted musical instruments. In collaboration with Art Greenhaw as technical advisor, these included a banjo, mandolin (with pickup), electric bass, and both hollow and solid-body electric guitars. The models were produced in a customised "Biscuit Brown", with its burst-edge fade resembling an oven-baked biscuit in color.[18][19][20]

Greenhaw was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2015 at the Dallas Baptist University, in Dallas, Texas.[21] The same year Greenhaw's book, Mesquite (Images of America), was released via Arcadia Publishing.[22]

In 2016, Greenhaw began creating, editing and writing faith-based visual novels and comic books, starting with book series title God's Silver Soldiers,[23] also known as Silver Soldiers: The Comic and followed by Tales of Nazareth: The Boyhood of Jesus.[24] The comic books, under the imprint of Truthmonger Comics Group Publishing, have achieved acclaim for their action-oriented innovation in illustration by comic book artist Ben Dunn as well as their storylines, and they have been covered in the media by TV channels, newspapers, and faith-based, nationally syndicated radio.[25]

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• 1980: Recipient of commendation, President Jimmy Carter
• 1995: Named Official State of Texas Music Ambassador, Texas House of Representatives
• 1995: Recipient of Family Business of Year Award, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
• 1995: Commendation from Texas Commission on the Arts, Austin
• 1999: Dove Award nominee[28]
• 2002: Dove Award nominee[29]

• The Ultimate All-Day Singing Songook Book, Marvin Montgomery & Art Greenhaw, 1999, Mel Bay Publications, Incorporated, CD / Hardback book, ISBN 978-0786650156
• The Light Crust Doughboys Songbook, Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery & Art Greenhaw, 2001, Mel Bay Publications, Incorporated, CD / Hardback book, ISBN 9780786630707

• Dempsey, John Mark (2002). The Light Crust Doughboys are on the Air : Celebrating Seventy Years of Texas Music. University of North Texas Press. ISBN 9781574411515.
• Boyd, Jean A. (2003). "We're the Light Crust Doughboys from Burrus Mill": An Oral History (1st ed.). University of Texas Press. ISBN 9780292709256. pp. 108, 111, 113, 114, 115, 119, 121.

• Official website
• A Life In Gospel Music - Art Greenhaw Records (video)
• Stan Lee and Grammy-Winning Christian Comics Creator Art Greenhaw (video)