Meet the Board-Dave Rietz 8
Southwest HOF Info .......... 8
New and Old Friends! .......... 9
The Bands ............................. 10
Album Review .................... 11
Pictures Online ............. 11
Free Dance Lessons ............ 11
Mike Gross Top 10 ............. 12
Board Meeting Minutes ..... 12
Jammin’ ....................... 13
WS Monthly Retires .... 14
Other WSS Orgs .......... 15
Contributions Please ........... 15
Monthly Music Sessions .. 15
Volume 37, Number 2 February 2019
GUEST BAND Feb. 3, 2019
Followed by
The Dry Creek Band
3:00 to 5:00pm
Gary Blodgett &
Big Trouble
1:00 to 3:00 pm
Officials & Staff ............. 2
Editor’s Letter ................ 2
Jam Room Jammers ......... 2
HOF Nominations Open..... 3
HOF Profiles .................. 4
Food Available ................... 4
Mailbag .......................... 5
Bob Wills’ Reunion Band ... 5
RIP Bobby Wynne ............ 5
Upcoming Bands ............ 6
Let the Good Times Roll 6
Board Mtg Invitation .......... 6
Membership Report .............. 6
Membership Application. ... 6
Western Swing Society Hall of Fame Profile ~ Page 4
PAULA C. DULA Inducted Oct. 7, 2018
W H A T’ S I N S I D E
LOYD JONES Inducted March 7, 1982
Free Dance Lessons and Cake a Big Hit—Page 2
Hall of Fame Nominations being accepted for 2019—Page 3
Letter from The Editor
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 2
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.
Look What’s New: Cake
and Dance Lessons!!!!
Can’t think of a better way to start
our Sunday dance then with a “free”
dance lesson taught by Jim
Sekelsky. Lessons start at 12:30pm.
The lesson was well attended and a
big thanks to Jimmy Bohenke and
Jeff Tilton and everyone else who
helped out where a partner was
needed. This month the lesson was
big enough to use the main dance
floor. Next month Jim is going to
use a wireless microphone which
will even make the lesson more effi-
cient.
Well we all know that I filled in for
Gary Blodgett for the last two danc-
es running sound for the main stage.
Believe me, I as well as many other
folks, were real happy to see him
and all of his gear back at the dance!
The sound was great and getting bet-
ter all the time. Give Gary a big
thanks cause he is always thinking
about stuff he can do to improve the
sound.
Charlie Hull and his Country Swing
Playboys took the stage. Charlie is a
real pro and we so appreciate his
contribution to WSS and western
Continued on page 7
The Western Swing Society
PO Box 2474
Carmichael, CA 95609
westernswingsociety.net
Facebook: SacramentoWesternSwingSociety
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, Rex Barnes (916) 704-1566
Vice President, Open
Treasurer, Edward Burhans (916) 225-3645
Secretary, Linda McCarley (916) 870-7463
Other Directors:
Tony Arana (775) 971-3070
Jimmy Boehnke (530) 886-8375 Ronnie Elkan (916) 765-4345
John James (916) 202-9251
Dave Rietz (916) 806-0520
Jeff Tilton (916) 798-9377
Staff and Committee Chairpersons:
Bartender, Cyndi Lee
Decorating Chair, Rex Barnes
Equipment and Staging, (open)
Historian, (open)
Jam Room, Tony Arana
Membership Director, (open)
Music Director, Ronnie Elkan
Newsletter Team: Editor, (open)
Layout and Publication: Ronnie
and Shelley Elkan,
Photographer, Donald deMars
Public Relations, Rex Barnes
Raffle, Bob and Virginia Kuykendall
Slide Show, (open)
Sound Engineer, Gary Blodgett
Website, Dave Rietz
Youth Program, Edward Burhans
As always the jam
room was packed and
swingin’! We want to
welcome newcomer-
Jeralynn to the jam
room, singing for us. We had a
special treat with Roger Shaw
from North Carolina singing and
playing bass. Participating were:
John Gwinner on steel; Dave Rietz
on fiddle and vocals; Jimmy
Baughman, Nick Dennis and Bob-
by Giasson on lead guitar; Tony
Arana on drums; Bill Enyeart and
Chuck Webb on bass;Joe Champi-
on back on keyboard and vocal;
Nancy Long, Victorian King Bow-
man, Ann Marie Woodward,
Janice Allen, Ralph Chase, Eddie
Burr, Michael Ray and Don Spiker
on vocals.
Jump in and join us! Just let Tony
know you’re there and sign the
guest sheet to perform. It’s always
a highlight for the folks that par-
ticipate.
We’d like to have you write to us
about your experience if you play
in the jam room or go in to listen.
We’ll share your comments here
in this column. Just send your
thoughts to this email:
[email protected] or send
us a letter via snail mail. In the
meantime we’ll list the players
who joined us last month.
Thanks gang. It was great!!!!!!
Tony Arana, Jam Room Host
JAM ROOM JAMMERS
Groundhog Day and President’s Day
FEB 18
tel:%28916%29%20922-2299https://hangouts.google.com/?action=chat&pn=%2B15308868375&hl=en&authuser=0tel:%28916%29%20806-0520mailto:[email protected]
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 3
Nominate a musician or exceptional volunteer for this year’s Hall of Fame
Time is running out. May 31st is the last date to sub-
mit your nominations for our Hall of Fame celebra-
tion!
Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a BIG
HONOR, so submit a nomination and make
someone’s day!
1. The name, address, phone and email of member
submitting the nomination
2. The name, address, phone and email of the nom-
inee
3. The nominee’s name as the nominee wants it
shown in the bio and on the Hall of Fame regis-
try
4. Biographical information about the nominee,
with emphasis on involvement with Western
Swing Music.
- Birthplace and date.
- Age at which participation in music began?
How? Singing? Playing an instrument?
- Early inspirations and influences?
- Time and place of first professional perfor-
mance.
- Name of well-known bands and/or performers
with which nominee has played.
- Names of well-known locations where nomi-
nee has performed.
- List of any awards or formal recognitions re-
ceived by the nominee related to his or her mu-
sic career.
- Nominee’s personal reasons for involvement
in and support of Western Swing Music.
See the instructions in the previous column and
email or mail your completed nomination infor-
mation so that it is received by WSS no later than
May 31st.
DON’T FORGET to include your phone, email
and the nominee’s phone, email and mailing address
so that we can contact you.
HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS
Let’s have another inspiring set of inductees for the
Western Swing Society Hall of Fame event, the 1st
Friday—Sunday in October. The closing date for
submission of nominations is May 31st. Start
NOW. Time FLIES!
Any member in good standing may make 2 nomina-
tions, by either postal or email.
An 8 x 10 hard copy photo or a digital jpeg (at least
res. 300 dpi) is required at the time of nomination.
The nomination should contain sufficient biograph-
ical information to enable the committee to evaluate
the nominee's qualifications.
Nominations must include the name (as they wish it
to appear in our Hall of Fame registry), address,
phone numbers and email addresses (if available)
for the nominee and the person submitting them. If
the nominee is deceased, please include the name of
a person who may be able to accept the award.
Mail to: Western Swing Nominations Committee,
P. O. Box 2474, Carmichael, CA 95609
HOW TO AND THE RULES
January 1—May 31st: Submissions of nominees
for consideration accepted from a member in
good standing
June: Hall of Fame Selection Committee reviews
and chooses 12 nominees to be inducted in the
Hall of Fame. Nominations must adhere to the
rules and be complete in order to be consid-
ered. Any submissions not chosen roll forward
to the next year for consideration
July: Board signs off on the chosen inductees.
Inductees are notified and told about our Hall
of Fame Event details
August: List of inductees fir st appear in the
newsletter
September: Photos of inductees appear in news-
letter. List of HOF bands in newsletter
October: The three day celebration, culminating
in the Induction Ceremony on Sunday
THE TIMING
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 4
FOOD AVAILABLE
Thank you to the American Legion Post
#9 for providing us with delicious hot
food at our monthly dances!
Mention Western Swing in conversation and several
names immediately come to mind. Of course, Bob
and Billy Jack Wills would be among the first but, if
you’re from Northern California, one name in par-
ticular is synonymous with Western Swing. That
name is Loyd Jones.
When interviewing Loyd for this article, the first
question I asked him was, “Define Western Swing.”
He laughed and asked if I had plenty of paper and
time. However, it was lunch hour and I only had one
pad of paper with me so he gave me his condensed
definition as follows: “We use a big band style
rhythm section and our instrumentation features
more strings than horns. The selections tend to be
more country-oriented but we also play old dance
standards such as ‘All of Me’ and ‘I Saw Your Face
in the Moon’. In short,” says Loyd, “it’s not the
song, it’s how you play it.”
The man who has been playing it for us for more
than 30 years was born Loyd Hampton Jones on Au-
gust 18, 1926, in Prairie Branch, Texas, where he
lived until he was ten years old. The Jones family
moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, in 1936. Here
Loyd’s interest in music was first aroused when he
would gather with friends and family, around a crys-
tal radio set and listen to Bob Wills broadcasting
from Fort Worth, Texas. Although Loyd took violin
lessons in school, it was his oldest brother, Cleo,
who really got him started. The school lessons were
classical and boring; Cleo was Western Swing. He
played the fiddle and guitar and when Loyd was in
the eight grade, Cleo pressed him into service as
guitar accompanist.
Loyd first played professionally as a fiddler with a
three-piece square dance group in Las Cruces. He
then went on to form his own band, The Western
Swing Stars, which played out of El Paso, Texas. To
use Loyd’s own word, “poverty” caused him to
move to California in 1948 where he played guitar
with Jelly Sanders from Porterville. That lasted
about a year and, in 1949, Loyd moved his family to
Sacramento. Here he has played with such well-
knowns as Bud Hobbs, and MGM recording star at
Continued on page 7
PAULA C. DULA Inducted October 7, 2018
Paula C. Dula has had a life-long love affair with
music. She enjoys singing many styles of music –
from Jazz & Standards to R & B, Rock & Roll and
Country and she performs with several Sacramento
based bands. Her own band, Paula Dula & MGM,
performed in the 2013 Sacramento Music Festival.
She has performed in Bay Area and local venues.
She is a member of Eddie Burr’s Western Swingers
and, for several years, has sang at Western Swing
dances and the Western Swing Hall of fame.
Paula served as a Board Member, Music Committee
Member and Director of the Gold Card Room for
the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society and Second
Sunday program. She also volunteers with several
local organizations. She is one of the recurring
judges for the West Coast Songwriters competitions.
Paula is a regular participant in Sutter Street Thea-
ter’s monthly cabaret; the annual Children’s Theater
production that is sponsored by Fairy Tale Town
and performs Auburn talent show fundraisers.
Paula was born in Lenoir, North Carolina and
moved to California as a teenager. She often tells
people that “Country was her first language”. Coun-
try music was very prevalent in North Carolina and
she grew up listening to Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn,
Porter Wagner, Johnny Cash, etc. She still enjoys
listening to Country and Blue Grass music and fre-
quently attends the Father’s Day Weekend Blue
Grass Festival in Grass Valley.
One of Paula’s favorite pastimes is going out with
friends for Karaoke and singing in a different genre
each time it’s her turn to sing.
LOYD JONES 8/18/26-9/24/09
Inducted March 7, 1982
MAILBAG A thank you for the many cards sent.
You may put this in the newsletter,
then maybe it will cover all those
loving folks who thought of us this past two months.
Such a special group of loving friends. All the spe-
cial folks at the Sacramento WSS all mean so much
to me and Ed. We can’t thank you enough for your
love, prayers and thoughtfulness during this trying
time.
We love you all, Lou and Ed Bischoff
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 5
RIP BOBBY WYNNE 11/13/1937-1/4/2019
Western Swing Music Society
of the Southwest:
It is with deep regret that we inform
you of the passing of Bobby Wynne.
Bobby was one of 5 founding members of WSMSS
(Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest) a
Texas based Non-Profit organization founded in
1998, as well as the society’s first President. Bobby
was the last surviving founding member, which also
included Robert E. “Bob” Cobb, Harry L. Coffman,
Bill Gilbert and Jerry Emery. Bobby passed away
on the morning of January 4, 2019
John Jones President, WSMSS
Message to WSS:
Bobby Wynne loved Sacramento Western Swing
Society, his fellow musi-
cians. Thank you for
your musicality and
sharing this! He has
joined the Lord in heav-
en for his final journey.
Rejoice as he blows his
trumpet strong, smiles at
the dancers, sings his
favorite tunes & thanks
the good Lord above for
receiving him to join the greats of western swing,
playing the grandest stage EVER!
Jef Rulz / Nephew
THE BOB WILLS’ REUNION BAND (Picture sent by Jim Elsaas)
Thanks for sending this photo to me, Jim. It was tak-
en at the 1985 Sacramento Jazz Jubilee. I was hon-
ored that Tiny asked me to be part of his Bob Wills’
reunion group.
Chamblin, Elkin, the Moores, Holley, and Cotton
Roberts had played with Bob Wills and his Texas
Playboys for many years. Both Tiny and Joe Holley
passed away within six months of this event. Every-
one in the picture has passed on except Billy Rob-
erts and me, and at 90 I'm not far behind them (but
in no hurry to get there).
Tiny, Vance, Skeeter, Cotton and Dick McComb
Continued next column
Bob Wills’ Reunion Band cont. from prev. column
had gained a local reputation playing with Billy Jack
Wills band, a tight swinging group, on KFBK radio
weekdays. Many local jazz musicians came to hear
the reunion Band, which existed only to play two
sets at the Jubilee. We had no idea what we were
going to play, but all the players were well versed in
western swing and Tiny was a good leader, so we
sounded like an organized band.
Thanks for awakening the memory of a great event
in my life.
Charlie Hull
Left-to-Right: Eldon Chamblin, guitar; Vance Terry, steel
guitar; behind Vance, Skeeter Elkin, piano; Tiny Moore, fid-
dle and mandolin; behind Tiny, Cotton Roberts, bass; Dean
Moore, vocalist; Vern Baughman, rhythm guitar; Charlie
Hull, clarinet; Dick McComb, trumpet. Not shown: Joe Hol-
ley, fiddle, and Billy Roberts (Cotton's son), drums.
https://www.facebook.com/Western-Swing-Music-Society-of-the-Southwest-147593772109612/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARCJTTOB3KbwLcU8znzeXDVbm4KOpSK94sftIMwJjo-08ZDLmLexgn5s1NEqKyrnnwEVorQz-lZf9R66&hc_ref=ARS2RRz3UPpX9rCnsv2thjn7M6yqCiEpkeA2Xc1C_Ou2Q47TuDGb6f-kSOVCW6sITbo&https://www.facebook.com/Western-Swing-Music-Society-of-the-Southwest-147593772109612/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARCJTTOB3KbwLcU8znzeXDVbm4KOpSK94sftIMwJjo-08ZDLmLexgn5s1NEqKyrnnwEVorQz-lZf9R66&hc_ref=ARS2RRz3UPpX9rCnsv2thjn7M6yqCiEpkeA2Xc1C_Ou2Q47TuDGb6f-kSOVCW6sITbo&
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).
Dues renew every July.
If you join during any other month, your membership fee will be prorated to align with the July renewal.
You will receive a color version of our newsletter via email. Paid membership also includes reduced admission fee at
Society music functions, and the right to vote in Society elections and on proposed By-Law changes.
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 6
Sunday, February 3, 2019
Gary Blodgett & Big trouble FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT AND DANCING PLEASURE
MEMBERSHIP
Any Changes? Keep us up to date on any chang-
es in your membership information, especially email
addresses. We can’t get your newsletter to you un-
less we have your current information.
You can mail changes in your information to the
Society at P.O. Box 2474, Carmichael, CA; phone it
to (916) 689-9546; or email it to member-
[email protected]. Thanks!
Keep on Western Swingin’
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!
UPCOMING BANDS
February Gary Blodgett and Big Trouble
March Shelley Elkan and Bite the Bullet
April Geoff Miller & Sactown Playboys
May Doug Weiss & Lincoln Highway
June Bob Woods Swampbilly
November Jessica Rose Band
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.
tel:%28916%29689-9546
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 7
Loyd Jones continued from page 4
that time, and Billy Jack Wills. Loyd says he played
with Billy Jack’s first band and his last band but not
his great band.
It was that “great band” that was responsible for the
first “Loyd Jones and the Western Swing Band”.
Those of you who have lived in Sacramento for
some time will remember Wills Point. When Billy
Jack broke one of brother Bob’s cardinal rules and
married Evelyn
McKinney, one of Bob’s female vocalists, they both
were forced to leave the band. However, Bob
opened Wills Point and set up Billy Jack’s group as
the house band. Loyd was a member of this first
band. Billy Jack and the Texas Playboys became so
popular that they began to take out-of-town book-
ings. Loyd wasn’t interested in going on the road so
he stayed on at Wills Point and formed his own
group.
During the years 1958 and ‘59, Loyd again played
guitar with Billy Jack for a weekly television show
broadcast on Channel 3. This group included not
only Billy Jack and Loyd, but also Bill Pray, Bobby
Reeves, Truitt Cunningham, and Billy Jack’s wife,
Evelyn. When the show went off the air, Loyd once
again formed his Western Swing Band with Bill
Pray, Bobby Reeves, Hoyt Shaw, and Loyd’s son,
Perry. During this time, Jay Riley also sat in occa-
sionally with his steel guitar. From this group
evolved today’s Western Swing Band with few
changes. Hoyt and Jay have retired, Perry has been
replaced by Johnny Peacock, and Gene Albright has
been added. Featured female vocalists of the first
group were Bonnie Jones and Betty Reeves.
I asked Loyd if there are any members of his family
who aren’t musical to which he replied, “No”. Son
Perry is well known for his group, The Southern
Empire Band. As well as being a singer, Perry plays
the drums and guitar, he writes some pretty good
songs, and he is the music manager of Tex’s Saloon
and Nashville West. Loyd’s oldest daughter, Becky,
is a beautiful singer who we are sometimes lucky
enough to hear at our monthly jam sessions. Young-
est daughter, Lolly, is in Loyd’s words, “the most
musically talented person I know”. Lolly plays the
fiddle, bass, rhythm, and lead guitars, piano, banjo,
Continued next column
Loyd Jones continued from previous column and she’s a singer. She has traveled all over the
world with her music and we look forward to hear-
ing a lot more from Lolly in the future.
Loyd’s wife, Bonnie, has a family who are no
strangers to the music stage either. Uncle Paul Ad-
ams was a world-class fiddler and Uncle Luke Ad-
ams was well known for his skill on the guitar and
piano.
Editor’s letter continued from page 2
swing music. Not only was the dance floor packed
but the folks that just come in to listen were in for a
real treat. I always have to mention the dedication of
these musicians to our society. They always have
volunteered their time and talent to us and hope this
is one tradition that will never die. Charlie lead the
way with his Sax and great vocals. Olen Dillingham
on fiddle,mando and vocals, Mickey Bennett on
bass, Goerge Cecil on drums, and Jimmy Spero on
guitar . Some of these guys play with many of our
other bands. Thanks Boys!
Bill Enyeart and Dry Creek came up after our draw-
ing. Bill and his band did a great job like always.
Bill Enyeart on guitarand vocal, Jimmy Baughman
on guitar and vocal, Ralph Chase on piano and vo-
cal, Bill Cornett on drums and vocal, Billy Smith on
guitar, and me (Ronnie Elkan) on fiddle. We had a
special guest from North Carolina, Rodger Shaw on
bass and vocal. Wow can that guy sing. Bill had
Gary Blodgett come on up and play guitar and sing
a few. Also coming up to sing was Janice Allen,
Nancy Long, and Linda Baughman. Now where can
you go to hear singers with that kind of talent.
Our volunteer, Don deMars, notified me that you
members did a great job this last dance of cleaning
you’re tables. It just is such a big help to all the
folks that help clean up and fold table cloths. We
have such awesome volunteers and we are always
looking for more.
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 8
Meet the Board—Continued from previous column
“Still Hangin’ Around,” which won a National Tra-
ditional Country Music Association and Rural Roots
Music Association Award in LeMars, Iowa, in
2012.
And, in 2012, he began to play fiddle with Cliff
Compton and the Mountaintop, a Bluegrass gospel
group that played many venues.
But Dave also plays in a variety of groups in and
around Northern California, playing Western Swing,
Country, Bluegrass, and Jazz. In 2013, he fiddled
with the Stampede Band in the Buck Owens Crystal
Palace in Bakersfield to a packed house.
Dave is considered not only a very talented musi-
cian, but one that everyone likes and respects for his
kindness and thoughtfulness.
MEET THE BOARD: Dave Rietz
We’ve had some requests to introduce you to our
board members, so we will plan on an article each
month to highlight their backgrounds and why they
love Western Swing music.
Inducted into WSS Hall of
Fame October 2014
David Rietz was born in 1943
in Alameda, California. At the
early age of 4 ½, Dave started
playing the violin/fiddle, and
played throughout his child-
hood.
Graduating from high school
in 1961, Dave entered the US Navy serving for four
years. After his Honorable Discharge, he began to
play the electronic organ and played many local gigs
in Southern California and Japan while working for
the Defense Department.
In the early 70s, Dave met Clyde Derby, an organist
in the Sacramento area. From him, Dave learned to
play the theater pipe organ. Dave then began play-
ing at the Carl Greer Inn as a guest and later full-
time. He also played at many other local pubs and
eateries. He became a member of the Sierra Chapter
of the American Theater Organ Society, serving on
its board of directors for four years. He also played
a variety of concerts and sang tenor with the Sacra-
mento Master Singers.
Dave, having an outstanding ear for music, became
a piano tuner the year 2000. But he also returned to
playing the fiddle, and became heavily involved in
the Old Time Fiddlers. He served on the Old Time
Fiddlers District 5 for six years as Secretary-
Treasurer and Vice President.
He met and began to play fiddle with Igor Glenn and
the Jazz Cowboys, as well as a myriad of other
bands, playing Western Swing, Country, Bluegrass,
and Jazz.
In 2009, Dave joined the Sacramento Western
Swing Society, and if he’s not fiddling on stage
there he’s fiddling in the “Jam Room.”
Dave played with the River Bend Folk Band for a
while. That band produced a CD in 2010 entitled
Continued next column
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 9
Photos by Don deMars
MAKING NEW FRIENDS AND CATCHING UP WITH OLD FRIENDS!
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 10
GUEST BAND: CHARLIE HULL & THE COUNTRY SWING PLAYBOYS
HOUSE BAND: BILL ENYEART AND DRY CREEK
Our Dance Lesson Group
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 11
ALBUM REVIEWS by Mike Gross
Album: Timeless Treasures
for a Living Legend
Artist: Tommy Thomsen
This new CD is a wonderful
combination of 15 songs
where Tommy pays tribute
to Western Swing legend Leon Rausch. The
music opens from the Bob Wills songbook
with the old pop standard brought back by
Wills, Yearning and then from Pee Wee King, Gad About. Also from Bob Wills are Lee Ross' Heart to Heart Talk, O.W. Mayo's Blues for Dixie, Cindy Walker's Goin' Away Party, End of the Line and the standard Sit-tin' on Top of the World. Then from the Wills library there is Hang Your Head in Shame, I Laugh When I Think How I Cried Over You and Cindy Walker's Baby That Sure Would Go Good. Also brought back are the Wills compositions and hits, My Confes-
sion, Goodby Liza Jane, Sooner or Later and Goodnight Little Sweet-heart Goodnight. The album closes with the
instrumental from the
Wills book and the Andy
Razaf pen, Silver Lake Blues.
Tommy is the lead vocalist with Albert Tally
playing steel guitar, Brady Bowen- fiddle and
vocal harmony and the fiddle, electric man-
dolin, vocals and steel guitar of Jason Rob-
erts. Larry Reed plays sax, Tony Ramsey-
drums and John Jones plays stand-up bass
and does vocal harmonies. Wayne Glasson
plays piano, Tom Jones standard guitar and
Continued next column
PICTURES NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT
Pictures are now available online. A link will be
available for each month’s dance pictures in the
newsletter and on our website
http://westernswingsociety.net/.
1-6-2019 Monthly Dance https://photos.app.goo.gl/djo22nNXXEJS5ZMP9
FREE DANCE LESSONS
BEFORE EACH DANCE! 12:30 to 1:00 pm prior to our first band starting
Learn the 2-STEP and
other couples dances!!!
You do not have to have
a partner to learn! Just
get to the hall by 12:15
so you’re ready to start
on time.
Mike Gross Review cont. from prev. column
clarinet and vocal harmonies by Gil Prather.
This CD can be obtained for $20.00 from
Tommy Thomsen, 20570 Pueblo Rd, Sonoma,
CA 95476.
Mike Gross, KSEY-FM, Seymour, TX and
KTNK-AM, Lompoc CA &
www.swinginwest.com
http://westernswingsociety.net/https://photos.app.goo.gl/djo22nNXXEJS5ZMP9http://www.swinginwest.com
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 12
“Swingin’ West”- Mike Gross
KSEY-FM, Seymour, TX
January 1, 2019
Songs 1 Swing Time Baby- Steel Horse Swing
2 King of the Blues- Western Caravan
3 One Fiddle, Two Fiddles- Bret Raper
4 In the Middle of the Song- Western
Swing Authority & Carolyn Martin
5 Texas When it Swings- Terry Brown
6 Swing Me Back to Texas- 3 Trails West
7 South of the Border- Syd Masters
(Vision)
8 Cowboy Boogaloo Blues- Dawn Anita
(Free Country)
9 Enjoy the Ride- Lee Lee Robert
(Musikode)
10 Back in the Swing of Things- Cowboy
Joe (Chimney Rock)
Albums 1 Swing Time Baby- Steel Horse Swing
2 Honky Tonk- Western Caravan
3 Time Changes Everything- Leon Rausch
4 Somewhere Near Austin- Bret Raper
5 Sactown Playboys- Sactown Playboys
6 Big Deal- The Western Swing Authority
7 Swing Set- Lee Lee Robert (Musikode)
8 Taryn Noelle Swings- Taryn Noelle
(Airflyte)
9 Off the Beaten Trail- Hot Texas Swing
Band
10 Timeless Treasures for a Living Legend
– Tommy Thomsen
Mike Gross Top 10 Western Swing Society
Board Meeting Minutes January 6, 2019
Meeting was called to order at 10:30 AM by new
president Rex Barnes.
Board members present: Jim Boehnke, Ronnie
Elkan, Edd Burhans, Dave Rietz, Rex Barnes, Jeff
Tilton, Tony Arana.
Visitors present: Don deMars, Bill Seabridge, Linda
McCarley, John James, Janet Jimenez, Chuck Webb
Presidents Report: Requests biographies of all
board members to be submitted to Ronnie Elkan.
Those who are in the Hall of Fame biographies were
already submitted and will be used first.
Discussion on public relations and ways to contact
other organizations locally to promote more activity
at our monthly dances. He suggested contacting sen-
ior homes. Create a brochure for Western Swing So-
ciety. Edd Burhans agreed to do the graphic design
for the brochure.
It was also suggested by Dave Rietz that he can con-
tact his treasurer for information on what the charg-
es are for using PayPal. (Action item Dave Rietz)
Dave Rietz will also look into the insurance agent
that we use for The Root Cellar and discuss poten-
tial cost savings to the Western Swing Society or-
ganization. The person who does the tax preparation
is Linda Swanson. She needs to be contacted for
preparation of taxes for fiscal year 2018.
It was also discussed that we need to change our tax
status from a 501-C4 to a 501-C-3. Bill Seabridge
indicated he will look into the paperwork for mak-
ing this change occur.
Treasurer report: Edd Burhans repor ting. Edd
handed out copies of this month’s report for Decem-
ber. There was a discussion, a motion for approval
of the treasurers report. First approval by Ronnie,
seconded by Dave Rietz and motion carried.
News letter report: Jeff indicated several new
members didn’t receive email newsletter. We need
to get the word out to everyone that they can cer-
tainly access the newsletter via our Western Swing
Society website. Additionally, we need to find out
Continued on page 13
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 13
Minutes continued from page 12
why they did not receive the email from Ronnie and
Shelley Elkan.
It was suggested that we need to add the information
about the opportunity for dance lessons prior to the
start of the monthly dance this information should be
placed on the homepage of the website so that more
people are aware of this opportunity.
Another idea emerged using sandwich signs that
suggest asking someone to dance. This will encour-
age other folks to go ahead and get on the dance
floor.
Music director: Youth band has pretty much
been abandoned for the time being.It is still a good
idea but currently we did not have enough participa-
tion to continue paying a youth director. It was men-
tioned by Dave Rietz that we should be targeting
those folks who are in their 40s to 60s who are per-
haps empty-nesters, and who are looking to re-
energize their ability to play musical instruments
that they used to do in their earlier days. We need to
encourage those folks and seek them out to get them
involved with Western Swing Society.
New Business: None.
Webmaster report: Dave Rietz indicated that
there is an ongoing effort to update all of the Hall of
Fame inductees to get their biographies and photos
up on the correct pages. With over 700 inductees in
the organization this is a ambitious project which is
taking a lot of time. Linda McCarley indicated that
she would be interested in helping with this endeav-
or.
Old business: It was suggested that there was a
PO box payment due at the end of December and
that was given to Edd. He indicated that Janet lives
in Carmichael and can deliver the payment to the
post office.
There was a motion from the board to install John
James as a new board member on the Board of Di-
rectors motion was seconded by Jim B. first by Lin-
da McCarley brought to the board for approval and
motion was carried.
Jammin’
DANCE LESSONS AND THE OLD PROS!
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 14
MUCH LOVED AUTHOR OF
“WESTERN SWING MONTHLY”
RETIRES THE PUBLICATION
Barbara Martin,
the driving
force behind
the WESTERN
SWING
MONTHLY is
retiring the
publication. For
years, we have
been proud to
host Barbara’s
ad in our
monthly news-
letter, and this
well known icon of “all things western swing”, will
be missed by our many readers.
We were honored to induct Barbara in to the West-
ern Swing Hall of Fame, October 10, 2004 as a true
ambassador of western swing music. Having her in
attendance at our events was always a joy.
While we will miss this extraordinary publication,
we are happy for Barbara that she has more time to
enjoy her free time.
From all of us in WSS, we send our best wishes!
We’d love to see you, if you’re ever in our area dur-
ing a monthly dance!
Western Swing Society
And from John Jones—WSMSS…..
We have been informed that Barbara Martin, editor
and publisher of WESTERN SWING MONTHLY,
is retiring from this role and that the January 2019
Continued next column
Check out Barbara Martin’s
http://www.wsmonthly.com/subscribe.html
Much Loved Author continued from previous column
issue was the last one. With this publication and her
attendance at so many Western Swing events
through the years, Barbara has been a dedicated pro-
moter and ambassador for this genre of music and its
musicians. I know that WESTERN SWING
MONTHLY will be missed by so many musicians
and dancers as an unparalleled source of infor-
mation. In 2007, Barbara Martin was inducted as a
promoter into the WSMSS Hall of Fame, and cer-
tainly no one is more deserving of that honor! I
know that all Western Swing fans and WSMSS
members in particular, will join me in sending a
heartfelt Thank You and Best Wishes to our dear
friend, Barbara Martin.
John Jones – President
Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest
And from Billy Mata….
I just heard where Barbara Martin is retiring the
Western Swing Monthly publication. I can’t tell you
how sad but glad this makes me. Sad because it’s an
end of an era. Glad for Barbara so that she can enjoy
herself. Personally, I have my whole Western Swing
career to thank Barbara and her monthly magazine
for. No one knew who I was outside of south Texas
until she got a hold of me. Barbara Martin, Thank
you for everything you’ve done for me and BMTT
and all my other Western swing colleagues that I
know feel the same as I do. I love you very much
and I hope you’ll make the shows in the future. I’m
sure there’ll be an honorary backstage or press pass
for you anywhere you want to go. Best of luck and
God speed.
Billy Mata
Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition
https://www.facebook.com/barbara.martin.7311352?__tn__=%2CdK-R-R&eid=ARDCa09gbCFKPAaDcLULpxRdgj2Al8v8Fm4mBwaN_U8hUfrdBnJEN9Unun9BGnuO4H16lFNQuQn6CKVA&fref=mentionshttps://www.facebook.com/billy.mata?__tn__=%2CdC-R-R&eid=ARAoQWyr2oReGsyHyIKvstr2ck7pdRfssWKsKm1q7s0em85nh0oQT5i6K5gfCKYovExWcY0UqcE0iKlN&hc_ref=ARQPdyMcN6uBfnT0_SihJNfROlyPIZepC1wVFUkWuQjDtMAz98bPVV7EPsShslkfx3k&fref=nf
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS February 2019 - Page 15
OTHER WESTERN SWING MUSIC
ORGANIZATIONS/MUSIC HAPPENINGS
Bakersfield Country Music Museum, P.O. Box
81623, Bakersfield CA 93380-1623. Call 661-366-
6003 24/7 for more information.
Buck Ford & Pure Country Band: Check Web-
site for schedule, http://www.buckford.com/
calendar/
Canadian Western Swing Music Society, Con-
tact: John York, 3565 Cambridge St., Vancouver,
BC, Canada V5K 1M3. Phone 604-299-2301.
CA Old Time Fiddlers Association, Meets 2nd
Sunday. Orangevale Grange on Walnut Avenue in
Orangevale, CA. www.cbaontheweb.org/
region_details.asp? Region 2
Cowtown Society of Western Music, Contact:
Joe Baker, Membership Director, 940-452-6300,
4361 F.M. 1195, Mineral Springs, TX 76067
Greater Arizona Country/Western Swing Associ-
ation and Hall of Fame, Inc. PO Box 953, Dew-
ey, AZ 86326. Contact Jim Gamble at 928-458-
0714.
Lincoln Highway Band, 2nd Sunday of the
month, 2-5pm, Ramada Inn, 2600 Auburn Blvd.,
Sacramento, $6.00 cover. 4th Sunday of the month,
1-4pm, VFW POST 4647, 3300 U Street, North
Highlands, $5.00 cover. Information call (916) 580-
7390.
Northwest Western Swing Music Society,
Contact: Jeannie Yearian, President, 425-432-7888,
or cell 206-271-2295, Lynnwood Eagles, 19223
Hwy. 99, Lynnwood, WA. Meets 2nd Sunday
www.nwwsms.com
Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, PO Box 644, Shattuck, OK 73858. Meets quarterly.
Go to website at: www.wsmss.com.
CONTRIBUTIONS PLEASE!
We all enjoy the dance at the Machinist’s Hall each
month. What I wish to do with this article is to let you
know how much effort and money it takes to produce
this event. The dance costs approximately $1200 each
month for hall rental, setup fees, insurance and decora-
tions. All of the work of our board of directors, our
monthly volunteers, and the wonderful musicians who
provide the music is completely without compensation.
Some travel here from as far away as Redding to be here
for this event. We work very hard to provide an excellent
product at a very modest price, and I believe we succeed.
We try to keep the cost for admission as low as possible
so that everyone can afford to be here to enjoy the music
and dancing.
In order to keep the admission fee low, we are asking all
who can afford it to make a donation, either one time or
on a monthly basis. We will be placing a donation jar at
the entrance to the dance hall. We of the Board of Direc-
tors thank you for providing as generous a contribution
for which you are comfortable.
Thank you, Eddie Burr, Treasurer
Driving Instructions to MACHINISTS HALL: From Hwy 50, take the Sun-rise 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 driveway just past Enterprise. You’ll see our sign,
and you are there. Park, come in and join the fun.
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 5:00 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.net *The address is Sunrise, but the driveway is on Citrus.