Volume 31 Issue 3 Summer 2021 $5.95 THE The Official Publication of the International Western Music Association IN THE CROSSHAIRS: Lori Beth Brooke “WHAT LORI DOES WITH AN ACCORDION IS ILLEGAL IN SEVEN STATES.” – LEO EILTS (3 TRAILS WEST) PAGE 6 Save the Date! IWMA Benefit Dinner, Auction & Concert A Fun-raising, Barn-raising, Heart-raising night to remember! Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 Reception with The Stars Opportunity Drawing for Prizes Silent Auction Benefit Dinner Entertainment: 3 Trails West with The Trailhand Orchestra Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town 800 Rio Grande Blvd NW Albuquerque, NM 87104 Reception 5:00-6:15 Dinner 6:30 Show 7:15 • Awards are Saturday Night, 6:30 Pre-Show, 7:00 Show • Cowboy Poetry Contest Saturday 10:00-11:30 am • Guitar Workshop with Ernie Martinez Friday, 1:00 Beginner, 2:00 Advanced • Star-Studded Showcases Everyday Order tickets at [email protected] or 505-563-0673 $50 IWMA Member/$60 Non-Members FOUNDER Bill Wiley From The President... OFFICERS Robert Lorbeer, President Jerry Hall, Executive V.P. Marvin O’Dell, V.P. Belinda Gail, Secretary Diana Raven, Treasurer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Robert’s Marsha Short BOARD OF DIRECTORS Juni Fisher Theresa O’Dell Ramblings Belinda Gail Diana Raven Jerry Hall LeeLee Robert Robert Lorbeer Dennis Russell I WANT TO GIVE A GREAT BIG Marvin O’Dell Tom Swearingen SHOUT OUT TO the IWMA Executive 2021 BOARD INTERNS Director, Marsha Short. Marsha has been Bobbi Jean Bell Robert Lorbeer Leo Eilts IWMA President holding everything together for IWMA for the Roger Eilts past chaotic year of uncertainty, working and Carol Markstrom planning for the convention, not knowing whether it could even be held this BOARD OF ADVISORS Rex Allen, Jr. year. But, she never lost track of the goal or for each of you and the Board, Cheryl Rogers Barnett Ray Benson encouraging us all that we will be back together again at some point. SO, Tom Chambers thank you Marsha for all that you have done to keep IWMA afloat. Don Edwards Robert E. Fee, Esq. We have been working closely with Hotel Albuquerque to make sure that Douglas B. Green the Convention goes off smoothly and without risk to our members and the Mike Mahaney Suze Spencer Marshall public. As time progresses, I think that things will loosen up a bit. Gary McMahan Michael Martin Murphey I also want to thank the Board of Directors for the good work they have Rusty Richards done in keeping our membership in the forefront of our organization. Roy “Dusty” Rogers, Jr. O.J. Sikes Throughout this past year all Board meetings have been held via ZOOM Red Steagall calls. Quite frankly, the ZOOM meetings have worked out very well and Steve Taylor Marilyn Tuttle been a cost savings to the IWMA as well as to each of the individual board Johnny Western members, eliminating expensive hotel rooms and travel expenses. Not STAFF WRITERS to mention the valuable time saved by not traveling! If you do not know, Rick Huff, Robert Lorbeer, Marvin O’Dell, Theresa O’Dell, Ollie Reed, Jr., ZOOM meetings take place wherever the board member may be at the Marsha Short, O.J. Sikes time as long as there is Internet availability. All participants can see and hear EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS one another in real time, and can professionally conduct the business of Les Buffham, Jim Jones, Bryan Kuban, Dakota Livesay, the Association. Terry Nash, Jim WIlson Our bylaws require that our Board meetings are face to face THE WESTERN WAY meetings. Things are changing in the way business is conducted in all The Official Quarterly Publication of the IWMA Deadline for next issue: September 1, 2021 corporate arenas. It may be necessary for the Board to review our bylaws to ensure we adjust to and accommodate the changing technological advances MANAGING EDITOR/ADVERTISING Theresa O’Dell such as ZOOM while remaining compliant with the law. [email protected]; 805-551-7763 I am hoping that every one of our members will be able to attend the GRAPHIC DESIGN Convention this year. Let’s come together. Reserve your room at Hotel Kim Tappan/Tappan Design Albuquerque or get your RV serviced and ready to go! Start making plans… [email protected] I will see you in November. PRINTING Modern Litho, Jefferson City, MO HAPPY TRAILS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN! INTERNATIONAL WESTERN MUSIC ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 648, Coppell, TX 75019 Robert Lorbeer Cell Phone 505-563-0673 President, IWMA [email protected] www.westernmusic.org 2 | Summer 2021 The WESTERN WAY CONTENTS FEATURES NEW! “A Night to Remember” Team Penning Competition 1 at IWMA2021 PAGE 10 In The Crosshairs 6 Lori Beth Brooke 2021 AWARDS NOMINATION BALLOT IWMA2021 Preliminary PAGE 22 30 Convention Schedule 2020 Poetry juried ARTICLES, UPDATES & MORE awards for cd and book 2 President’s Message PAGE 26 4 Editor’s Insight 5 From the Executive Director 11 Penned By Lantern Light 13 The Western World Tour – Rick Huff 14 Chapter Update 15 Tales of the West – Jim Wilson 17 From the Trail – Terry Nash REVIEWS – CDs, DVDs & BOOKS 18 In Memoriam 35 Red River Dave 38 Mark Munzert 24 In The Spotlight 35 Frankie Marvin 38 Chris Mortensen 28 Chronicle Of The Old West – D. Livesay 35 Roy Rogers and 38 Nineteen Hand Horse 29 Buffham’s Buffoonery Dale Evans 39 Carlos Washington’s 33 Behind the Studio Door – Bryan Kuban 36 John Bergstrom Steel Horse Swing (Single) 34 O.J. Sikes Musical Note and Reviews 36 Brazos Valley Boys 39 B.J. Smith (Book) 36 Huff’s Best Of The West Reviews 36 The Dan Canyon Band 40 Prickly Pair (Classic) 40 Classic Profiles by Rick Huff 37 Dawn Anita 40 Kyle Evans (Classic) 42 Reed’s Reading – Book Reviews 37 Gabrielle Gore 42 Ralph Estes (Book) 44 Western Charts 37 Kerry Grombacher 42 Melody Groves (Book) 45 Mailbag 37 Susie Knight (Single) 45 Curly Bradley 46 Western Playlists – Reporters 38 Dan McCorison 47 Patron Members 48 IWMA Lifetime Members Volume 31 Issue 3 Summer 2021 $5.95 THE The Official Publication of the International Western Music Association ON THE COVER... IN THE CROSSHAIRS: Lori Beth Lori Beth is accordionist, singer, songwriter and Brooke yodeler and has found a place in a variety of music “WHAT LORI DOES WITH AN ACCORDION IS ILLEGAL IN SEVEN STATES.” – LEO EILTS (3 TRAILS WEST) PAGE 6 genres from classical to German folk and from big band to western. She is the total package and is wrapped in professionalism. What Lori Beth says of her accordion music is, “It’s not just for oom pah pah!” We think she’s on to something. Content and opinions expressed in articles and reviews published in The Western Way are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the IWMA or The Western Way. The WESTERN WAY Summer 2021 | 3 Editor’s Insight The “MRP” Performer I recently received a piece Probably most importantly, set a goal to become a of literature that used a market-ready professional. By doing so, you will raise phrase that grabbed my yourself and your career to the next level and you will attention…“market-ready also raise the bar for others who come alongside to also professionals (MRP).” I really support the mission of the IWMA. liked the sound of it! Although Many of you have had time these past months and Theresa O’Dell they were using the phrase in used it to advance to become an “MRP.” Doors are Editor the context of education and beginning to open now; performance opportunities are preparing students for the out there. Be the ‘professional’ that will be in demand future, I thought of us. It is a description that could be as venues search to bring music and poetry back to their applied to all that we are and do in the IWMA. communities. I think they will choose those who are As I pondered the phrase, I asked myself what it might ‘market-ready.’ take to be market-ready in our world today as it relates to music, writing, performances, event planning, or Theresa even appearance. The way my mind works, I jotted down just a few non-flashy words that might possibly define the phrase. n Diligent – focused and committed without faltering n Prepared – capable to keep going in spite of unforeseen distractions or unexpected circumstances n Extra Ordinary – doing ordinary things extra times, and extra well NEW CD RELEASE n Schooled – stretching the boundaries of what is already known (music, performance skills, writing) and Swingin’ Our Way conquering what may not be familiar (new instruments, business acumen, marketing skills, technology in all WITH GUEST STARS: forms) Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel n Personal care – overall well being that keeps an Rex Allen, Jr. equilibrium in place for busy careers, family, travel, “...Swingin’ Our Way is a personal health and personal appearance disc that would, I think, make their former boss, I know the list could go on and these areas overlap. Hank Thompson, So, create your own (honest) list of defining terms. Ask very proud.” yourself, “Am I a market-ready professional?” “What sets Author, Journalist, Broadcaster, John Wooley me apart from others?” “Am I ‘market-ready’ but maybe I lack the ‘professional’ piece?” TO ORDER VISIT: Whatever your own (honest) answer, make a second www.brazosvalleyboys.com list of what it will take to get you where you want to be. and purchase via PayPal or www.Amazon.com 4 | Summer 2021 The WESTERN WAY From The Executive Director..