September, 2010
Hello Friends,
For the past several years, Martha and I have sent our annual newsletter around December 1. Our practice was to thank everyone for the bookings of that year and to wish every one a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We usually included a list of the bookings for the following year. But the list has always been small because most of our engagements are booked in the first quarter. Of course, this has not been a problem for those who can access my website and review my schedule which is updated around the first of every month. But the majority of our friends and fans do not have access to the Internet and are not aware of most of our upcoming bookings. To solve this problem, we have decided to start sending our annual newsletter out in the spring, so as to inform folks of our bookings for the following months, in hopes they can attend some they would have otherwise not known about. So our current schedule is included in this newsletter. And also, we want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, a few months early.
Western Swing Cruise
The biggest news to share with you is our plans for another “Western Swing Cruise” in 2011 with me and my Silver Lake Band. The dates are January 30-February 4, 2011. The cruise is being coordinated by “Cruises and More” of Ponca City, OK. We will be on the Carnival Ship Ecstasy for lots of dancing, jam sessions, food and fun. Please call Joyce Davis at toll free 888-834-8660 or local 580-765-4600 for details and reservations. Ports of Call will be Progreso and Cozumel, Mexico. For the best rates, a reservation and deposit should be made by ASAP. Full payment will be due by November 15. Bus departures will be from Wichita, Ponca City and Oklahoma City with an overnight stay in a hotel in or near Houston. We will board the ship on the morning of January 31. For those who will meet us at the ship on January 31, the rate will be reduced. As of today, only a birth certificate and driver’s license is required, but Joyce suspects they may require a Passport by the time of our cruise. In either case, a Passport is highly recommended. Joyce can also explain about Travel Insurance if you have an interest, and answer all your questions. So grab your friends and neighbors and come go with us.
Album #16 – “Memories of TV Westerns”
I am finishing work on my next CD. Included will be the theme songs of many of your favorite cowboy television shows from 1950 to 1975. It will be available early June.
Oklahoma 1955
The 2009 CD has been well received. The new issue of Western Way from the Western Music Association has this CD in the #2 spot on both the Western and Western Swing Charts. It is currently in the #1 spot on the Swingin’ West Internet Show’s Chart of Western Swing Albums. And the titled song is also #1 on the Swingin’ West Chart of Western Swing songs. Many other radio and Internet shows have given this CD lots of airplay and chart listings. In Rope Burns, this CD is currently in the top 10. Also, several songs from the Album have appeared on various charts of western and western swing recordings. And friends like O.J. Sikes, Mike Gross and Marvin O’Dell, and others have put songs from this album on their Internet Shows quite often. And my friend John Wooley has a great western swing show each Saturday evening at 7pm Central Time on KWGS 89.5 in Tulsa which can also be heard on the Internet anywhere in the world.
And I must tell you that my friend Johnny Western has retired from 1070AM in Wichita but Harold Widup and Gentle Ben are keeping the music coming from that station.
I send my thanks to all of you who have written reviews and those who have put this album on your radio show rotation list. And even though your name does not appear here, I want you to know I appreciate you very much.
Memphis
The annual Memphis Film Festival is scheduled for Jun 3-5 and this year it is called “Gathering of the Guns – 2”. Come and meet some of your favorite cowboy TV stars such as Cheyenne, Wyatt Earp, Sugarfoot, Laramie, Wagaon Train, and many others. I will be there to sing and to portray Gene Autry in a reenactment of one of his radio shows. Johnny Western will be there to entertain. For more information, go to www.memphisfilmfestival.com.
Prairie Rose
The Praire Rose Chuckwagon Supper near Wichita, Kansas is a fun place to visit for great food, cowboy music and memories of the old west. I’ll be there on June 11 and hope you can join us. For reservations and directions, call 316-778-2121.
Wahoo, Nebraska
The annual Wahoo Country Music Festival will be held on June 24-27. With five stages of great music each day and the big Barn Dance at night, you will have a great time.
I’ll be there, along with many outstanding country and western music performers. For reservations, call 402-687-9544.
Midwest Country, Minnesota
I’m really looking forward to being in Sandstone, Minnesota on July 17 and 18 to perform on the Midwest Country Show. And maybe, just maybe, they will put some of my songs on RFD later in the year. You can watch their show each Saturday night on the RFD television network.
Summer Jamboree
As most of you know, the annual Gene Autry Oklahoma Film and Music Festival in September has been discontinued due to age and health reasons. But we will keep going with the annual Summer Jamboree. This year it is on July 24 with lots of music – 11am to 6pm. Come and join us. No charge for tickets but donations will be accepted to help keep the Museum going. And an auction of western items is scheduled.
Lake City,Colorado
As many of you know, Lake City, Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in our country. I’ll be there on July 31 to do a show at their new Mary Stigall Theatre in downtown Lake City at 8pm.
Caldwell, Kansas
My band and I will appear at the Sumner County Fair in Caldwell, Kansas on July 31, 8pm. Come and enjoy the fair and our brand of western swing and traditional country and cowboy music.
Roxy Theater
I have been invited to return to the historic Roxy Theater in Muskogee, Oklahoma on August 14, 2010 at 7pm. With my guitar, I’ll pay tribute to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and you can bet I’ll be singing “Okie From Muskogee”.
Poncan Opry
The Poncan Opry at the Poncan Theatre in Ponca City, Oklahoma has become a huge success. I’ll be there on September 11. I suggest you call 580-765-0943 for reservations.
Jewell, Kansas
My buddy Curt Shoemaker has invited me back to his big country music show in Jewell, Kansas on September 18. This is an all day show with lots of great music, food and fun.
Silver Dollar City
My Silver Lake Band and I will be returning to Silver Dollar City in Branson for the 14th consecutive year to play Missouri’s Biggest Barn Dance. The dates are Oct 13-30 (closed Monday and Tuesday). We will do 4 shows per day for a total of 56 shows and every show will be different. Show times are 10:30am, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm. Silver Dollar City is one of America’s most popular Theme Parks with music, crafts, rides and lots of fun for the whole family.
Grenola, Kansas
Granola, Kansas may not be the largest metropolis in America, but they do have some of the greatest and friendliest folks anywhere. I’ll be there on November 20. Call 620-358-3241 for reservations. And the food is so good. I still remember that pie from last year.
Cowboy Christmas Ball
Our annual Cowboy Christmas Ball will still be in Winfield, Kansas but at a different location. Call 620-222-2154 for reservation and directions. Wear your finest western outfit and come join us for a good time.
New Years Eve
Our annual New Years Eve Dance featuring me and my Silver Lake Band will again be at the Prairie Rose Chuckwagon in Benton,Kansas. Call 316-778-2121 for reservations.
We thank you for your friendship and support and hope you can join us somewhere down the trail.
Les