July, 1999
Hello Friends,
First, I have some great news. On August 31, I will perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. The show is part of the State Days Series with each state having one night this year on the Millennium Stage. I have been selected to represent the state of Oklahoma.
The show will be shown worldwide on the Internet at 5pm Central Time. It can be accessed at www.kennedy-center.org/stage/millennium.
And the second of the great news is that I opened for young country star Rick Treveno on July 2 for 7,000 folks in Shawnee, OK. I had a great time and hope this fine young man finds the success he deserves.
Since our last newsletter, Martha and I have been to Austria, our fourth trip. I did 9 shows in 10 days. Then returned home to do 6 shows in the next 6 days. I was a little weary after that.
But so many of you brought me out of it in Branson in May where my band and I did 39 shows in 11 days at Silver Dollar City. Thanks to those of you who came and helped to make it a special time for us. I have been in discussions with Silver Dollar City management about next year and it looks like we might do an extended stay during the American Music Festival in May.
Also, I want to say thanks to all the great folks in the Oklahoma Panhandle. We did shows in Guymon, Boise City, Beaver and Buffalo in recent weeks for the Oklahoma Arts Council and there are no nicer people anywhere. It’s not possible to mention all the appearances but thanks to all of you who came to our shows.
I also want to remind you of the Cowboy Film and Music Festival to be held in my home town of Gene Autry, OK, September 23-26. The Saturday night show will feature yours truly and my Silverlake Band followed by Johnny Western and Riders in the Sky. I can assure you, it will be SRO so come early. Motels are available in the nearby town of Ardmore.
At the request of my friend Rex Allen, Jr. I will be a part of the celebration for his dad in October. It will be held October 1-3 in Willcox, Arizona. From there we go to Ruidoso, New Mexico for the biggest and best cowboy gathering with which I have been associated, to be held October 7-10.
Many of you have Martha’s first cookbook which she titled "Home on the Range". Her second book is now at the printers and will be named "Back on the Range". She expects to have the new cookbook available by the latter part of August.
Adios and Keep Smiling!!
LES GILLIAM
"The Oklahoma Balladeer"
Eagle Enterprises
P.O. Box 350
Ponca City, OK 74602
(580) 762-4837
(580) 762-0965 (fax)
lesgilliam@sbcglobal.net