Death of a Coffee House: Sad News About Gloria Dei Nights

Got some incredibly sad news this am about Gloria Dei Nights Coffeehouse. Looks like they’re folding up shop for good. I had several really great shows there over the past few years….they always had appreciative crowds and crowds that LISTENED…which is something often lacking at coffee houses…

You can hear what it was like here. You can see what it was like here and here. Dang, I’m gonna miss those guys. Possible one of the best shows that Rick, Bruce and I played was there (check out the sound clips)

Here’s the note they (Jimmy) sent out to their fans and patrons:

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, Gloria Dei Nights Coffee Haus Concert Series is officially closed. We wish to thank all of the great performers who have graced our stage and shared their talents and passion for music. Over our five year run, we have given away thousands of dollars to various charities such as Good Samaritan Food Pantry of Garland, New Beginnings and Casitas del Rey. We have helped nurture new talent in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, helped extended the voice of established
singer/songwriters from around the country and made a lot of great friends along the way.

To all of the people who came out in support of this labor of love and it’s mission as an outreach to the community and surrounding area, we extend our gracious love and thanks. Last but not least, we wish to thank the humble,dedicated, long lasting, cheerful, hard working volunteers that without their help, the show would not have gone on. Brad Wright, sound engineer extraordinaire; Mark Moore, culinary chef and master coffee brewer; Terry Reininger, princess of tax collections and hostess supreme; Dave Welker, stage and sound reinforcement; Ray Dodd, promotions, master of recordings, stage and sound; Mrs. Becci, greeter, collector and bottle washer; Melody Dodd, mailings, promotions and dessert coordinator; Jenell Wright, the coffee lady and promoter of Fair Trade. And to the many un-named volunteers that were unsuspectingly recruited to fill in at the last minute, we thank you.

Extreme thanks to the many area coffee house venues and house concerts that helped us along the way. Please visit Uncle Calvins Coffee House Concert Series, Acoustic Tours, Bonedoc’s House Concerts, Jefferson Freedom Café, Open Door Coffee House, Dallas Folk Music Society and Radio Wayne @ www.radiowayne.com. Bill Nash, thank you.

We sincerely hope that everyone that experienced Gloria Dei Nights, came away a better person for it. We know we did. And that’s da’ truth, Sha.

Foot note:
Where are they now:

Brad Wright, teaches wind surfing on the North Sea coast of Norway.
Mark Moore, joined a band of gypsies living in Austin, while studying to become a nun.
Terry Reininger, is a clarinet soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Dave Welker, plays accordion with the Chinese blues band The Honey Dues.
Ray Dodd, is serving 10 to 20 hot dogs an hour at the Ball Park in Arlington.
Mrs. Becci, went on to become head curator at the Ball of Warn knitting museum.
Melody Dodd, was elected Governor of Texas in a run off election against Willy Nelson.
Jenell Wright, founded the highly successful Fair Trade coffee house chain, FairBucks, that eventually ran that other coffee house chain out of business.
As for myself, Jimmy d.; history would suggest that I became a famous play write on Broadway. The truth is, I went back to alligator hunting down in Cocodrie, Louisiana after the legendary alligator man of Point-au-Chene, Dovie Naquin, died in the Spring of 2005.”