Dallas Businessman Uses Music to Rebuild Town’s Future

Dallas software entrepreneur (Inceptual Inc.) Bill Good took $250, five bands, one stage and the desire to raise money for academic programs for a small community in rural Texas, and has turned it into a 2-day, 50+ band, music festival anticipated to rival all the major Texas music festivals and rebuild a town’s hope for a solid academic future for its students.

After reading an article in the Dallas Observer about the game of six man football in Penelope, Texas (pop. 211), Mr. Good trekked two hours south to see the “true” Friday Night Lights. “I was hooked instantly. These kids try so hard and the parents—all of them, not just the football parents—will do anything to give their kids a chance. I wanted to help them.” And help he set out to do.

Three years and 25 football games later, Mr. Good delved further into town business and discovered that its academic programs were sub-par to larger, urban communities. “An average family in this town yearly earns 20K, the K-12 school has a couple of computers, and I saw an opportunity to help these kids succeed academically.” Mr. Good began by donating to the library and contributing to several scholarship funds.

This was not enough. Mr. Good saw a local parents group borrow a flatbed trailer for a stage, cook a stack barbecue sandwiches for sale, talk a local band into playing for free, and raise several hundred dollars for school programs. His idea was born. Mr. Good created Penelope Ventures for prosperity, community, and heritage.

Through the course of 8 months, unbridled support of the Penelope and Hubbard communities and several dedicated volunteers, The Earful of Texas Music Festival was created and will bring 50+ performers from Texas to City Lakes Park in Hubbard, Texas for 2 days for the last weekend in September to benefit the academic programs of Penelope and the parks department of Hubbard.

“This festival will certainly make a difference,” says Harley Johnson, Penelope ISD superintendent. “The money can be put to good use in the library, for computers and other academic programs.”

For information about the festival or the artists, visit the Earful of Texas Music Festival website, www.earfuloftexas.com, or to schedule an interview with the festival director, any artist or to request an on air performance, please contact Becca Finley, Becca@earfuloftexas.com, 214-417-1225.
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