Dustin Tatro

Dustin Tatro
OccupationOrganist • Radio Personality • Church Musician
Organization(s)Texas Rangers, MLB
TitleOfficial Organist, Texas Rangers & Globe Life Field

Organist/Choirmaster, St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Breckenridge, Texas

OM/PD/On-Air Host, WesTex Communications Radio
WebsiteTEXOrganGuy.com theRockDownShow.com

Dustin Tatro is an American musician who was the stadium organist for Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers. He was ousted in 2024. [1]

Tatro serves as organist and choirmaster at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Breckenridge, Texas, and is also a 20-year radio personality currently serving as OM/PD and chief engineer for WesTex Communications in Abilene, hosting middays on 106.3 The Raider. Formerly, Tatro hosted middays for Q Country 96.1 (KORQ) and a late-night rock program on KGNZ. He was also the creator and host of a globally-syndicated weekly radio show called The RockDown Show with Dustin Tatro, which features artist interviews and counts down the top ten songs in Christian Rock.[2] He also holds certification as a Texas EMT.[3]

Tatro worked for the Texas Rangers from 2020 to 2024. [1] He was the first official organist of the Rangers since Marcia Rogers left in 2001 after playing since the opening of Globe Life Park in Arlington in 1994.[3] He got the job when Chuck Morgan, Executive Vice President for Ballpark Entertainment, saw videos Tatro had posted on social media while rehearsing for a major pipe organ recital and reached out to invite him to become organist for the Rangers.[3]

Beginning with the 2020 Major League Baseball season, the Texas Rangers began playing at Globe Life Field, which, as of September 2021, does not have an organ installed. [4] For the 2020 season, Tatro recorded approximately 750 pieces of organ music on a refurbished 1951 Hammond C2 organ that he acquired from the storage of a local Baptist church.[3] He also recorded some songs on the 2,800-pipe Garland organ at St. Paul UMC Abilene, where he was the organist from 2014-2022.[3] [5] Like many other stadium organists, Tatro takes requests on social media.[6]

In March 2024 Tatro announced that he was no longer with The Texas Rangers stating he had been replaced by an electric guitar.[1] In May 2024 he hinted he would begin playing the organ for Abilene's newly founded Mid American League Team, The Flying Bison. [7]

Personal life

Tatro is from Andrews, Texas, and has lived in Abilene since 2009.[3] He holds undergraduate and masters degrees in church music, with organ and choral conducting emphases, from Hardin-Simmons University.[4] He is an Episcopalian and a member of the Association of Anglican Musicians. He is married to Staci Armstrong.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c "x.com".
  2. ^ Nikkel, Mary (2020-10-19). "Dustin Tatro to Launch The RockDown Radio Show November 6". Rock On Purpose. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Jaklewicz (October 21, 2020). "Texas Rangers' organist Dustin Tatro lives in Abilene, recorded music here". Abilene Reporter News. USA Today. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Buscher, Casey (2020-07-27). "West Texas native becomes Texas Rangers' first organist in 20 years". kens5.com. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
  5. ^ Fulton, Loretta (2020-04-27). "ST. PAUL UMC ORGANIST SINGING, 'TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME'". Spirit Of Abilene. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  6. ^ Collins, Larry (2020-04-29). "Texas Rangers Organist Keeps in Practice, Hopes Baseball Helps Healing Process". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  7. ^ "x.com".