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:

ronnie.elkan@gmail.com 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

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.

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-

ship@westernswingsociety.net. 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.

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

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

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.