| Genre: | Drama Music Thriller |
| Director: | Joan Tewkesbury |
| Producer: | Richard L. O'Connor Fred Berner Robert Chartoff |
| Executive Producer: | Howard Rosenman |
| Starring: | Dolly Parton Gary Busey Ray Benson Dennis Letts Willie Nelson |
| Music: | Ray Benson Dolly Parton |
| Editor: | Richard E. Rabjohn |
| Company: | Sandollar Productions |
| Network: | NBC |
| Runtime: | 96 min. |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Wild Texas Wind is a 1991 American made-for-television drama film directed by Joan Tewkesbury and starring Dolly Parton, Gary Busey, and Ray Benson. Parton co-wrote the story with Mark Kiracofe, as well as multiple songs from the film with Benson. The film was produced by Sandollar Productions.[1]
The story centers around singer Thiola Rayfield (Parton) and her band Big T and the Texas Wheel. The plot follows the band's climb to success and Thiola's tumultuous relationship with their violently abusive, alcoholic manager Justice Parker (Busey). In the midst of the chaos, a murder occurs, leaving authorities with a trio of suspects and a mystery to solve.[2]
The film was shot on location in Austin, Texas.[3] Club scenes were filmed in an at-the-time new south Austin C&W dance hall where several hundred people enjoyed the good C&W bands on a big dance floor during the 1990s. Still an active club which has operated under several names since the 1990s on Ben White Blvd near I-35.
The film features original music by Ray Benson and Dolly Parton. No soundtrack was ever released. The title song was written by Carl Perkins and released on his 1992 album Friends, Family & Legends as well as on his 1996 album Go Cat Go! in a new version with Willie Nelson.
The songs in the film are:[4]
The film received a positive review from Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly, who praised the cast's performances and called the film "pleasingly unexpected."[5]