Portales, NM songwriter and performer Will Bannister had the opportunity of a lifetime when his song was chosen for the latest Clint Eastwood movie “Cry Macho” shot in New Mexico and released in September.
Will Banister is an indie country music artist whose wholly traditional sound and have lured fans to his vast storehouse of online videos. As luck would have it, Clint Eastwood has become one of those people, so much so that he enlisted Banister to record the song “Find A New Home” for inclusion in his new film.
Banister got a call from Marlon Espino, a film composer working on the film. Espino had called on his old college roommate down in Texas to ask for suggestions on a singer with the right kind of voice for the song. That friend was well acquainted with fellow musician Will Banister and he quickly put the two in touch. A track was sent over to Banister who recorded his vocals at home and sent the track back with the understanding that if the director liked it, they would fly him out to California to record it proper. At that time, Banister thought it was just some kind of indie film.
The director, Eastwood, did, in fact, like it…a lot, and said upon hearing the vocal track, “that guy’s voice is from the top of those speakers down to your feet.” A few days later Banister, his wife and his band were on their way to Carmel, CA to meet Eastwood and perform at his private golf course, Tehama. Ultimately, the decision was made to keep the version of the song just the way it was with no re-recording needed. The song is heard over the closing credits.
