Lee Haile has spun together his love of music, stories, and pioneer toys to entertain people across Texas. Haile will perform at Founders Day this weekend. Photo by Phil Houseal

Details:
Lee Haile will be entertaining with his songs and stories, and sharing his old time toys, during Founders Day between noon and 4 p.m. this Saturday at the Pioneer Museum on Main Street. Call 830-562-3612 for booking information.

webmaster: phil@fullhouseproductions.net

Haile of a Tale

by Phil Houseal
May 9, 2007

During trips to the family ranch at the head of the Nueces River, come evening, Lee Haile and his family would eat supper, then sit around the kitchen table and talk.

"We couldn't get any TV up there, and only a few radio stations, so our time was always spent visiting or playing music in the evenings," Haile said.

Those TV-free evenings sowed the seeds of Haile's career as a storyteller and cowboy singer. These days, he's apt to be found swapping tales and songs around the campfire at a dude ranch.

The thread of storytelling has woven itself through Haile's life and career. Though trained as an entomologist, Haile started a woodworking shop. He always had an interest in wooden folk toys, so he soon was making and sharing them at schools and festivals. Telling stories became a natural part of the demonstration. During 19 years exhibiting at the Folklife Festival in San Antonio, he often found himself wandering over to the storytelling stage.

"They asked me to get up and tell a couple of stories," he recalled. "I enjoyed it so much that I started getting into it. Then I started getting paid for it!"

Haile rehearsed his act during the daily 30-minute drive from his Tarpley home to school.

"It seems we were always in the car," he said. "One trip, I was practicing an Irish tale, when my five-year-old daughter Sierra said, 'I can tell that better than you.' And she did."

Soon his other daughter, Acayla , and wife, Karen, joined the act. They were so good at it, Haile's daughters finished in the top three of the Texas Youth Storytelling Olympics for five years in a row, and once topped the national contest.

To expand his storytelling act, Haile added old time music, accompanying himself on guitar and harmonica. Those musical skills almost were stopped before they started.

"We got three lessons done and dad put a stop to it cause it was a waste of time and money to him," Haile said. "My dad gave me a whipping if he caught me playing guitar."

So Haile, not to be denied, took to carrying a harmonica around with him. It was easy to hide in his pocket and still let him make music while doing his farm chores.

Later, in college, Haile bought a chord book and rounded out his guitar playing skills. Now Haile estimates he knows 30 stories and more than 100 songs. His repertoire begins with old folk songs such as the Old Chisholm Trail and Buffalo Gals, and runs right up to 60s rock and roll.

"I think my storytelling started from the ranch, especially after hunting season when you came back from the hunt and went through the process of telling everyone about it," he said. "That's what got me used to the idea of speaking, and it just developed over time. I listened to other storytellers, and fit them into my personality."

He admits there are techniques to telling a good tale, such as pretending to "forget" part of the story, really intending to set up the audience for the surprise. But in the end, it's all about relating to the audience.

"I always like to be real close to people and to make eye contact," he said. "I like the audience part, walking up and talking. That's part of storytelling - that's what makes my music shows so different. I don't play for people; I play with people."

Just like sitting around the kitchen table.

XXX