“Da, na, na, na, na … “Rumour spreadin’ ’round. In that Texas town. About that shack outside La Grange. And you know what I’m talkin’ about …”
If you don’t know what song those lyrics are from, then you probably haven’t listened to the radio in the past 40 years.
That song is, of course, the ZZ Top classic “La Grange”, and at the CEDIA Expo 2019 show in Denver on the week of Sept. 10-14, CE Pro readers have let their voices be heard and voted for the CE Pro All-Star Band to inject a little Texas boogie into the annual trade event.
Choosing between The ZZ Top song and classics from The Black Crowes and Kenny Wayne Sheperd, readers have selected a song that’s been covered many times in live jam situations because of its groove and iconic ending guitar solo.
Billy F. Gibbons Reveals the Inspiration Behind La Grange
The CE Pro All-Star Band will play on Thursday Sept. 12 after the presentation of the CE Pro BEST Awards.
Featuring dealers, manufacturer representatives and manufacturers, the band represents the custom installation industry’s diversity and love of music.
During their set, the band will run through a range of classic rock and country songs, and in addition to the song chosen by CE Pro readers, the band will also feature a special reader guest.
In a newly announced contest, CE Pro is asking show attendees to submit videos of themselves playing guitar, drums, keyboards, etc. on either Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #CEProAllStarBand.
Entry guidelines can be found here, and one lucky attendee will get to jam with the band during the annual trade event.
Read Next: CE Pro All-Star Jam With the Band Contest at CEDIA Expo 2019
For anyone wondering the meaning behind “La Grange” Billy F. Gibbons, the legendary guitar player of ZZ Top told USA Today a couple of years ago that the song is about an adult establishment made famous by the Dolly Parton movie “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”
“Well, one could call it true inspiration,” Gibbons tells USA Today back in 2017.
“Making the journey to the famed Chicken Ranch was something of a genuine rite of passage for successive generations of young Texans.”
Gibbons also notes the song draws from the classic John Lee Hooker blues song “Boogie Chillen” through its simple use of two chords and a couple of Robert Johnson inspired guitar solos.
The song became a hit for the band in 1973. USA Today points out that soon after the release of the song a news report on the Chicken Ranch led to the closing of the establishment.
