The Renters

Gary Gackstatter and Tim Durham have been playing together since 1990 and have been winners in the Walnut Valley Songwriters Competition since then, often with multiple songs being chosen as winners. As their repetoire of original material grew, recording became a top priority. Crow Johnson (Walnut Valley Songwriting chairperson) suggested Merel Bregante, who played and recorded with Loggins and Messina, Leo Kottke, Dan Fogelberg, Dirt Band and others. His Cribworks Studio in Austin provided the perfect atmosphere to record their music and his knowledge of recording acoustic instruments makes the Renters' CDs a treat to listen to.

Atlanta violist, Julie Rosseter, who is a long-time college friend of Gackstatter, was brought in to broaden the sound with her rich, interpretive lines and flashy technique.

The result was their first CD, "The Missing You Waltz". It proved to be so successful that they decided to follow it up with "Renters From @#** in 1998. "Under This Kansas Sky" was chosen to be included in the 1998 Oasis compilation CD which released nationally. in September of 1998.

The Renters also played for the 1999 Govenor's Inaugural Ball in Oklahoma.

Wanting to show an entirely different side of their music and live performances, the Renters released "The Best Things In Life Are For Rent" in 1999.