Celebrating Texas Music
Amplifying Music, One Artist at a Time
A Partnership of the Love of Music
Palabra Productions was born from a simple but powerful love: two friends’ shared passion for music and the independent artist. Co-founders David Akers and Jason Humphrey, both avid Texas music fans, created the company with a clear mission—Celebrating Texas Music—a by-line that defines their purpose and fuels their work.
The inspiration for Palabra Productions came from Righteous Intonation, a Western truth-telling string band based in San Antonio. Akers and Humphrey became close friends—and self-proclaimed “professional groupies”—of the band, affectionately referring to its four members as “The Boys.”
“These guys aren’t new to the industry,” Humphrey explains. “Each of the band members is a first-class, trained, gifted musician in their own right. They should already be playing the Grand Ole Opry, and it’s going to happen if we have anything to do with it.”
Like many independent artists, Righteous Intonation juggles day jobs to make ends meet. Their dedication and talent struck a chord with Akers and Humphrey, who saw firsthand the uphill battle musicians face just to keep performing.
“Helping artists is an honor,” Akers says, “Whether we’re funding a recording session, getting a guitar repaired, sorting t-shirts, building a mailing list or transporting instruments to a gig—every step matters.”
Though still in its infancy, Palabra Productions is growing fast. “It’s exciting,” Humphrey adds. “More and more artists are asking if we can help, and we absolutely love it. Face it—it’s cool to say, ‘I’m with the band.’”
Both founders bring a laid-back attitude that’s a perfect fit for the industry. Their approach is hands-on, heartfelt, and deeply personal. “We don’t take any of this for granted,” Humphrey says. “We’re just honored to be part of their musical journey.”
Artist’s Spotlight
RIGHTEOUS INTONATION: Spinning the True Songs of Texas
Originally published in Tune In Texas Magazine, Holiday 2025 Issue
By David Akers, Co-Founder, Palabra Productions
In a state as vast and storied as Texas, music flows like the Rio Grande — wide, wild, and deeply woven into the land itself. From dusty backroads to packed honky-tonks, talented musicians chase their moment in the spotlight, hoping their songs will echo beyond the dance halls and deserted highways.
But every once in a while, you stumble upon something rare — a band that doesn’t just play music, but channels the very soul of a place. That’s exactly what Righteous Intonation does.
This Western string band isn’t chasing trends or spinning tall tales. They’re telling the truth — Texas truth. Drawing from the hard ground of historical memory, their songs resurrect the stories of the Wild West: Indian raids, cattle drives, frontier justice, boomtowns that burned hot and fast before vanishing into dust. These aren’t nostalgic campfire yarns. They’re vivid, living narratives set to soaring four-part harmonies, old-time fiddle, bluegrass mandolin, and a bassline that stomps like a cattle herd through open country.
A Band Born for the Stage — and the Story
I still remember the first time I heard them. It was at The Red Bird Listening Room in New Braunfels — the kind of venue where the music hugs you the moment you walk in.
The opener that night, the immensely talented Texas artist, Eley Buck Davis (EleyBuckDavis.com), set the tone with a relaxed set of straight-from-the-heart-originals. Up next was a band many of us hadn’t heard before — Righteous Intonation.
From the moment they took the stage, something shifted. Four men stood there — guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and double bass — and somehow became one singular, seamless sound. It was as if the instruments and voices had been born together, fused by purpose. Every note felt necessary, every harmony locked in tight. It was precise, yet passionate. Polished, yet full of grit.
The Sound of Truth, the Spirit of Texas
Righteous Intonation is more than a band — they’re a storytelling machine, channeling the spirit of legends like Marty Robbins, Tony Rice, Townes Van Zandt, and Doc Watson. Their shows unfold like films in motion: cinematic, raw, and deeply human.
But what truly sets them apart is their connection — not just with the audience, but with each other. Their unity on stage borders on the telepathic. It’s not four musicians playing in harmony — it’s one voice, made powerful by many. That cohesion gives their music an emotional weight that lingers long after the final note fades.
For those lucky enough to hear them, Righteous Intonation doesn’t just entertain — they evoke. Their music cracks open the myth of the American frontier and breathes new life into it.
What’s Next for the Band?
With their debut album, Vaqueros, already striking a chord with fans and critics alike, the band will be releasing their second album soon, having just finished recording it at The Ice Cream Factory Studio in Austin. If Vaqueros was their first statement, the next album promises to push even deeper into the heart of Texas music.
See Them Live — Before the World Catches On
Whether you're a die-hard Americana fan or just someone who loves a good story well told, Righteous Intonation is a band you don’t want to miss. They’re not just performing — they’re preserving a legacy, one unforgettable song at a time.
Recently, at the invitation of Leslie Collier, the band attended a private singer-songwriter event at historic Hank Snow’s Rainbow Ranch in Nashville. There in the gently loved comfort of the Snow’s family home, the rooms, once again alive with music, were full of quiet, unassuming industry legends -- singers, pickers, songwriters, fiddlers, seated comfortably on Porter Waggoner’s sofa posed next to the well-used Baldwin piano Elvis and Jerry Lee played on. Nearby was the Snow’s family dining table which has hosted the likes of Hank Williams, Hoyt Axton, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Randy Travis, Mike Williams, Mark Thornton, Tess Frizzell, Kris Kristopherson, Terry Tex Toler and Elvis, just to name a few. The music history was truly palpable.
There was a seamless convergence of Old Guard and New Guard as veteran industry musicians were caught up in the music when Righteous Intonation began to play.
The band was maybe at the second verse of Vaqueros when a decades-long music legend put his arm around my shoulder, leaned in and said ‘You know, they’re not going to belong to only a few of us for very much longer’”. And I believe he is right.
You can catch Righteous Intonation on tour throughout Texas, and listen to Vaqueros now on Spotify. For upcoming shows and more, visit RighteousIntonation.com.
Texas has always had stories to tell. Righteous Intonation is making sure we don’t forget how to listen.