|
As a fan of western swing music
and the fact that Marlene and I planned to get married,
on the 16th June, we decided that the Legends Of Western
Swing Festival incorporated into a three-week tour of Texas,
would make the perfect honeymoon. Contacting Chuck Woods,
one of the festival's organisers, he booked Marlene and
myself into the Travelodge Motel, which was the festival's
base for most of the artistes appearing over the four-day
event.
The western swing festival started on the afternoon of
Wednesday 20th June, running through until the Saturday
night, with afternoon and evening performances from midday
- midnight. It was a pleasure to finally meet Chuck Woods,
as we had corresponded regularly by e-mail from the very
first time I had made contact with him regarding an
article I was writing on western swing. Marlene and I were also introduced to
a lovely lady and the perfect hostess, Mrs. Gloria Miers,
whose husband Dewey was instrumental, along with Chuck in
keeping the Legends Of Western Swing Festival alive over
the past few years, but sadly had passed away some months
before.
The town's honourable mayor Jerry Luke opened the festival...a
few announcements were made and Marlene and I, plus a couple
from London were introduced to the rest of the audience by
Chuck, because we had come so far especially for this festival.
After leaving the stage,
the mayor came over to shake our hands and welcome us. During
the course of the day many, many people came over to speak
to us. Nothing was too much trouble for Miss Gloria (as
she was fondly known by all the artistes). Gloria introduced
me to many of the artistes, arranged interviews with them
and did everything in her power to assist and make our stay
as pleasant as possible. I have
never met so many friendly and lovely people, as there were
at this western swing festival.
The very best in bands were booked with a total of 13 bands
doing an afternoon and evening performance, with the very
popular 6-piece Ted Scanlon And The Desperados as house
band for the four days and starting things off. Ted and
the boys filled the air with strains of wonderful western
swing music and Bob Wills classics like 'Faded Love', 'Big
Balls In Cowtown' and 'New San Antonio Rose' which were to be
heard many times throughout the week. Ted has had his health
problem over the past couple of years, having to have brain
tumour removed. Things were still not right and Ted was
scheduled to go back into hospital for more investigation
the week following the festival. Ted has been one of the
festivals ardent supporters, with this his 12th year at
the Legends Of Western Swing Festival. Ted had declined
to go into hospital earlier for treatment, fundamentally
so that he could take part in the festival. Now that is
dedication to the music, we all wish him well and hope he
soon back on the road. Ted Scanlon And Desperados gave a
thrilling and varied first set including his own 'She's
On Her Way Back To Texas' and a magnificent medley of Ray
Price covers.
Five-piece band Jake Hooker & the Outsiders, combining
twin fiddles, steel guitar, drums and bass, are one of the
most exciting bands I have seen in the 40+ years that I
have been listening to country music. Jake is seen as a
young Johnny Bush form whom he took some of his music. Injecting
renewed freshness into his set, Jake also included the Web
Pierce #1 hit 'There Stands The Glass' from 1953, with the
biggest reaction from the crowd coming with his stylish
presentation of Ray Price's 'Crazy Arms', which was just
first class. The interaction between the band members was
sensational. Fiddle players Bobby Flores and Reggie Rueffer
are masters of the instrument, showing their skill with
a flamboyant performance of 'Orange Blossom Special'.
One of the bigger bands playing at the festival was the
eleven-piece Dave Alexander & Legends Of Western Swing,
with top fiddle player Bobby Boatright and 83-year-old tenor
sax player Billy Briggs (who played in Bob Wills band in
the 50's) included in the band's line-up. Production numbers
such as 'Canadian Sunset', 'I Don't Know Why (I Love You
Like I Do)' and 'Marie' drew great interest from the audience,
with showman Dave Alexander wowing the audience with his
easy style. Bill Adams and his eight-piece band were on
top form and one of the top draws at the festival. Fine
vocals from Bill on the likes of 'Faded Love', My Window
Faces The South' and also saw a couple of nice duets with
his female vocalist Susan Riley including the likes of 'Let's Have A
Heart To Heart Talk'. Playing fiddle in the band was Bobby
Boatright and Jimmy Young who entertained us with his Bob
Wills impression, complete with cigar.
During the five days of the Legends Of Western Swing festival,
Bobby Boatright was one of the hardest working musicians
of the week. He would be seen playing with several of the
bands including Bill Adams and In The Mood For Swing, Tom
Morrell, Craig Chamber & The Time Warp Tophands and the
Texas Playboys.
Although Bob Wills passed away in 1975 his band was kept
alive for many years. At the encouragement of Bob Wills'
wife Betty, the band continued as Leon McAuliffe and The
Original Texas Playboys and finally was retired in 1986,
after pianist Al Stricklin passed away. The rights to the
name Bob Wills' Texas Playboys has been acquired by Tommy
Allsup and Leon Rausch, so that the most noticeable band
in western swing will continue to survive and keep alive
the wonderful music of Bob Wills. Allsup/Rausch & Bob Wills'
Texas Playboys have appeared at The Legends Of Western Swing
Festival since its early development and gave us two thrilling
sets on the Friday. Today's line-up sees musicians such
as piano pounder Curley Hollingsworth, steel guitar player
Tommy Morrell, Craig Chambers and fiddle player Bobby Boatright.
Another of the top popular bands playing on the Saturday
afternoon and evening at the Legends of Western swing Festival
was Tom Morrell, Craig Chambers & The Time Warp Tophands,
including Bobby Boatright, Leon Chambers and Curly Hollingsworth..
Other great bands playing over the 5 days at Wichita Falls',
Legends Of Western Swing Festival included Eddie McAlvain
& the Mavericks with Frankie McWhorter on fiddle. A
young Jeremy Watkins & Highway 6, including members of
Rick Trevino's band and on keyboards Ronnie Huckaby a member
of George Strait's Hole In the Wall Band since 1983. Another
top band performing was Johnny Bush and
The Bandoleros. In the 60s Bush played with Ray Price's
band the Cherokee Cowboys, and eventually became bandleader
for Willie Nelson. Johnny Bush's biggest success was with
Willie Nelson's song 'Whiskey River' in 1972.
Fiddle player Jody Nix and his band The Texas Cowboys
gave an excellent performance as did every band during the
week. Jody's father
Hoyle Nix fronted the West Texas Cowboys some years ago. While Bob Wills was
recovering from a stroke in 1973, Hoyle Nix invited Bob to
Big Spring to appear with him and the West Texas Cowboys
at the dance they played every Saturday night. Hoyle intended
that Bob just sit on the bandstand and watch them after
they honored him with a formal introduction. Determined
to play himself, Bob held the fiddle with his left hand
and had Hoyle bow it. When Bob Wills recorded the album
"For The Last Time", Nix helped record the album doing the
vocals on "She's Really Gone" and "Big Ball's In Cowtown".
Jody also worked on the session, taking the vocals for three
selections and played drums.
The biggest band to perform at the Legends of Western Swing
festival was Curtis Potter with the National Swing Band
of Texas. A 21 piece band playing the sounds of the 1940s
with the likes of Glen Miller's 'In The Mood'.
All too soon the Legends of Western Swing Festival was
over. Five days just flew by. Thanks to Miss Gloria, Chuck
Woods and everyone at the festival for making Marlene and
I so very welcome. It was five days of sheer heaven!
|
