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 - Page 2
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
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 - Page 3
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 - Page 4
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
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 - Page 5
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 - Page 6
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
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 - Page 7
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,
Sacramento, California
Tommy Thomsen and Friends,
Sonoma, California
Gary Campbell and the Stardust Cowboys,
Foresthill, California
Bill Enyeart and the Dry Creek Band,
Sacramento, California
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 - Page 9
FOUR GLORIOUS DAYS OF MUSIC, DANCING, AND VISITING WITH FRIENDS
PHOTOS BY DENNIS FORD
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November,2014 - Page 8
A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS AND TO MAKE NEW ONES
PHOTOS BY DENNIS FORD
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November, 2014 - Page 10
HAPPY TIMES ~ GOOD FRIENDS
PHOTOS BY DENNIS FORD
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS November2014 - Page 11
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
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