2-22-12

The Real West – Rod Taylor

Can’t Quit Ridin’ – Linda Lee Filener – Can’t Quit Ridin’

Put Yourself In My Blues – Carolyn Martin – Swing

Jared Rogerson – Bad Hay – Bad Hay

Across The Alley From The Alamo – Billy Cate – Songs Of San Antone

Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Mary Kaye – No Wilder Place

Back To My Boots and Saddles – Barbara Nelson – Back To My Boots And Saddles

Rusty Spurs – Francine Roark Robison – Prairie Tales From The Heart

Rodeo Wind – Dan Roberts – Beyond The Brand

Southern Hospitality – Cornell Hurd Band – Songs Of Moon Mullican

Cowboy’s Prayer – RW Hampton – Austin To Boston

Hubbin’ It – Stephanie Davis – Western Bling

The Old Cocinero – Kerry Grombacher – Riding For The Brand

Keepin’ Your Head Above The Water – Devon Dawson – Keepin’ You Head Above The Water

Old Cowboy Kind – Aspen Black – Horsegirl Poet

Harmonicowboy – Gary Allegretto – Harmoniccowboy

Roll On Texas Moon – Kristyn Harris – My Mustang, My Martin And Me

Born To Be A Cowboy – Brian Arnold – Cow Man

Two Steppin’ – Chuck Cusimano – I Wrote This

Only In His Mind – Bill Barwick – Sampler

Texas Moon – Billy Mata – This Is Tommy Duncan Vol. 2

McCorkle and the Wire – Red Steagall – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 6

Taking Pictures With My Heart – Kip Calahan – Dust Devil Angel

I’ll Have Somebody Else – Bobby Flores – Festival Favorites

Thank The Cowboy For The Ride – Naomi Bristow – Ridin’ High

The Wind – TJ Casey – RNDNMUP

Soft Rain – The Desperados – Lucky Seven

The Old Waxed Jacket – Belinda Gail & Curly Musgrave – Forever West

This Old Post – DW Groethe – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 6

Kawliga – Les Gilliam – Hank Did It This Way

Smoke Of The Brandin’ Fire – Jim Jones – Feels Like Home To Me

The Rio Grande Guitar Quartet, made up of premier New Mexico classical guitarists Mickey Jones, Jeremy Mayne, Lynn McGrath, and Ben Silva will perform a concert featuring music by Torroba, Assad, Funk-Pearson, and Ourkouzounov. 

March 16, 2012

7PM 

Deming Performing Arts Theater

Historic Morgan Hall

109 E. Pine St.

Deming, NM

3201 Carlisle Blvd. N
$10 General admission/$8 DPAT Members

Tickets available at the door. 

www.dpat.org

www.riograndeguitarquartet.org

Rio Grande Guitar Quartet

The Rio Grande Guitar Quartet, made up of premiere New Mexico classical guitarists Mickey Jones, Jeremy Mayne, Lynn McGrath, and Ben Silva, is an exciting ensemble whose eclectic repertoire spans centuries and genres, including new compositions and new transcriptions.  The members of RGGQ bring a deep wellspring of expertise, talent, and experience through which individual musical personalities are melded into harmonious artistic expression.  Stirring performances for the Church of Beethoven performance series and GiG Performance Space series, among others, have inspired audiences and made the Rio Grande Guitar Quartet a group not to be missed!

“What a gorgeous program the Rio Grande Guitar Quartet presented on Saturday night. . . beautifully played, and put together with intelligence and style.” 

Spencer Beckwith, Performance New Mexico, 2010

Western Music Male: Syd Masters

Western Music Female: Mary Kay

Western Music Duo or Group: Old West Trio

Western Music Song: Tom Hiatt “Bronc to Breakfast”

Western Swing Male: Jimmy Burson

Western Swing Female: Joni Harms

Western Swing Duo or Group: Tony Harrison  Hot Texas – “Swinging Big”

Western Swing Song: Asleep at the Wheel/Leon Rausch – “It’s A Good Day”

Pure Country Male: Landon Dodd

Pure Country Female: Jade Jack

Pure Country Duo or Group: The Survivors

Pure Country Album: Curtis Potter – “The Potter’s Touch”

Pure Country Song: Amber Digby – “Sing a Sad Song”

Instrumentalist: Jody Nix

Young Artist: The Nugents

Will Rogers Special Event: “A Ride With Bob”

Cowboy Poet: Henry Real Bird

Cowgirl Poet: Bette Wolf Duncan

Cowboy Poetry Album/CD: Paul Kern – “Rimrick, Where Memories Rhyme”

Garnet Brooks Chuckwagon: B. K. Nuzum

Disc Jockey: Bruce Pollock, Range Radio

Radio Station: LKCM Radio Group, Ft. Worth, TX

Buck Ramsey Book Award: Francine Roark Robison – “The Quilt and Other Pieces”

Artist: Mikel Donahue

Engraver: Dave Alderson

Spurmaker: Larry Fuegen

Bootmaker: Carl Chappell

Dog King Memorial Saddlemaker: Bill Gardner

Somewhere in folklore, leap year was made into a tradition whereby it is allowable for women to propose marriage to men. Over the centuries, different countries adopted various versions of the tradition and even some penalties if the marriage proposal was refused.

To soften the blow to the pursuing female, a man denying her offer may have to give her a kiss, money or even a “silk gown”. In Denmark, refusal must be compensated by a dozen pair of gloves.

In Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky and 20 percent of the engaged couples will intentionally avoid getting married in a leap year.

A victim of the Sadie Hawkins girl-catches-guy wedding plan, Sam decided to make it a party. When a wedding happens in ranch country, it’s a big deal. Not everybody wants to go to town to get “hitched.”

Sam selected one of his favorite spots on the ranch and his buddy Dave volunteered to slow roast a hog. The preacher was lined up and a keg of beer ordered. Yep, that should do it, Sam thought.

Mary Margaret had a few ideas of her own about how she thought the wedding should go. She bought the big white dress and lined up her bridesmaids to be dressed in pastels.

There was a slight hitch as one of the bridesmaids ordered her dress in a size smaller than actually required thinking her new diet would work. Plan B was to line up a cousin who was the right size.

In the meantime, Dave butchered a hog, cut it up, seasoned and wrapped it. He dug the fire pit, lined the bottom with wood and went on to his other appointed wedding duties. He’d also been appointed shotgun bearer to follow the bride down the aisle and that required the ol’ double-barrel to be shined up.

Sam, indulging his bride in her desires, agreed to provide the music. The boom box was tested and required only an occasional slap on the side to keep it playing. Waylon and Willie would do fine.

Helpful neighbors had been designated to usher the guests away from the keg to the seating area and to keep the dogs quiet during the ceremony.

Sam was not as totally committed to this project as the bride would have liked, and in an effort to get him involved, she decided they should each write their own vows.

Her vows were very lovely prose, mentioning hearts, flowers, lifelong commitment, a steady partner and love eternal. When his were finally, reluctantly, presented for inspection, she was somewhat taken aback.

The only thing he had planned on saying was “I do. Let’s party.”

Vows said and sighs emitted, the wedding crowd moved down the hill to the patio to celebrate. The pig was unearthed only to discover the fire hadn’t been lit under it. However, this brought only some good-natured funnin’ at Dave, who apparently had lost his train of thought the night before while polishing the shotgun and sampling the keg.

The boom box quit working, and no amount of coaxing could revive it. As it turned out, the music wasn’t any more necessary to a good party than was the shotgun or the roast pig. The properly sampled beer fulfilled Dave’s wedding vow of “let’s party.”

You can’t say that cowboys don’t do things with style and grace. It simply depends on your definition of both.

Julie can be reached for comment at jcarternm@gmail.com

2-15-2012

The Real West – Rod Taylor

It’s A Good Day – AATW/Leon Rausch – It’s A Good Day

Down The Rio Grande – Adrian – Boots And Pearls

Bright Lights And Country Music – Jody Nix – Bright Lights And Country Music

Ridin’ With Red – Jon Chandler – The Gang

Miles And Miles Of Texas – The Ball Family – Texas To A “T”

Cowgirl’s Chance – Gary S. Pratt – The Other Side

Heroes vs Horses – Paul Zarzyski – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 2

Gonna Go Dancin’ Tonight – Chuck Cusimano – I Wrote This

Arizona Moonlight – Patty Clayton – Dancin’ In Denver

Takin’ On The Blues – Tony Smith – It’s A Swing Thing

Can’t Change Horses – Dan Roberts – Beyond The Brand

Carhart Browns – The Texas Trailhands – Cowboy Swing 2

He Wore A Blue Bandana – J Parson – The Eyes Of A Cowboy

When Roundup Time Comes Around – Linda Kirkpatrick – Bar-D Roundup

Texas Blues – Stephanie Davis – Western Bliss

Once Upon A Horse – Mary Kaye – No Wilder Place

Red River Valley – Brady Bowen/Leon Rausch – In My Spare Time Vol. 5

Shortgrass – RW Hampton – Austin To Boston

There’s Not A Cow In Texas – Billy Mata  – This Is Tommy Duncan Vol. 2

Watchin’ The Rain Fall Down – Brenda Libby – On The Outskirts Of Crazy…

90 Mile An Hour – Geff Dawson – A Tougher Horse

A Cowboy – Geff Dawson – A Tougher Horse

Swing Time Cowgirl – Kristyn Harris – My Mustang, My Martin & Me

Navajo Rug – Ian Tyson – Cowboyography

Ride Cowboy Ride – Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers – Breakin’ Out

Wild New Mexico Cowgirl – Juni Fisher – Gone For Colorado

Ida Red – Les Gilliam – Oklahoma-1955

Roll On Kentucky Moon – Sundown Pete – Sundown Pete & Margie Lane

Sentence – Waddie Mitchell – Waddie Mitchell Live

The Yodel Blues – Carolyn Martin – Cookin’ With Carolyn

Four Js – Jim Jones – Still Ridin’

No Plan B – Dan Roberts – Beyond The Brand

March 3, 2012 7:00 pm

Elgin Community Center

Elgin, AZ

For Tickets or more information: www.gopattywagon.com

Patty Wands 520-455-5053

Gary McMahan is unique in the Western music genre with an equally unique sense of humor and read of

his audience. As he says, he likes to leave his audience uplifted and laughing and he takes great care

that his shows are as wholesome as the glorious West he sings and talks about – “I’m as careful about

that as a naked man crossing a barbed-wire fence!” His shows are a fast paced blend of poetry, song,

yodeling and gut-busting humor.

The Cowboy Way Magazine says McMahan is western music’s Robin Williams. McMahan’s voice has

great feeling and reminds us of the great cowboy singers and story tellers of the past.

A national champion yodeler, poet, singer and award winning songwriter, Gary’s songs have been

recorded by artist such as Ian Tyson, Garth Brooks, Chris LeDoux, Riders in the Sky, Dave Stamey and

Juni Fisher.

A great entertainer – bar none! Tickets sell quickly at the Elgin Club, please don’t be left out!

 Whether this ever-looming V-day is a ploy to stimulate the economy at an otherwise sluggish time of year or an actual holiday to honor the long forgotten patron saint of love, it most definitely puts the pressure on the couples of the world.

 I asked one old cowboy what he thought about Valentine’s Day. His reply was well-thought-out honesty. “Not much. I don’t think about it at all. You don’t want to get that started– birthdays, Valentine’s and all those holidays. If you never start paying attention to them, then she never expects it.”

 Saint Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome when Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers so he outlawed marriage for young men that were military potentials.

 Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform secret marriages for young lovers.  When he was caught, Claudius ordered him put to death.

 The legend says that Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself. While in prison awaiting his execution, he fell in love with a young girl who visited him every day. Before his death, he wrote a letter that he signed “From your Valentine.”

 There will be some “romantic” gestures made by those residing at the end of dirt roads where the moon kisses the stars while the howl of a lone coyote breaks the silence of night.

 Not likely to be wine and roses, however, a cowboy on a Valentine’s Day date will offer a romantic late night walk through the frosty pastures for a “just once more” check of the cows. After all, it is calving season.

 I got a Valentine card one time that was written in Spanish because that was what was left at the store in town. It said something about my corazón and forever. My cowboy ate the chocolates on the way back to the ranch and, with no apology, told me he knew I was on a diet and he sure didn’t want be responsible for any failure.

A veteran ranch wife who is still waiting for her cowboy to grow up, phoned me and the topic of Valentine’s Day came up. I ventured to ask if she had received a gift from her love of 35 years.

“Well, he did ask if I wanted something,” she said. “But after my Christmas gift, I was afraid to let him think it was time for another gift.”

 I asked the obvious, “What did you get for Christmas?” 

 “He brought me a cat from the pound.”

 “Did you ask for a cat or even want a cat?”

 “No to both. This gift just fit his budget. It was free.”

 It’s those tender moments of adoring love that make a gal think seriously about returning the sentimental thought with something equally as endearing as a well-timed “Well, kiss my corazón …. dear!” 

 Julie can be reached for comment at jcarternm@gmail.com

The Real West from the Old West – AM1230 KOTS

2-8-12

The Real West – Rod Taylor

Orange Blossom Special – Hot Club of Cowtown – Continental Stomp

Grow Up To Be Cowboys – Mary Kaye – No Wilder Place

Cowboy Standard Time – Bill Barwick – Cowboy Bill & Other Stories

Spring Cleaning – Carolyn Martin – Cookin’ With Carolyn

Goin’ Somewhere – Juni Fisher – Gone For Colorado

Back Home – RW Hampton – Austin To Boston

Purt Near – Steve Porter – Forgotten

Swingtime In The Rockies – Open Range – Swingtime In The Rockies

Still Ridin’ – Jim Jones – Still Ridin’

Take Back Your Old Love Letters – Brady Bowen/Durwood Strube – In My Spare Time Vol. 5

Fire Dances ‘Cross The Skies – Brenda Libby – On The Outskirts Of Crazy

South Of The Border – Bobby Flores – Festival Favorites

Just A-Ridin – Gary S. Pratt – Lomax

Stand Yer Ground – Sam DeLeeuw – Spreadin’ Sunshine

Texas Blues – Stephanie Davis – Western Bliss

Cowboy Way Of Life – J Parson – Cowboy Nothin’ More

I’m An Old Cowhand – Les Gilliam – Oklahoma-1955

Cowboy Don’t Change Your Ways – TJ Casey – Pure “D” Cowboy

The 18 and 21 Waltz – Red Hot Rhythm Rustlers – Breakin’ Out

Just One Of The Guys – Jared Rogerson – Peace, Love & Horses

The Free Wind – Jerry A Brooks – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 3

Back In The Saddle Again – Texas Trailhands – Cowboy Swing 2

Colorado, You’re Where I Belong – Fred Hargrove – Watching Eagles Fly

Old Glory – Jean Prescott – Ameriac

Sioux City Sue – Kristyn Harris – My Mustang, My Martin & Me

Eighteen Inches Of Rain – Jim Wilson – West Of Somewhere

Somewhere Out In Texas – Tony Smith – It’s A Swing Thing

The Bronco Twister’s Prayer – Linda Kirkpatrick – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 3

Washtub Jerry and Rodeo Kate – Peggy Malone – Singin’ A Cowboy Song

All The Love In San Antone – Chuck Cusimano – I Wrote This

I Can’t Stop Loving You – Tom Houston Orchestra

The Real West from the Old West – AM 1230 KOTS

2-1-2012

The Real West – Rod Taylor

There Ain’t No Quit – Bill Barwick – Sampler

Texas To A “T” – The Ball Family – Texas To A T

Ride Cowboy Ride – TJ Casey – Pure “D” Cowboy

Don’t Get Around Much Any More – Tony Smith – It’s A Swing Thing

Watching Eagles Fly – Fred Hargrove – Watching Eagles Fly

Two Steppin’ – Chuck Cusimano – I Wrote This

Spreadin’ Sunshine – Sam DeLeeuw – Spreadin’ Sunshine

Cowboy Nothin’ More – J Parson – Cowboy Nothin’ More

Wrong Road Home Blues – Billy Mata – This Is Tommy Duncan Vol. 2

Only A Cowboy – Gary S Pratt – Lomax

Skillet Blues – Carolyn Martin – Cookin’ With Carolyn

I Wanna Lead ‘Em – Brenda Libby – On The Outskirts Of Crazy…

Miles And Miles Of Texas – Red Hot Rhythm Rusters

Tougher Horses – Geff Dawson – A Tougher Horse

Peace, Love & Horses – Jared Rogerson – Peace, Love & Horses

Snap Your Fingers – Texas Trailhands – Cowboy Swing 2

Luckiest Cowgirl – Mary Kaye – No Wilder Place

How The West Was Swung – Kristyn Harris – My Mustang, My Martin & Me

Shortgrass – RW Hampton – Austin To Boston

Keeper Of My Heart – Bobby Flores – Festival Favorites

Average Girl – Doris Daley – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 4

Smoke Of The Brandin’ Fire – Jim Jones -

Oklahoma-1955 – Les Gilliam     Feels Like Home To Me

Old Pelloncillos – Call Of The West – You Are The Rose Of My Heart

Sweet, Sweet Lies – The Lawmen/Myron Smith – Winning Streak

Gone For Colorado – Juni Fisher – Gone For Colorado

Arizona Saturday Night – Open Range – Swingtime In The Rockies

The Conversation – Ken Cook – Bar-D Roundup Vol. 4

These Things Say Freedom To Me – Jean Prescott – America

Nobody’s Darlin’ But Mine – Brady Bowen/CB Sutton – In My Spare Time Vol. 5

Mary Kaye

The first set I attended  was hosted by friends, Diane Tribitt and Belinda Gail and Mary Kaye was singing!   I had recently received her new CD “No Wilder Place” and she sang “Luckiest Cowgirl.”  What a way to start the day!

Trails & Rails

Morales Brothers

Trails & Rails were as entertaining as they always are and played some wonderful songs.  The Morales Brothers were there from Loredo, TX and had been invited to help Arizona celebrate their 100th Anniversary of Statehood and bring along some music with a Mexican flair to depect the Mexican cultural in Arizona’s history.  They were amazing.  Just a guitar and piano but very talented musicians.  They played a little Mariachi music then entertained us with their rendition of ”Dueling Banjos.”  A little different because there were no banjos on the stage but they did a magnificant job with a guitar and piano but it sure did show their talent and brought a standing ovation!  What a treat!

Lindy Simmons

Lindy Simmons delighted the audiance with her poetry.  She recited some clever poetry about real life happenings in her family and had the audiance laughing out loud.

Jim Jones

And then my special treat was to hear Jim Jones sing “Still Ridin’.”  That’s one of my favorite songs from the talented singer, songwriter and author…and friend, Jim Jones.  It was good to see you Jim!

Then the fun started…I had to choose when entertainers I was going to see and get there fast!  The highschool, is huge and when you have never been there it can be a little tricky to find the right room, but I made it.  Over the afternoon I was totally entertained by the following folks.

Greg Scott

Cowgirl True - Diane Tribitt & Belinda Gail

It was great to see you guys work together again!  The combination of Belinda’s songs and Diane’s poetry is wonderful!

Terry Nash

It was so good to meet you face to face Terry!  After all the communications, I knew we had a friendship going, but it was nice to be in your company!

Larry Maurice

It was fun to listen to Larry.  I had never heard him before.  What an entertaining poet!  There are so many people out there that I need to meet!

Paul Harris

Oh, Paul…it was so good to see you again and listen to you sing!  Loved it!

Sam DeLeeuw

Sam…wonderful and entertaining as always! I love “Spreadin’ Sunshine!” Great to see you do it live!  LOL! It was so good to see you again!

Bill Barwick

Bill, it was nice, as always, to listen to you sing!  I really like “The Last Dalton Man” (is that the name?) and I’m looking forward to the CD!  It was so good to have dinner and visit when you were in Deming!  We both really enjoyed it!  Let us know the next time you come through!

Kerry Grombacher

Kerry, it was good to see you again!  The entertainment was great as always!  I love “The Old Cocinero.  It’s a great song!

John Bergstrom

John, it was so good to see you and Diane again!  Hope we get together again soon!  It was a joy to hear you sing “Throw Down The Box” again!

In addition to these entertainers the following gave wonderful performances: Arvel Bird, Buckshot Dot, Nona Kelly Carver, Daughters of the Purple Sage, Elizabeth Ebert, Carole Jarvis, Bud Strom, The Desert Sons, Joyce Woodson, Mary Abbott, Ernie Buhler, Dean Cook, Hank Cramer, Jack DeWerff, Bunny Dryden, Jim Dunham, Mike Dunn, Doug Figgs, Larry Harmer, Sue Harris, Hook Hill, Fred Jones, Steve Lindsey, Peggy Malone, Jon Messenger, End and Lyn Mikell, Warren Miller, Mike Moutoux, Tony Norris, Chuck Pyle, Rena Randall and the Due West Trio, Gail Starr and Way Out West!

The frustrating part of the day was that I didn’t get to listen to everyone I wanted to!  Just too many things going on at the same time.  There were so many talented poets and singers and musicians there that there was not time to see everyone!  Too bad!  My loss!  But…it was a wonderful event put on very professionally.  My hats off to the organizers of the Cochise Cowboy Poetry Gathering!  Next year I hope I can make it over there for the whole shibang!

 For some, it was part of a morning ritual, first thing. And once on, they didn’t come off, even for the portrait of him and his bride. 

The antiquity of gloves goes back to prehistoric times when they were worn by cavemen to protect their hands and took the form of bags, a primitive type of mitten. 

In England after the Norman Conquest, royalty and dignitaries wore gloves as a badge of distinction. The glove became a token when it was thrown to the ground at the feet of the adversary as a challenge of integrity and an invitation to duel.

It was in the 12^th century that gloves became part of fashionable dress. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, no well-dressed woman would appear in public without them. 

Working folk have spent a small fortune in gloves in a lifetime.  Heavy leather gloves — mule skin or something tough, elk or deerskin gloves for comfort and dress, lined gloves for warmth, cotton gloves to work in the summertime. 

Any kind of glove will wear out when working. The favorites, or maybe just the most necessary at the time, will receive repair with something as functional as duct tape. 

Whether tucked in a back pocket for safekeeping, laid on the dash of the pickup or in the pocket in the door, a coat pocket, wherever –there is an unwritten law that the good ones will get lost first, at least one of them. 

Wearing a pair of mismatched gloves only means there is another pair just like them somewhere, usually to be found when you aren’t looking. They can be buried in corral dirt, under the seat of the pickup, or tucked in fence wire behind a post where you last needed to take them off for a project. 

In the early 1800s, a French Master Glover began making gloves in sizes and a consistent shape establishing a reliable fit. I’m not sure I ever owned a pair that fit right but part of wearing gloves is learning to function with them, even awkwardly. 

Memories of the gloves worn by fathers and grandfathers can be found in the recesses of most of our minds. Those special times as a child when we would proudly slip on those big old worn out gloves and think it made us all grown up and ready to work by their side. 

With the advent of the ball point pen, the glove became not just hand protection, but a notepad for recording cattle counts, dates to remember and a place to do a little math to figure feed prices or cattle weights. 

Ranch records are sometimes written on a leather glove. In an effort to dignify his bookkeeping practices, one old timer would drop his gloves in a briefcase when he was headed to the accountants. 

Today gloves are a specialty item for work and recreation – hundreds of different kinds for the doctor, nurse, hunter, skier, golfer, roper and more. 

And yet, nothing is more sentimental than that old worn leather glove that held a set of reins, drove a tractor over the country side, or built the fences that stand yet today on homesteads across the country. 

We can look at an old glove and know that in every crease, every worn out spot, every dark stain, there is a story to be recalled. 

Julie can be reached for comment at jcarternm@gmail.com.