June, 2001
Hello Friends,
Martha and I just returned from a great, great time in Branson. The band and I did 56 shows in 14 days at Silver Dollar City with a full theater at almost every show. Can you believe there were several couples who were there for all 56 shows. And some who just missed a few. Our sincere thanks to each of you who came for one show or 56. We appreciate each of you. And a special thanks to Mike Patrick and D.A. Calloway of Silver Dollar City who made us feel so welcome and appreciated.
Have I mentioned our TV show? It is called “Music of the Midwest”, produced by one of the nation’s great guitarists, Cal Denison. It is telecast each Tuesday evening at 9pm, Central Time. It is currently carried on the Global Broadcast Network and presented on numerous cable systems all across the country. If you have a large satellite dish, you can pick it up on Galaxy 3, Transponder 7. We hope to be on the RFD Network on the DISH System before too long.
The students at Cowley County College, Arkansas City, Kansas are reaching out to the Senior Citizens of their area by presenting a free meal and dance each spring. They call it the “Senior, Senior Prom”. My Silver Lake Band and I played to over 1,100 seniors this past March to one of the best group of country dancers anywhere. And having that great western swing vocalist, Dugg Collins with us was a special treat. Dugg is in the Country Music Disk Jockey Hall of Fame and can be heard each morning on KFDI-AM in Wichita.
Since our last newsletter, our new gospel album has been released. It is titled “Railway to Heaven” and includes 14 gospel favorites plus one I wrote “Lord Open the Door”. Some have said it is the best we have done.
How we love those RVers. We had a great time with Good Sam’s of Georgia in Perry, Good Sam’s of Texas in Canton and the Safari/Beaver Rally in Shawnee, OK
After entertaining the Good Sam’s Club in Perry, Georgia, we stopped by the Hank Williams Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. It is a wonderful tribute to one of the greatest. We also visited the gravesite of Hank and Audrey and the beautiful monuments located there. If you visit the museum, you might see Ole Les’ photo hanging there.
We also came through Meridian, Mississippi and stopped by the Jimmie Rodgers Museum with C.P. and Annie. A month later, we returned to Meridian for the Jimmie Rodgers Festival. Also thanks to all the seniors at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.
And now, a reminder about the Cowboy Film and Music Festival in my hometown of Gene Autry, OK. It will start at noon on Thursday, Sept. 27 and conclude at noon on
Sunday Sept. 30. I will appear solo on the Friday night show. Then my band and I will be on the Saturday night show with Don Edwards, Johnny Western and Jodie Miller. For ticket reservations, call the Gene Autry. Oklahoma Museum at 580/294-3047. RVs can park free on the grounds but no hookups are available yet. Motels are available in Ardmore, such as.
Comfort Inn - 580/226-1250
Dorchester Inn - 580/226-1761
Guest Inn - 580/223-1234
Holiday Inn - 580/223-7130
Motel 6 - 580/226-7666
Super 8 - 580/223-2201
(Some give a discount if you tell them you are there for the Gene Autry festival.)
I update our performance schedule on my web site each month. After checking the schedule, look for my newest album on the Merchandise page, then please drop me a note and tell me how you like the web site.
Thanks for your Support!
Adios and Keep Smiling!!
LES GILLIAM
"The Oklahoma Balladeer"
P.O. Box 350 Ponca City, OK 74602
(580) 762-4837 FAX (580) 762-0965
email - lesgill@poncacity.net
www.lesgilliam.com