Cowboy Symposium 2009
Performers
Joe Baker: For those of us who love the romance of the "western lifestyle," Joe Baker perpetuates this unique form of Americana. With his slow southern drawl and a tip of his hat, he will make you feel as if you were having a cup of coffee with him by a flickerin' campfire when you tune in to his "Backforty Bunkhouse Show" airing on “New Mexico’s Bear” and “W-105” in Ruidoso, New Mexico.
George Dickey: I was born in Oklahoma and brought up on western music. Two of my uncles were western musicians and taught me to play the guitar when I was about 10 years old.
I have been performing western music most of my life and lately have been very busy performing at western music festivals throughout the western United States
Call of The West: Exquisite harmonies, top-notch musicianship, and on-stage fun add spice to lively western tunes, country standards, cowboy poetry, western swing favorites, and originals when Call of the West entertain you. Besides their lead and harmony vocals, they both possess formidable instrumental skills - Jerome is the 2006 Merle Travis National Thumbpicking Champion, Jeanne was nominated for the 2006 and 2007 Western Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year, and Call of the West is nominated for 2007 Western Music Association Traditional Duo/Group of the Year. They have been featured on RFD-TV’s “Best of America by Horseback”, and “Midwest Country Theater”.
Dennis Jay: His top guitar strings kept a galloping rhythm as he fingerpicked melodies that combined the virtues of Gene Autry and Marty Robbins; his lyrics never failed to depict a place, set a mood and tell a compelling story.
Mike Moutoux: Calling himself, “New Mexico’s Most Enchanting Cowboy” he strives to take his listeners to places and feelings they may not get to any other way.
Sunrise: The duo - Ron and Anna Green joined WMA in the year 2000. They entertain young and old with Western, Folk and old Country music we all remember. Everyone can join in singing on many songs and often laugh along as well. In 2004 they were inducted into the Old Time Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame, honored as performers, educators and coordinators of a family music camp where all can play and sing along around the campfire.
The New Pinoeers: Gene Butts, Alan Meyer, Paul Denton, Ken Butts, Leon Butts This mostly family group closely emulates the great sounds of the original Sons of the Pioneers with their wonderful harmony singing and yodeling, their characteristic instrumental accompaniment, and their extensive repertoire.
Rodger Maxwell: Traditional, contemporary, and original songs of the American West are the music of award winning songwriter and cowboy & western balladeer Rodger Maxwell. His rich descriptive baritone blends with his unique guitar styling for a distinct performance. Folks say that Rodger's songs take them back to the old west. His dad had a show on WRNY radio, in the 30’s, singing cowboy songs, so he really is the “Son of a Cowboy Singer”.
Jon Messenger: Arizona singer/songwriter Jon Messenger sports an impressive list of credentials. An accomplished songwriter, with an extensive musical background, Jon¹s original Folk and Western tunes have been well received by audiences at festivals and gatherings throughout the West. Jon¹s songs reflect his love of the West and the American Cowboy, and his writing has been favorably compared to the works of such notable contemporary Western songwriters as Jack Hannah, Michael Fleming, Dave Stamey, Curly Musgrave, and Bob Wagoner.
Eddy Harrison: I grew up on Country Music, Western Music, Gospel Music and Folk Music. I began singing in a little country church and at age 14 I got my first guitar. My first performances were for my school classmates and parties. At 21, I was fronting for a dance band that played all over New Mexico, West Texas and Southern Arizona. At 23, I wrote my first song. I also build world class Jumbo Acoustic Guitars and inlay them with real turquoise.
Tom & Donna Hatton: Tom and Donna Hatton are past the half century mark as Colorado Beef Ranchers and love every minute of it. The Hattons take the rich history of the West and of family heritage and weave the music, poetry and stories into a tapestry to share around the campfire or while sitting on the front porch sipping coffee. The Hatton Family has a history in ranching as rich as the stories they tell.
Tom Hiatt: Cowboy Balladeer Tom Hiatt can truly be called a "Son of the West." At one time or another during his youth, Texas, California, Alaska, Arizona, and Kansas, were all called "Home." The magnificent landscapes and the people who settled them fill the stories in the ballads Tom writes and sings; tales of cowboys, outlaws, lawmen, pioneers, wild broncos, and more. Tom's warm, emotional voice has enthralled people from Montana to Arizona and all areas in between.
Eldon Housley: Eldons grandfather bought him his first guitar when he was nine years old. Like a lot of cowboy singers he never really had any formal training, just a love of music and a pretty good ear. Today his music spans generations of country singers from Marty Robbins and Ray Price to Johnny, Kris, Waylon and Willie, to the latest by Garth Brooks, George Straight and everything in between. Eldon is fast becoming a favorite at campfires, cookouts and cowboy gatherings.
Katy Creek: Wes and Nancy Ruybal of Katy Creek Band began performing Western Music, Cowboy Poetry and Cowboy Gospel at Truck stop Churches, Rodeo's, Barrel Races and other Equine events in 2000. With a pure uncomplicated style, Cowboy Music And Poetry are presented in an enjoyable family format with renditions and recitations from the 1700-1800's to the modern day working cowboy. They’re available for Western Heritage Festivals, Cowboy Churches, Military functions, retirement communities, weddings, funerals and more.
KG & The Ranger: KG & The Ranger sing with charm and style, they yodel spectacularly, choose great material with unerring taste, and write fine new songs as well. Cowboy heroes come to life when KG & The Ranger perform classic cowboy songs, yodel in harmony and spin a lariat! This popular show will take you on a lighthearted and magical musical journey way out west. Their unique style and wonderful close harmonies make you the feel you are hearing these songs for the first time.
Joe Green: Joe Green stirs it up with his own brand of cowboy poetry and western music. Joe’s popular Ten Gallon Records CD, BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS, plays on radio shows across the US, Canada, and Europe. The CD is riding high on the western charts. Joe writes it as he lives it and sees it. Throughout the West, Joe plays to enthusiastic crowds at cowboy gatherings, ranch parties, house concerts and other venues.
The Elliott Family Band: Fauther, mother, daughter, granddaughter and good friend Charlie Reece make up the Elliott Family Band. The Elliott's bring their family harmony to classic western music.
Johnny Bencomo: Johnny Bencomo grew up in the village of Arrey, NM, taught himself to play the guitar at 13 and has been entertaining people with his music ever since. In his engaging style, he can sit and share anecdotal stories that relate to the history of songs and artists. His songbook contains over 700 standard and original compositions that are sure to please the ear.
Rollie Stevens: Sometimes in the midst of a tragic automobile accident or after a fire fight of a hi rise fire . Rollie Gets inspiration. He’ll grab his pen and write on the back of an encounter form and a Hook line is written or even a whole song verse. No, not make believe, but this happens more than a few times to Rollie Stevens.
Rollie Stevens is a Firefighter/Singer in Phoenix, Arizona, writes Mainstream Country and sings about life, lost and saved, love and occasionally the land that he truly loves. As a youngster, growing up around the Arizona desert .
Sue Harris: Sue Harris is a folksinger from Phoenix, a native Arizonan with a great sense of Arizona's heritage and history and the things that make Arizona unique. She sings about cowboys and trail rides, quests for treasure, quail, Kokopelli, country dances, and mule rides at the Grand Canyon.
Due West Trio: Together since 1994, the DUE WEST TRIO performs Western music. Theirs is not “country” or dance music but rather rich harmonies harkening back to years gone by of the campfires and moonlit trails of the American West. Their musical style celebrates the traditions of artists like the Sons of the Pioneers and the singing cowboys of the silver screen. The Trio’s extensive stage experience includes having shared billing with some of the biggest names in Western music. They have released two compact discs to favorable reviews.
Tiffany Jo Allen: is the 2006 winner of the Colgate Country Showdown competition held in Sedona, Arizona. She is an International Yodeling Champion and the Youngest to have a #1 hit on the Nashville Western Chart in Power Source Magazine. She has performed concerts with country music legend Mel Tillis and just opened for the Rock n Roll Hall of Famers, The Drifters.
Desert Routes: is a trio playing a combination of western and western swing music with an occasional country song. The group consists of Ross Riggs on rhythm guitar and fiddle, Fran Riggs on bass and Bernie Seely on lead guitar. All three sing lead vocals and harmonies and have been playing music together at jam sessions and festivals for the last seven years. The group was named Desert Routes in February 2007 and performed at the Festival of the West in Phoenix in March of 2007. Ross and Fran Riggs were formerly members of the Tucson group, A Mountain Wranglers with many years of experience playing western, western swing and country music. They now make their home at Spring Valley, Arizona. Bernie Seely is from Meadview, Arizona and has been playing the guitar for more than 60 years. He has many years experience playing lead guitar in country bands in California and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry
Bob Kilgore: was born on a farm in Pennsylvania and came West in the 1950’s to seek his “fame and fortune” when the cowboy bug hit him. He headed back East and spent forty years as a professional horse trainer, then returned to Southern Arizona and his infatuation with the West in 1993. Bob day rode for several ranches until he bought his own ranch in Helvetia, Arizona, where he now resides with his wife Karen and a various assortment of dogs, horses, donkeys, sheep and cattle. His humor and story-telling talent, not to mention his remarkable speaking voice, found an outlet in cowboy humor and poetry. Bob has performed through out the Western United States as well as numerous invitational performances back East.
Sandra Manley: has worked with many professional singers and groups to help fine-tune their skills. The areas of recording, stage performance and helping them to change their vocal approach when they find themselves in vocal trouble are areas of Sandra’s expertise. An important part of her teaching is being able to take a beginner with no training all the way to stage. Ms. Manley is unlimited in the types of singers that she coaches: from rock to pop, country-western to gospel or R & B to jazz. She works with the professional in the recording business to the singer who has hopes of becoming a member of their local choir. Sandra has worked on-going with children who love to sing and/or are headed for competition stage. From 1982-84, Sandra was Select Prote’ge’e to Brian Farnon, orchestra leader for 25 years at Harrah’s in Tahoe and previously with Nat King Cole. Sandra has sung for the U.S Army anad Air Force over-seas and in 1988, sang at the Olympics in Seoul, Korea.
Mike Dunn: Arizona heritage goes back to the first settlers. In the late 1800s his Great Grand Dad built up his own freight company that serviced the mines and ranches in the southeastern part of the state. He later took to ranching. The Rail "A" brand, and much of the ranch, is still in the family today. It was there that Mike learned first hand what cowboy life was all about and he cherishes those memories. Mike's book entitled "Somewhere Between Earth and Heaven," has been accepted as a tribute to the ranch family. The Academy of Western Artist has recently named it as a recipient of the 2003 Will Rogers Medallion Award. Mike's hope is to share the spirit of the true west in his writings and recitations.
Jim & Nancy Sober: sing old time traditional, cowboy & Western songs and tell stories, accompanying themselves on guitar and chorded zither. They’ve made music together for more than 30 years, since Nancy discovered she could sing harmony. They favor songs that tell an interesting story with a nice melody. Delivery is with home-style good humor.
Wild Oats Band: name reflects the country roots of its members, as well as the traditional music they play. They have been playing country and western music most of their lives. The original band was started around ten years ago, focusing mainly in the service organizations in Tucson, such as the Eagles, Elks, VFW, American Legion clubs and RV parks.
Way Out West: is a very appropriate name for this musical trio. They cherish and respect the classic songs of the singing cowboys of Hollywood and the working cowboys of the range, as well as the music of today’s great Western writers. They write songs and poetry of their own and enjoy exploring the frontiers of the Western music universe.
Joe Baer:
Patty Clayton: Patty Clayton is a performing songwriter whose original Buckaroo Ballads and Western Swing songs celebrate the present and yesteryears of the West. She has garnered a total of nine nominations in recognition of her talents by the Academy of Western Artists and the Western Music Association, as well a top five 2008 Album of the Year nomination by the Academy of Western Artists for her newest release, “Astraddle A Saddle”. In 2004, Patty was named Female Performer of the Year for the Western Music Association and in 2007 she was awarded the Will Rogers Award for Western Female Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists.
