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The Western Swing Society’s 35th Annual
WESTERN SWING HALL of FAME
MUSIC FESTIVAL Sept. 30, Oct. 1 & 2, 2016
BBQ PROVIDED BY
AMERICAN LEGION POST #709
Volume 34, Number 10 October, 2016
2016 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
THIS MONTH’S FEATURED
HALL OF FAME MEMBERS
(Go to Page 8)
Officials & Staff ............ 2
President’s Letter ........... 2
Jam-A-Rana Report ....... 2
Mike Gross Reviews ...... 3
Mike Gross Top Ten ...... 3
2016 HOF Band Lineup 4
HOF Information ........... 4
Membership Application. .. 5
RIP Carol and Kenny ..... 5
Letter from the Editor ... 5
From The Bandstand ..... 6
Friends Photos ............... 6
Good Times Photos ....... 7
HOF Flyer ...................... 7
Featured HOF Members 8
Cotton Roberts Cont. ..... 9
President’s Letter Cont. . 9
Membership .................. 9
Join the Jam-A-Rana...... 9
Upcoming Bands ........... 9
Dancers Photo Page ..... 10
Other WSS Orgs .......... 11
Volunteer Opportunities ... 11
Board Mtg Invitation ... 11
Pot Luck Report ........... 11
W H A T’ S I N S I D E
Sammy Sams
Shota Osabe
Kevin Healy
Jaydee Maness
Vane &Yulie Ruth
Rick Alegria Kenny Miele
Bing Nathan
Doug Cohen
Mark Holzinger
Steve Clark
Jim Rothermel
“Cotton” Roberts Virgil Watts
Dave Martin
We had a good
group of musicians
show up for this
month’s jam ses-
sion. My regulars
were Dave Rietz on
fiddle and singing,
Bobby Giasson on lead guitar and
singing. I had two steel guitar
players (that doesn’t happen very
often), they were Brownie and
Sam Davidson. Sam did some
singing too. On bass was Chuck
Webb
(my
right
hand
man)
and Bill
Fortin. They took turns playing
and Bill did some singing. Then
Bill brought up his wife Linda and
she also sang. Bill Cornett helped
me out and played some drums
and he did some singing.
A very
good lead
guitar
man by
the name
of Jim Baughman came in and
played some great guitar and then
his wife Linda came up and sang
some great songs with that beauti-
ful voice of hers.
Other female singers were Nancy
Long, Shelley Mitchell (Bobby
Giasson’s daughter) and Grace
Clark. Grace also played rhythm
guitar.
Next month is our three day Hall
of Fame Music Festival and we
will be jamming all three days.
Come in the jam room and say
“Hi”, Until next month, See Ya!
Tony Arana, Jam room host.
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - 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.
The Western Swing Society
P.O Box PO Box 2474
westernswingsociety.net
Carmichael, CA 95609
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, Bill Seabridge (916) 635-9310
Vice-President, Chuck Webb (916) 689-9546
Treasurer, Doug Weiss (916) 434-8189
Secretary, Janet Jimenez (916) 487-1727
Other Directors:
Tony Arana, (775) 971-3070
Olen Dillingham (916) 645-8878
Linda Michael (916) 870-7463
Ronnie Elkan, (916) 765-4345
Rex Barnes (916) 704-1566
Staff and Committee Chairpersons:
Bookkeeper, Jo Pine
Decorating Chair, (open)
Equipment and Staging, (open)
Historian, (open)
Jam Room, Tony Arana
Membership Director, Chuck Webb
Music Director, Ronnie Elkan/Doug Weiss
Newsletter Team: Editor, (open)
Layout and Publication: Ronnie and
Shelley Elkan,
Distribution: Janet Jimenez and Jetta Riley
Photographer: Donald deMars
Public Relations, Rex Barnes
Raffle, Bob and Virginia Kuykendall
Sales Table, Donald and Susan deMars
Scholarship, Ronnie Elkan
Slide Show, Janet Jimenez
Sound Engineer, Gary Blodgett
Website, Dave Rietz
JAM-ARANA REPORT
Hello out there!
Well, call me the
Steve Harvey of
the Western
Swing Society.
At the last dance
I announced that
there will be no food available at
the upcoming Hall of Fame week-
end, so bring your own snacks.
Since then we received a scrump-
tious offer from American Legion
Post #709 in Rancho Cordova to
provide BBQ cuisine. Meals will
include burgers, tri-tip, and pulled
pork sandwiches with beans and
potato/macaroni salad for a price
ranging from $5.50 to $7.25. The
proceeds of this culinary fundrais-
er will benefit both organizations
and allow them to provide scholar-
ships and charitable donations for
good causes. So forget whatever I
told you before about feeding
yourselves and instead get an All-
American meal served up hot and
fresh by these generous veterans!
Hey, the last dance was not only
fun as always, but included some-
thing not all western swing bands
still use today. There is something
about adding the “Easy Sounds”
of a tenor sax to the mix that
brings back the good memories of
a Big Band era when Bob Wills
was king. Today nobody does that
better than Mr. Charlie Hull and
his Country Swing Playboys. The
authentic western swing style ac-
companied by the smooth vocals
of Dayna Wills set the stage for an
entertaining Sunday afternoon. He
truly is “Good Time Charlie”
without the blues.
Special thanks to Bob Cooper and
Continued on page 9
From the PRESIDENT
"Swing-in'West"Mike Gross
KSEY-FM, Seymour, TX
Octobeber 1, 2016
Songs
1 Everything’s Gotta Swing in Texas- Cowboy Joe
(Chimney Rock)
2 This Song is Just for You- Paul Schlesinger &
his Knights of Western Swing
3 Dallas- Tommy Hooker (i2i)
4 She’s All Texas- Ed Montana (Six Pack Music)
5 Love is a Lingering Thing- Solitaire Miles
(Seraphic)
6 Smoky Clubs and Dizzy People- Cowboy Joe
(Chimney Rock)
7 Souvenir- Joyce Woodson (Radish)
8 Okie Dokie- Cherokee Maidens
9 Back in My Texas Home- Hot Texas Swing Band
10 Navajo Trail- Asleep at the Wheel, Willie Nel-
son & Quebe Sisters (Bismeaux)
Albums 1 Paul Schlesinger & his Knights of Western
Swing- Paul Schlesinger
2 Susie Blue & the Lonesome Fellas- Solitaire
Miles (Seraphic)
3 Mood Swings- Liz Masterson (Western Sere-
nade Music)
4 Something to Bragg About- Leddy Bragg
5 Recollections in Swing- Uptown Drifters
6 I Ain’t Dead Yet- Hot Texas Swing Band
7 Still the King- Asleep at the Wheel (Bismeaux)
8 Now Playing- Western Swing Authority
(Canadian Import)
9 Wild Blue Yonder- The Western Flyers (Versa-
Tone)
10 You’re The Best Thing- Nick Demaio
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 3
ALBUM REVIEW by Mike Gross
Album: Rose of Old Pawnee
Artist: Curio Cowboys
Label: Ruido
This wonderful Albuquerque
western swing band has just
released a brand new CD as a tribute to one
of America's greatest songwriters. This fan-
tastic album is packed with 18 Fred Rose
compositions in their very enjoyable style. It
is sure to chart really soon.
The album opens up with an awesome version
of Rootie Tootie, originally from the West-
ern Swing world of Pee
Wee King and later a
Hank Williams country
charter. Also from Hank
Williams is included
Waltz of the Wind and
I'm Satisfied with You. They also bring back so
many enjoyable musical
memories from Bob Wills with a top class re-
working of Rose of Old Pawnee, Sweet Kind of Love, I Can't Go on This Way, You Don't Care What Happens to Me, Deep Water, Roly Poly and Texarkana Baby, which was also a
huge Eddy Arnold hit. They also remember
Bob Wills and the Sons of the Pioneers with
Home in San Antone. Also included are
Fred's pop music compositions Deed I Do, Blues in My Mind and the instrumental Deep Henderson. Also included is Be Honest with Me from Gene Autry, Foggy River from Moon
Mullican and Low and Lonely from Roy Acuff
and country music. The remaining cut Tender Hearted Sue was recorded by Rose under
the pseudonym Rambling Rogue.
The group bandleader, John Feldman is heard
Continued on page 5
TOP TEN by Mike Gross
Mike Gross, KSEY-FM, Seymour,
TX, is a Hall of Fame DJ playing
old and new Western Swing on
his radio show, available on the
Internet at www.swinginwest.com
When and Where: The 2016 Festival will begin the morning of Friday, September 30th and end Sunday, October 2nd. it will take place at the Machinists Hall in Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento, California.
The Program: The listeners and dancers will be entertained by West-ern Swing bands from the Southwestern and Pacific Western states, and by morning and late night jam ses-sion sets where musicians from the different bands get together and produce spontaneous music.
Times: On Friday the music will begin at 8:30 a.m. and con-tinue until 10:00 p.m.
On Saturday the music starts at 8:30 a.m. and contin-ues until 10:00 p.m.
On Sunday morning the music will start at 8:30 a.m. and will continue to 6:15 pm, except during the Hall of Fame induction ceremony which takes place between 12:45 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. In the ceremony, new nomi-nees, performers, and others who have made signifi-cant contribution to the preservation and promotion of Western Swing Music, will be inducted into the West-ern Swing Hall of Fame. After the ceremony, the mu-sic resumes and continues until 6:15 p.m.
Admission to the Festival: $10 daily, or you can pay $25 on Friday for all three days. No admission will be charged for Inductees or persons performing in Festival bands, nor for one of their companions. Persons serving as volunteer work-ers will be admitted free on the days they work.
Food, Drink and Lodging: Free parking, along with beverages and BBQ for pur-chase will be available at the festival location.
Rooms are available at a special reduced rate for the event at the nearby La Quinta Inn, 11131 Folsom Blvd., Rancho Cordova, CA. La Quinta Inn has now come up with a toll free number for group reserva-tions. It is 1-866-527-1498.
Other nearby Lodging: Hyatt Place, (916) 635-4799; Hampton Inn (916) 638-4800; Hotel Sierra (916) 638-4141; Red Roof Inn (916) 638-2500; Mariott Hotel (916) 638-1100; Motel Six(916) 635-8784; and First Value Inn (916) 362-5800.
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 4
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th
8:30-9:45am Jam Session
10:00-11:00am Chuck Hayes Tribute Band
11:15-12:15pm Tony’s Jam Room Band
12:30-1:30pm Charlie Hull & The Country
Swing Playboys
1:45-2:45pm Dry Creek
3:00-4:00pm Ray Poe & Pickin’ Time
4:15-5:15pm Tony’s Jam Room Band
5:30-6:30pm Chuck Hayes Tribute Band
6:45-7:45pm Bite The Bullet
8:00-9:00pm Dry Creek
9:00-??:??pm Jam Session
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1st
8:30-9:45am Jam Session
10:00-11:00am Chuck Hayes Tribute Band
11:15-12:15pm Eddie Burr & The Western
Swingers
12:30-1:30pm Dry Creek
1:45-2:45pm Bob Woods Swampbilly
3:00-4:00pm Sactown Playboys
4:15-5:15pm Lincoln Highway
5:30-6:30pm Ray Poe & Pickin’ Time
6:45-7:45pm Stardust Cowboys
8:00-9:00pm Chuck Hayes Tribute Band
9:00-??:??pm Jam Session
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2nd
8:30-10:00am Jam Session
10:15-11:15am Chuck Hayes Tribute Band
11:30-12:30am Buck Ford & Pure Country
12:45-2:15pm Award Ceremony
2:30-3:30pm Bite The Bullet
3:45-5:00pm Hall Of Fame Band
5:15-6:15pm Lost Weekend
2016 W.S.S. HALL OF FAME
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
FINAL ~ NOTE THE CHANGES
THE WESTERN SWING SOCIETY'S 35TH ANNUAL
WESTERN SWING HALL OF FAME
MUSIC FESTIVAL
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 5
Friday to Sunday September 30 to October 2, 2016
Western Swing Society Hall of Fame Event
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). *
* Newsletter Subscription is included in benefits of dues-paying members. Don’t miss the color version of our newslet-
ter, by signing up to receive it via email rather than snail mail – It’s free to members. 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.
Mike Gross Review Continued from page 3
on vocals, steel guitar, mandolin, banjo and
guitar. Jordan Ripley, Byron Ripley, Joe
Carter, Carol Feldman and Jay D. Rosenblum
are also heard on vocals. Jay is also heard on
bass and Tom Walker and David Nidel do
drums. The fiddles are played by Doc Gonza-
les, Grey Howell and Joe Carter. Art Maya,
Stan Burg and Robert Rambo play guitar with
Byron Ripley also guitar and tuba. Also heard
is Larry Freedman-piano and Tim Clark-
trumpet.
This album can be obtained from
www.amazon.com or CDBaby.
Letter From The Editor
Just a moment to reflect on what a Hall of Fame cel-
ebration means to the nominees. We are all present
to enjoy music, either by playing, singing, or danc-
ing. Some do it all. Then, we have those who are
being honored for their contribution to Western
Swing Music. It is hard to put into words the excite-
ment these nominees feel on this special day. These
people not only keep the music going but even more
importantly, they keep it
alive. I personally want
to thank them all.
Ronnie Elkan
(Co- Editor)
Carol Henderson of the “T.J. and
the Spurs Country Band” passed
away on Aug. 19th. She was born in
Berkley, CA Aug. 29, 1942. She
went to school in Rio Linda, CA
and moved to So. Oregon as a late
teenager. She married Dewey Hen-
derson and had three sons, Duane,
Jody and Steven. She has been at our HOF Celebra-
tion for the last ten years and will be missed.
Kenny Lowrey passed away recent-
ly. He was living in Pennsylvania.
Kenny was born May 12, 1930. He
was inducted into our Hall of Fame
October 2, 1983. RIP Kenny. Your
Western Swing Family honors and
misses you.
RIP Carol Henderson & Kenny Lowrey
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 6
Hi Y’all:
On Labor Day Weekend Sunday
we were treated to an outstanding
performance by Charlie Hull and
the Western
Swing Play-
boys. The dance floor was hop-
ping with Charlie-sax, clarinet,
vocals; Cliff Brezendine-guitar,
vocals; Olen Dillingham-fiddle,
mandolin, vocals;
George Cecil-drums,
vocals; Mickey Ben-
nett-bass and vocal-
ist Dana Wills as they kept dishing out classic after
classic.
Dry Creek kept the floor crowded for the remainder
of the afternoon with
their brand of dance
music. The group con-
sisted of Bill Enyeart-
guitar, keyboard, vo-
cals; Jim Baughman-
guitar; Lenny Serdahl-
guitar, vocals; Bill Cor-
nett-drums, vocals and
Billy Smith-bass. Guests
Linda Baughman, Nancy
Long and Gary Blodgett
also joined the band.
The 2016 Hall of Fame festival is scheduled for Fri-
day, September 30, Saturday, October 1 and Sunday,
October 2. There will be 14 different bands playing
during the three day celebration. Be sure to check
the Festival Program in this issue for individual band
times.
Buck Ford and Pure Country will be onstage from
11:30am-12:30pm on Sunday prior to the Hall of
Fame Induction Ceremony starting at 12:45pm. Do
plan to be with us.
From the Bandstand Friends and Fun Times
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 7
VOLUNTEER for FREE ADMISSION
To the HALL OF FAME FESTIVAL
Volunteers don't pay for the days they work.
See Janet Jimenez or Jetta Riley for details.
Come Join The Fun At
The Western Swing Society’s 35th Annual
WESTERN SWING HALL of FAME
MUSIC FESTIVAL Sept. 30,Oct. 1 & 2, 2016
Machinists’ Hall, Rancho Cordova, California
THREE DAYS OF DANCING
AND LISTENING FUN
A Dozen Great Western Swing Bands
Morning and Night Jam Sessions
For Listening and Dancing
Hall of Fame Inductions on
Sunday, October 2nd
On-Site Beverages
Special Western Swing Room Rates at
Nearby Locations
For information, call (Any Board Member)
Check out Barbara Martin’s
http://www.wsmonthly.com/subscribe.html
SPECIAL RATES AT LA QUINTA 15 rooms being held for us at a price of
$74 per night!
(916) 638-1111 11131 Folsom Blvd, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Between Kilgore Rd and Sunrise Blvd
Let the Good Times Roll
Published March 1992 written by Glen Tarver
Even if you have only a casual familiarity with the
development of Western Swing music on the West
Coast chances are you or someone you know, will
remember hearing Cotton Roberts perform during
the early 50’s with Billy Jack Wills Band. It was the
band for that time, or any other time for that matter.
When I first heard him play, Cotton was on stand-up
bass, doing a great job of pushing the rhythm section
along. Later, he picked up his fiddle and did a fine
rendition of “Fire on the Mountain.” He also has
plenty of fire in his “smokin” guitar.
Perhaps Cotton’s humble beginnings were partly re-
sponsible for his modesty and his unassuming na-
ture. He was born July 23, 1925 in Colcord, Oklaho-
ma about 65 miles east of Tulsa. He got his first fid-
dle from money he earned selling garden seed
(sounds a little familiar) and started playing at 10
years of age. By the time he was twelve, he was
playing barn dances. At 18, he was playing bass with
Mac Gamble’s Dixieland band in Siloam Springs,
Arkansas. Later he joined Jerry Summerline & The
Cookson Hill Cowboys at Muskogee, OK. Cotton
says that “In 1950, I had the good fortune to join the
Billy Jack Wills Band playing bass and fiddle. The
original band consisted of Billy Jack on vocals, Tiny
Moore doubling on fiddle and mandolin with some
vocals, Dick McComb doubling on trumpet and
bass, Kenny Lowery on rhythm guitar, Tommy Var-
ner on Steel guitar, Charlie Moore on drums and
myself on bass and fiddle. In 1951, Varner was
drafted and he was replaced by Vance Terry. Later,
we had Claude Spencer on drums for a while, then
Tommy Perkins joined the band, replacing Spencer.”
In 1952, Billy Jack Wills & His Western Swing
band were favorites all over Northern California.
Not only did they do the daily radio show on KFBK,
Sacramento, but there was also a solid schedule of
dances. Wills Point was home base every Saturday
night and they worked a circuit from Fort Washing-
ton Beach, in Fresno and the Moonlight Gardens in
Yuba City to the NCO Cub at Hamilton Field and
halls in Redding, Red Bluff, Corning, Chico, Stock-
ton and Modesto. They toured Oregon, Idaho and
Continued on page 9
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 8
Cotton Roberts (7/23/1925-3/8/2007)
Inducted 3/7/1982
Virgil Watts
Inducted 10/4/2015
Virgil Watts was born in 1934 in Ripley, OK, son of
Leslie and Nadine Watts.
Inspired by Bob Wills on the radio, Virgil began
playing guitar at age twelve and, as a teenager, Vir-
gil began playing music with friends: Otis Craig,
Don Sessions, R. J. McBride, and “Durango Kid”
Ted McMarner. They played regularly around the
town area of Ripley. Virgil later relocated in and
around Wichita, KS, where he played his steel gui-
tar. He then moved to Kermit, TX, playing at many
well-known night spots with well-known musicians:
Don Sessions, Troy Passmore, Durwood Haddock,
Jerry Haddock, Eddie Miller, Larry Eduy, and
countless others.
Then, Virgil moved to Chicago, IL, where he played
in many night clubs and entertainment hubs with
Bobby Braden, Don Erwin, Bobby Barnett, Judy
Walker, Eddie Starr, and others. And he also played
behind “Buffalo” Johnson, Don Sessions and Milton
Mounce.
Virgil became known by other steel guitar players as
one who played using a smaller steel bar, hence,
“Virgil’s Bar.”
From Chicago, Virgil moved to Missouri, where he
met, wooed and married the love of his life – June.
In Missouri, he played at many Grand Ole Opry type
venues and backed a variety of noted Country Music
stars.
Virgil still plays music in NE Missouri where he is
often featured as a Western Swing steel guitarist.
And he belongs to the International Steel Guitar As-
sociation that has a convention every year. He has
played behind Johnny Bush, Leona Williams, and
many others there. And he has played with many
Steel Guitar Hall of Fame members: Herby Wallace,
Hal Rugg, Leonard T. Zinn, Tom Brumley, Dewitt
Scott, Jeff Newman, and many others.
Virgil has been an inspiration to countless others,
including his daughter – Starla Watts Queen, induct-
ed in the Sacramento Western Swing Society Hall of
Fame last year, and quite a musician herself.
Virgil is one top picker, and still uses “Virgil’s Bar.”
MEMBERSHIP
Any Changes? Keep us up to date on any changes
in your membership information, especially mailing
and emailing addresses. We can’t get your newslet-
ter to you unless we have your current addresses.
You can mail changes in your information to the So-
ciety at P.O. Box 2474, Carmichael, CA; phone it to
(916) 965-6210; or email it to member-
[email protected]. Thanks!
Keep on Western Swingin’
WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS October, 2016 - Page 9
JOIN THE JAM-A-RANA
The Jam Room is proving to be a great success and
a lot of fun. Time often runs out on the main stage
for guest performers but that doesn’t mean you
can’t strut your stuff. Come on back to the JR
where Board member, Tony ‘Jammin’ Arana is in
charge. Bring your instrument, voice, fans, or what-
ever and share your talent. We’d love to hear you.
UPCOMING BANDS
October Hall of Fame Sept.30, Oct. 1-2
November Eddie Burr & the Western Swingers
December Jim Baughman & “Old Friends”
January Bite the Bullet
President’s Letter Continued from page 2
Melody Page for tending Bar last month. You guys
are GREAT!
Lastly, I would like to recognize Bill Enyeart for
what he does every first Sunday of the month. Here
is a gentleman who faces challenges that would drop
most men to their knees and keep them there, but
every month Bill shows up with his dear Sally. She
unloads and sets up his equipment and then he starts
playing and singing like he was only twenty-one
years old. You have got to admire that kind of cour-
age and dignity. Here's to you both Bill and Sally.
The Western Swing Society Hall of Fame festival
will be three days of great music by some of the best
musicians in the their field. Remember to invite your
friends, family and neighbors.
See you on the dance floor.
Cotton Roberts Continued from Page 8
Washington. Most of the band musicians lived in the
Wills Point Ballroom apartments, and when playing
there, drew normal crowds of 700-800 people on
Saturday nights. If they were double-billed with a
major country act, the crowds swelled. Wills Point
was often filled with the music of Hank Williams,
Lefty Frizell, Ernest Tubb and Red Foley, not to
mention Bob Wills.
In 1953, as Western Swing declined, a victim of TV
and the deteriorating dance hall scene, the audiences
dwindled, and Bob Wills, facing a similar problem,
merged Billy Jack’s band into the Texas Playboys.
Cotton played with Bob Wills for about a year be-
fore he tired of traveling and wanted to play clubs
and be home in his own bed every night. Cotton
says: “The last time I saw Tiny Moore, he told me
the Billy Jack Wills band was the best band he had
ever played with and I must agree. We were really a
swingin’ band!”
Then Cotton played a trio with Jimmie Rivers and
Red Gillean for about four or five years at various
clubs around Sacramento. In 1970, he moved to
Washington State and got a regular job at Hanford
Nuclear Plant, bought a farm and played weekends
at a local club. In 1974, his friend Tiny Moore intro-
duced him to Merle Haggard and Cotton accepted
an offer to play a two-week gig at Harrah’s in Reno,
which he says was a real honor. Cotton has also
played the Bob Wills event in Turkey, Texas and
Pawnee, Oklahoma. He played a couple of jobs with
Johnny Gimble and also at the Sacramento Jazz Ju-
bilee and Shoreline Amphitheatre with Truitt Cun-
ningham’s San Antone Rose band. On a regular ba-
sis, he plays fiddle at local hot spot called the Coun-
try Connection with Sonny Austin and “The Takers”
in Selah, Washington.
As a performer, Cotton Roberts is the musicians mu-
sician. He holds his own with the best. As an indi-
vidual, he is also tops with us at the Western Swing
Society.
He was inducted into the Western Swing Society
Hall of Fame and the North West Western Swing
Music Society Hall of Fame. Cotton passed away at
his home in Prosser, Washington on March 8, 2007.
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 October 2016 - Page 11
OTHER WESTERN SWING MUSIC
ORGANIZATIONS/MUSIC HAPPENINGS
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, 575-808-4111,
106 Roswell Street, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345
Greater Arizona Country/Western Swing Associ-
ation and Hall of Fame, Inc. PO Box 953, Dewey,
AZ 86326. Contact Jim Gamble at 928-458-0714.
Lincoln Highway Band, 4th Sunday of the
month, 1-4pm, VFW POST 4647, 3300 U Street,
North Highlands, $5.00 cover charge. For more in-
formation call (916) 580-7390.
Northwest Western Swing Music Society,
Contact: Jeannie Yearian, Editor, 21221 174th Ave.
SE, Renton, WA 98058-9740. Meets 2nd Sunday
www.nwwsms.com
Sacramento Jazz Society, 2nd Sunday of each
month, NOON to 5:00 at Elks Lodge #6, 6446 Riv-
erside Blvd. and Florin Rd., Sacramento, CA 95831.
$8 for members and $10 for non-members.
Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest, PO Box 644, Shattuck, OK 73858. Meets quarterly.
Go to website at: www.wsmss.com.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Western Swing Society is a non-profit organi-
zation operated solely with volunteer help. There is
occasional turnover in staff positions, creating a
need for replacements. The following positions are
currently open or filled on a temporary basis. If
you want to serve the Society and have the listed
skills, contact the Secretary at (916) 487-1727, or
speak with the President at the monthly sessions.
The Society will provide the necessary training and
tools (computer, software, etc.) to get the job done.
Newsletter Archivist: We have need of someone
to archive newsletters, which involves scanning
and saving the files.
Typesetter: Hall of Fame annual tasks of print-
ing Gold Cards, Programs, and Certificates.
NO potluck needed during HOF Festival. BBQ will
be available from the American Legion Post #709 in
Rancho Cordova. Meals will include burgers, tri-tip,
and pulled pork sandwiches with beans and potato/
macaroni salad for a price ranging from $5.50 to
$7.25
November we’ll be back with our potluck.
Anybody is welcome to participate.
Here is how it works. Please bring something or do-
nate $2.00 for the plate fund.
POTLUCK REPORT
MEMBERSHIP
Annual dues in the Western Swing
Society are:
$15 for an Individual
$20 for a Couple at one address
Paid membership includes a
subscription to the monthly
newsletter, reduced admission
fee at Society music functions,
the right to vote in Society elec-
tions and on proposed By-Law
changes.
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 5:30 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.
Driving Instructions to MACHINISTS HALL: From Hwy 50, take the Sunrise 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 drive-
way just past Enterprise. You’ll see our wooden sign, and you are there. Park, come in and join the fun.
P.O. Box 2474
Carmichael, CA 95609
www.westernswingsociety.net
www.facebook.com/
SacramentoWesternSwingSociety
Attention: If you want to receive an email newsletter, and not this snail-mailed newsletter,
please let us know. You can call (916) 765-4345 or email [email protected]