Seguin Magazine - March 2022

{ ONTHESCENE }

Silver

STRINGS Strings

Seguin Staple Opens the doors of Success for a local Musician Story By Dalondo Moultrie photos by Felicia Frazar and Courtesy photos

W

eddings can be momentous. They are most certainly life changing.

But for a local man, one wedding changed his life and he wasn’t even the groom.

A few years ago, Gabe Galvan of Seguin served as best man at his friend’s wedding and sang a song for the happy couple. What happened next has put him on a path he hadn’t foreseen prior to the wedding.

“Someone from the (Seguin) Silver Center was there and they hinted that I should go talk to Glenda Layton — who is in charge of the Silver Center — to get on their Silver Opry, which is their showcase country music show,” Galvan said. “She gave me the chance to sing on that Silver Opry. That’s how I met my band; they played as the house band for the Silver Center Opry.”

Galvan began playing guitar about six years ago and started doing some singing around that time. But it wasn’t until he booked the Silver Opry that he

began taking things seriously and doing shows regularly.

He credits Layton with giving him the break that sent him on his way doing shows and performing with a band in front of live audiences. Previously, he had sung with his high school choir but nothing like the Silver Opry.

And, according to Galvan and Layton, she booked him without even a proper audition. After someone sent Galvan to Layton to ask for a spot on the bill, she said the conversation went something like this.

“He came in and he said ‘I’d like to play at your Opry,’” Layton said.

Layton: Well, can you sing?

Galvan: Yes, ma’am, I can.

Layton: Do you have anything I can hear?

Galvan: No, ma’am. I just sing in church.

Layton: “Well sing me something.”

Galvan sang a cappella and impressed Layton, she said.

“I was just kind of giggling and messing with him to make sure,” Layton