gary - western swing society steel guitar and dan walton- piano. ... cindy walker's i hear you...

Volume 32, Number 11 November, 2014

GUEST BAND November 2, 2014

Gary

Campbell and

the Stardust

Cowboys

Officials & Staff ............ 2

President’s Message ...... 2

Jam-A-Rana Report ....... 2

Sunshine Report............. 3

Board Meeting Invitation ... 3

Membership Updates ........ 3

About the Photos ........... 4

Upcoming Bands ........... 4

Mike Gross Album Review 4

RIP Smokey Silver ........ 5

RIP Betty Florence ........ 5

Membership Application. .. 5

2014 Inductees ............... 6

From Near and Far ......... 7

Four Glorious Days........ 8

Old Friends, and New .... 9

Happy Times .................. 10

Other WSS Orgs .......... 11

Volunteer Opportunities ... 11

W H A T’ S I N S I D E

NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS BEING ACCEPTED

Nominations are now open for candidates willing to serve on the Board of Directors, which meets monthly to

review operations and make decisions affecting the Western Swing Society's future.

Please contact persons you think would be good directors and nominate those willing to serve. Send your nom-

inations to the Election Committee, Western Swing Society, P.O. Box 2474, Carmichael, CA 95609. Nominees

will be contacted to verify that they wish to run for election. If so, they will be added to the ballot. Candidates

for the three open Board positions and the name of one interim appointee currently serving will be listed on a

ballot to be mailed to active members prior to the election. The four candidates receiving the most votes will

fill the three seats which will become vacant at the end of 2014 and the interim appointment chair which ex-

pires in 2015.

Ballots for the Society's annual election of officers will be counted and the results announced at the monthly

music session in December.

Left: Auburn

Area Honor

Guard

Right: Terry

Crouson, HOF

emcee and part

of the Honor

Guard

Right: Kimberly

Hope, National

Anthem

HALL OF FAME CELEBRATION REVIEW EDITION

The jam room was

really jumping for

our four day festi-

val, everyone was

having fun and a

good time.

These are the musicians that per-

formed during the four days. Joan

Rogers sang and played rhythm

guitar, Patty McConnell sang and

played drums, John Jones, Butch

Gibson, Lloyd Hooper and Bill

Enyeart all played bass and sang,

and Bill Enyeart on lead guitars

well.

Other bass players were Chuck

Webb, Judy Hayes and Mel Hern-

don. Playing lead guitar was Clint

Marrs, who played some outstand-

ing guitar and did some singing.

His brother, Cliff Marrs, played

drums and also sang. Bobby Gai-

son played lead guitar and his

wife, Jeanette, did some singing.

Larry Broad played lead guitar and

sang. Another good lead guitar

player was Cliff Brizendine.

Cliff’s wife, Christina, sang and

played drums.

Joe Champion brought in his key-

board and did some playing and

singing. Joe also played some

rhythm guitar. Chuck Hayes and

Brownie were the steel guitar

players there and Chuck did a lot

of singing.

I had a bunch of fiddle players.

They were Bo Posey and Joe

Mitchell from Oklahoma, Grady

Smith from Texas, Dave Rietz and

Billy Smith from the Sacramento

area. Bo, Joe, and Dave also did

some singing.

The Crouson family was there

Continued on page 3

WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 -

Hi Y’all:

Wow!!! What an

incredible music

filled Hall of

Fame festival that

was culminated

by a classy Induction Ceremony.

Congratulations to each of the

honorees. Also, my sincere appre-

ciation to everyone that had a hand

in planning and/or implementing

the event from the first day setup

until the last night break down.

Our raffle was certainly enhanced

with the donations of Jerry Spra-

gue (Remington statue), Skip’s

Music (guitar), Mary Dillingham

(hand decorated fiddle), Lisa Bras-

well (handmade quilt), Jim Bras-

well (handmade letter openers)

and Tink Cariker (Stetson hat).

Of course, we could not have

pulled it off without the support of

our members. You guys and gals

are the best.

Now that the Hall of Fame is fad-

ing in our rear view mirrors and

our batteries are recharged, it is

time for the Board of Directors to

get back to business. The first item

will be the review of this year’s

event. I am concerned with the

overall 4-day attendance. I’m of

the opinion it may be time to re-

vise the current model. Got ideas?

Grab me on the floor Sunday and

let me hear them.

A second matter is the election for

three Board of Director positions.

The 3-year terms of Janet Jimenez,

Tony Arana and Harley Doughty

expire at year’s end. At the time of

this writing Janet and Tony will

seek reelection. If you’re interest-

ed in a Board post, see Hubert

Continued on page 4

From the PRESIDENT

Western Swing Society Music News

is published monthly by the

Western Swing Society

Views and opinions expressed by contrib-

uting authors are not necessarily those of the

editorial staff or the Society.

Submitted articles, publicity notices and

letters not relating directly to the Society or

its members may be published at the discre-

tion of the Editor, as space permits. The staff

reserves the right to edit any and all items

submitted for publication.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTALS:

All items, photographs, articles, and

ad’s are due to the Editor no later than

the 10th of the month.

The Western Swing Society

P.O Box PO Box 2474

Carmichael, CA 95609

Founded in 1981 by Loyd and Perry Jones

to enable performance, preservation and

perpetuation of the unique American art

form known as Western Swing Music.

Officers:

President, Doug Weiss (916) 434-8189

Vice-President, Olen Dillingham, (916) 645-8878

Treasurer, Rosella Lee (916) 422-5834

Secretary, Janet Jimenez (916) 487-1727

Other Directors:

Tony Arana, (775) 971-3070

Hubert “Brownie” Brown (916) 276-4059

Ronnie Elkan, (916) 765-4345

Jetta Riley, (916) 371-6454

Harley Doughty, (916) 635-0450

Staff and Committee Chairpersons:

Decorating Chair, Myrtle Brown

Equipment and Staging,,

Mike Sisemore and Doug Weiss

Hall of Fame Archivist, Jay Riley

Historian, John Towner

Jam Room, Tony Arana

Membership Director, (open)

Music Director, Bill Enyeart

Newsletter Team: Editor, (open)

Layout and Publication: Shelley Elkan,

Distribution: Janet Jimenez and Jetta

Riley

Photographer, Dennis Ford

Publicity, Lisa Braswell

Raffle, Bob and Virginia Kuykendall

Sales Table, Donald and Susan deMars

Scholarship, Ronnie Elkan and Hubert

“Brownie” Brown

Slide Show, Janet Jimenez

Sound Engineer, Mike Sisemore

Website, (volunteer opportunity)

JAM-ARANA REPORT

SUNSHINE/VOLUNTEER REPORT

(2-4-6-8, WHO DO WE APPRECIATE)

What a full Hall of Fame Week-

end with music, music, and more

music. There were bands from

different regions, such as North-

west Area, Southern California,

Oklahoma was represented and

of course our own Sacramento

organization. We can never

thank our volunteer musicians

enough for their time and travel

just to be here. We are so grateful.

A big thank you to all who made this weekend hap-

pen: Terry Crouson, HOF emcee and the Flag

presentation by the Auburn Area Honor Guard,

Charlie Hull for the Programs; Olen Dillingham, In-

ductee Badges, Gold Cards, and Certificates for Hall

of Fame inductees; Kimberly Hope, National An-

them; Eddie Burr for HOF placemats; Caroline Ken-

ney,and Linda Michael for escorting Inductees to the

stage.

More thanks: Shelley Elkan for our Newsletter each

month; Myrtle Brown, decorations; Mike Sisemore,

sound: Gayle Weiss, Rosella Lee and Cindy Lee,

bar; Sally Collins, food; Dennis Ford, photographer;

Eleanor Ford, popcorn; Lisa Braswell and Lou But-

ler, admissions; Bob & Virginia Kuykendall, raffle;

Ken Stroud, Sammy Sams, Jim Braswell, security

and hall setup and tear down. Tony Arana, jam

room; Janet Jimenez, slide show and picture display;

Don deMars, sales.

We appreciate the gifts that were donated : Skip's

Music for the guitar; Lisa Braswell for the home-

made quilt; Jim Braswell for the handmade letter

openers; Mary Dillingham for the fiddle painted in

the Rosemaling style; Jerry Sprague for the Reming-

ton Bronze reproduction; and Tink Cariker for do-

nating a Stetson hat worn by HOF drummer Paul

McGhee.

Continued in right column


Board Meeting Invitation

You can attend the Society’s monthly Board meetings;

first Sunday of each month starting at 10:30 a.m. in the

Machinists Hall in Rancho Cordova.

Check out Barbara Martin’s

http://www.wsmonthly.com/subscribe.html

MEMBERSHIP

Welcome, New Members: Victor and Barbara Yeakle, Newcastle; Jim and

Carol Johnston, Aromas; Cliff Huey, Roseville; Ju-

liet Gobert, Nevada City.

Thanks to our renewing members:

Betty Sheley and Robert Myers, Sacramento; Lou

Butler, Lincoln.

Locales are in California unless otherwise stated

Continued from left column

Sunday surprises: So good to see Rita Snelsen and

Mel & Ella Herndon. It has been a while and they

sure looked good

GET WELL/THINKING OF YOU: Cleta McCor-

mick, Dale Thompson, Jack Naughton, Patty Wren,

Skeeter Elkin, John Towner, Rex Smothers and Bet-

ty Reeves, and Rod Rodriguez

SYMPATHY: To Family and Friends of Hall of

Fame member, Smokey Silver.

Jetta Riley

Continued from page 2

with Terry playing banjo, Betty playing rhythm and

young Amanda playing fiddle. They all did some

singing. Another banjo player there was Westin Har-

ris. The other vocalists were Nancy Long, Edd Bur-

nett, Sue Reno, Darrell Haddock, David Bryan and

Michael Ray.

My Good buddy Jimmy Hollinger helped me out on

the drums. Thanks a lot Jimmy. There were singers

there that did not write their names on the sign-up

sheet, so I don’t know who you were.

That’s it for now.

Tony Arana, Jam room host.

WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November,2014 -

Continued from page 2

“Brownie” Brown (Election Chair) or any current

Board member. Your name will be added to the bal-

lot.

This year’s Hall of Fame Festival was indeed a chal-

lenge for me. Fortunately, I enjoy challenges. Liking

a challenge however does not guarantee perfection. I

must admit making a few mistakes. For these I apol-

ogize. I know that I will be better prepared in 2015.

As they say, “You always know more in the second

grade than you did in the first.”

Please note that the Board of Directors approved a

change in our raffle procedures. Effective Nov. 2,

2014 the raffle will consist of cash prizes only.

Thanks again everyone for the superb effort.

Bye Y’All:

Doug Weiss, President

Album: That's My Home

Artist: Jason Rober ts

Jason Roberts, a young 19 year vet-

eran of Asleep at the Wheel and

with strong roots in Western Swing

music has now formed his own Ja-

son Roberts Band. In addition, he

has just released a brand new CD that is a real gem.

This new 12 tune album of classic and new material

also features some of the finest names in Western

Swing along with Jason, who is in the vocal spot-

light as well as playing fantastic fiddle, mandolin,

guitar, clarinet and steel guitar. Also heard are Ja-

son's former Asleep at the Wheel bandmates, Eddie

Rivers- steel guitar and Dan Walton- piano. Also

heard on steel guitar is Johnny Cox and on drums are

Butch Miles, Jim Loessberg and Mike Bernal. Kevin

Smith plays bass and the legendary Rick McRae

plays lead guitar.

The album opens from the Bob Wills tune book with

Cindy Walker's I Hear Y ou Talkin. Also included

from Wills is Cindy's Texas Sandman. Jason also

borrows many from pop music and gives it his own

awesome styling. There is That's My Home, How it

Lies, How it Lies, How it Lies, Dark Town Strutter's

Ball, Bye Bye Blackbird and Al Jolson's Avalon.

There is also the Texas dance hall sound of Bill An-

derson's My Last Dime, Jason's own Lest We Forget

and Glenn Sutton's A Texas Honky Tonk from the

great Darrell McCall. The remaining tunes are Dale

Watson's Everybody's Somebody in Luckenbach and

Cliff Bruner's Jesse Polka.

The cost of the CD is $15 plus postage and can be

ordered online from: http://

www.jasonrobertsband.com. Downloads of the al-

bum and individual tracks are available for purchase

on Jason’s Web site, iTunes, Amazon.com, or most

popular digital download sites. The CD is also avail-

able for purchase by phone at 888-606-6874.

Mike Gross, KSEY-FM, Seymour, TX and

www.swinginwest.com

ALBUM REVIEW by Mike Gross

Mike Gross, KSEY-FM, Seymour,

TX, is a Hall of Fame DJ playing

old and new Western Swing on his

radio show, available on the Inter-

net at www.swinginwest.com

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The photos in this newsletter were taken by

Dennis Ford. If you would like to view or down-

load all the photos that Dennis takes at WSS,

please go to his photo website:

fordphotos.phanfare.com

Dennis’ beautiful photos are in color and can be

downloaded to the viewer’s computer and printed

as wonderful keepsakes.

UPCOMING BANDS

November: Stardust Cowboys

December: Eddie Burr & his Western Swingers

April: Shelley Elkan and Bite the Bullet

May: Geoff Miller and the Sactown Playboys

August: Charlie Hull and the Country Swing

Playboys

http://www.swinginwest.com

http://fordphotos.phanfare.com/


Elmer Morris Gunkel (Smokey Silver) June 12, 1931 - September 29, 2014

Elmer Morris Gunkel AKA,

Smokey Silver resident of

Manteca, CA., passed away

peacefully in his sleep at the

age of 83. Smokey was prede-

ceased by his parents Jesse M.

and Zella Mae Mears Gunkel,

and his four siblings, Joseph,

William, and Jack Gunkel, and his sister Clara Hill.

Survived by his wife of 64 years Phyllis Petty Gun-

kel, four children, Ronald, Theresa Batterton,

James, and Zella Olvera, 10 Grandchildren, and 14

great grandchildren, sister-in-law Patsy Gunkel nu-

merous Nieces, Nephews and Cousins.

Smokey was born in Mounds, Oklahoma and

moved to Stockton, California in 1942. He married

his one and only true love Phyllis on August 5th

1950. Smokey worked in sales, radio D.J., and as an

entertainer. He was a staunch supporter and promot-

er of Country and Western Swing Music. Smokey

collected and preserved a large library of country

music dating back to the 1920s. Smokey had a

strong love for country music, he hoped it would be

preserved, loved and carried on by future genera-

tions, long after his journey on earth. He was in-

ducted in to the Western Swing Society Hall of

Fame Oct. 2001 in Sacramento, CA., The Pioneer

Western Swing Society Seattle, WA., in 2006, and

The Southwestern Hall of Fame in Oklahoma, July

2008.

APPLYING FOR MEMBERSHIP AND NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

Submit the following information in a note with your check to The Western Swing Society, P.O. Box 2474,

Carmichael, CA 95609:

Name(s), mailing address, email address, and telephone number.

Fees (make check payable to Western Swing Society)

Individual Membership, $15 per year. *

Couples Membership, $20 per year. (one address only). *

Non-member Newsletter Subscription, $12 per year.

* Newsletter Subscription is included in benefits of dues-paying members. Don’t miss the color version of our newslet-

ter, with additional content and photo pages, by signing up to receive it via email rather than mail – It’s free to members.

Paid membership also includes reduced admission fee at Society music functions, and the right to vote in Society elec-

tions and on proposed By-Law changes.

Sunday, November 2nd

Gary Campbell and the stardust cowboys

FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT AND DANCING

Elizabeth “Betty” Florence

Rest in Peace

It is with great sadness that the

Western Swing Society

acknowledges the loss of one

of our society family, Betty

Florence, seen dancing here

with

Garry

Parks.

She is dancing in Heaven

now.

SKIP’S MUSIC

Sacramento - Elk Grove

2740 Auburn Blvd. (916) 484-7575 Sacramento, CA 95821 Fax (916) 484-0390 Elk Grove (916) 686-5666 skipsmusic.com

Instruments—Sound—Accessories—Repairs

WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November,2014 -

WE’RE PROUD TO WELCOME OUR 2014 INDUCTEES INTO THE

SACRAMENTO WESTERN SWING HALL OF FAME!

Back row: Bob Woods, Richard Casanova, Sam Davidson, David Rietz, Bo Posey, Grady Smith

Front row: Kim Beck, David Lee Bryan, Charles “Edd” Burnett, Billy Champion accepting for Starla and

Jimmy Queen, Eddie Darrell Haddock, John F. Jones

Standiford’s brother and daughter accepted for the late Marvin Standiford


PHOTOS BY DENNIS FORD

A BIG THANKS TO OUR BANDS WHO CAME FROM NEAR AND FAR

Howard Edwards and Friends,

Sacramento, California

Northwest All Stars,

Seattle, Washington

Chuck Hayes and Friends,

Oklahoma

Ray Poe and Pickin’ Time,

San Diego, California

Hall of Fame Inductee Band Bill Compton and the Fugitives,

San Diego, California

Lincoln Highway,

Lincoln, California

Shelley Elkan and Bite the Bullet,

Roseville, California

Tony Arana and the Jam Room Band,


Tommy Thomsen and Friends,

Sonoma, California

Gary Campbell and the Stardust Cowboys,

Foresthill, California

Bill Enyeart and the Dry Creek Band,


WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 - Page 9

FOUR GLORIOUS DAYS OF MUSIC, DANCING, AND VISITING WITH FRIENDS


WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November,2014 - Page 8

A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS AND TO MAKE NEW ONES



HAPPY TIMES ~ GOOD FRIENDS


WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November2014 -

OTHER WESTERN SWING MUSIC

ORGANIZATIONS/MUSIC HAPPENINGS

Sacramento Jazz Society, 2nd Sunday of each

month, NOON to 5:00 at Elks Lodge #6, 6446 Riv-

erside Blvd. and Florin Rd., Sacramento, CA 95831.

$10 for members and $15 for non-members.

Americana Music Thursdays, Every Thursday,

6:30 - 9:00 pm. There will be music, beverages and

special food. J B’s Lounge, Clarion Inn, 1401 Arden

Way, Sacramento, California.

Lincoln Highway Band, 4th Sunday of the

month, 1-4pm, VFW POST 4647, 3300 U Street,

North Highlands, $5.00 cover charge. For more in-

formation call (916) 580-7390.

Canadian Western Swing Music Society, Con-

tact: John York, 3565 Cambridge St., Vancouver,

BC, Canada V5K 1M3. Phone 604-299-2301.

Northwest Western Swing Music Society,

Contact: Jeannie Yearian, Editor, 21221 174th Ave.

SE, Renton, WA 98058-9740. Meets 2nd Sunday

www.nwwsms.com

Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, PO Box 644, Shattuck, OK 73858. Meets quarterly.

Contact Chuck Hayes at 918-683-3511 or go to

website at: www.wsmss.com.

Greater Arizona Country/Western Swing Associ-

ation and Hall of Fame, Inc. PO Box 953, Dewey,

AZ 86326. Contact Jim Gamble at 928-458-0714.

Cowtown Society of Western Music, Contact:

Joe Baker, Membership Director, 575-808-4111,

106 Roswell Street, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345

CA Old Time Fiddlers Association, Meets 2nd

Sunday. Orangevale Grange on Walnut Avenue in

Orangevale, CA. www.cbaontheweb.org/

region_details.asp?regionID=2

Bakersfield Country Music Museum, P.O. Box

81623, Bakersfield CA 93380-1623. Call 661-366-

6003 24/7 for more information.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

The Western Swing Society is a non-profit organi-

zation operated solely with volunteer help. There is

occasional turnover in staff positions, creating a

need for replacements. The following positions are

currently open or filled on a temporary basis. If

you want to serve the Society and have the listed

skills, contact the Secretary at (916) 487-1727, or

speak with the President at the monthly sessions.

The Society will provide the necessary training and

tools (computer, software, etc.) to get the job done.

Newsletter Archivist: We have need of someone

to archive newsletters, which involves scanning the

pages and saving the files as pdfs.

Typesetter: Hall of Fame annual tasks of print-

ing Gold Cards, Programs, and Certificates.

If you have a highschooler or college student in

your family who’s comfortable with computers and

wants to get some good experience to put on their

resumes, please have them consider participating in

the newsletter and/or website program.

MEMBERSHIP

Annual dues in the Western Swing Society are:

$15 for an Individual

$20 for a Couple at one address

Newsletter Subscription is included in benefits of dues-paying

members. Non-members can subscribe for $12 per year.

Paid membership includes a subscription to the monthly newslet-

ter, reduced admission fee at Society music functions, the right

to vote in Society elections and on proposed By-Law changes.

Non-dues payers must subscribe if they wish to receive the

newsletter. Subscriptions are for twelve consecutive months.

Mail to Subscription, PO Box 2474, Carmichael, CA 95609.

Include your name, address, phone, and e-mail address

MONTHLY MUSIC SESSIONS

The Western Swing Society holds a music and dance

session on the first Sunday of each month, featuring

guest bands and artists and jam sets.

1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at The Machinists Hall

2749 Sunrise Blvd., Rancho Cordova, CA*

Donation: $5 for Members; $8 for Non-Members

For information, browse to

www.westernswingsociety.org

*The address is Sunrise, but the driveway is on Citrus.

Driving Instructions to MACHINISTS HALL: From Hwy 50, take the Sunrise Blvd. South exit and cross two lights (Folsom Blvd. and Trade Center Drive). After crossing Trade Center, be in the left lane and take the next

left turn which is Citrus Road. You will see an Enterprise Car Rental lot in front of you. Turn right into the drive-

way just past Enterprise. You’ll see our wooden sign, and you are there. Park, come in and join the fun.

P.O. Box 2474

Carmichael, CA 95609

www.westernswingsociety.org

www.facebook.com/

SacramentoWesternSwingSociety

NOTICE! If today is later than the

date in the upper right hand corner of

your address label, you’ll need to pay

your membership dues or subscription

fee in order to keep receiving your

newsletter.

If you don’t want to be a voting mem-

ber you can still receive the newsletter

by purchasing a subscription.

(See below)

gary - western swing society steel guitar and dan walton- piano. ... cindy walker's i hear you...

Documents