Volume 30 Issue 4 Fall 2020 $5.95 THE The Offi cial Publication of the International Western Music Association GUITARS FOR VETS PAGE 12 ENSURING THE Legacy THROUGH YOUTH PAGE 19 2020 Hall of Fame CROSSHAIRS: Inductees PAGE 24 Susie Knight MULTI-TALENTED ENTERTAINER PAGE 6 __WW Fall 2020 4_Cover.indd 1 9/21/20 12:02 PM __WW Fall 2020 4_Cover.indd 2 9/21/20 12:04 PM “...a lot of fun, and a lot of good music in the bargain.” FRANK KOCHER – THE SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR “...a lot of fun, and a lot of “...highly recommended.” good music in the bargain.” RICK HUFF – FRANK KOCHER – THE WESTERN WAY THE SAN DIEGO TROUBADOUR “...highly recommended.” RICK HUFF – THE WESTERN WAY CDs can be ordered from: MIKE CRAIG PO Box 3507 Ramona, CA 92065 Or contact: [email protected] Also available from: CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon and most other online sources $15.00 PLUS $4.00 SHIPPING Notice Closed Until Further __WW Fall 2020_Interior.indd 1 9/21/20 11:11 AM FOUNDER Bill Wiley From e 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 Ramblings Juni Fisher Belinda Gail Jerry Hall WOW! Our worlds have been turned upside Robert Lorbeer down. But we have a lot to be thankful for. Marvin O’Dell Theresa O’Dell Despite the hardships, or should I say because Diana Raven Robert Lorbeer Tom Swearingen IWMA President of the hardships, we have “Cowboyed Up!”, and made do as best as we can. 2020 BOARD INTERNS LeeLee Robert A great big shout out to all of our members who created ways to keep Dennis Russell performing. ere will be a time, soon I hope, that our membership will be BOARD OF ADVISORS performing on stage again. But in the meantime, I encourage you to keep Rex Allen, Jr. finding ways to perform. And don’t forget that soon small venues will be Cheryl Rogers Barnett Ray Benson opening up, so dust off your resume and keep the instruments tuned up and Tom Chambers be ready to get out there and put on your “A” game. And do not forget, another Don Edwards Robert E. Fee, Esq. opportunity for you might be in Churches; they are or will be opening soon. Douglas B. Green (And by the way, did you know that the fastest growing churches in the US Mike Mahaney Suze Spencer Marshall now, are Cowboy Churches?) Gary McMahan Now for some really, really good news! I was pleased to open the August Michael Martin Murphey Rusty Richards issue of “Cowboys and Indians” magazine and see pictures of five of our Roy “Dusty” Rogers, Jr. members: Doug Figg, Mariam Funke, Kristyn Harris, Jim Jones, and LeeLee O.J. Sikes Red Steagall Robert. ey topped off an article in the “Open Range” section about the Steve Taylor International Western Music Association 2019 Awards show. Beautiful Marilyn Tuttle pictures and an excellent article, great job Mark Bedor! ere was no Johnny Western attribution as to the person who took the pictures, but I am sure the pictures CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Les Buffham, Nancy Flagg, were taken by Jack Hummel. Other people mentioned in the article are: Gary Rick Huff, Bryan Kuban, Dakota Livesay, Allegretto and Red Steagall. anks Mark and thanks Jack! Marvin O’Dell, Theresa O’Dell, Ollie Reed, Jr., Marsha Short, NOW FOR THE OVER THE TOP, REALLY, REALLY GOOD NEWS! O.J. Sikes, Jim Wilson Two of our IWMA board directors experienced the Coronavirus and they THE WESTERN WAY both survived! And, we have also heard of some others in our IWMA ranks The Official Quarterly Publication of the IWMA who have contracted the virus and are now back in the saddle again! Deadline for next issue: December 1, 2020 And finally, I want to give a big shout out to our Board of Directors. We MANAGING EDITOR/ADVERTISING have had to make very tough decisions, probably tougher decisions than Theresa O’Dell [email protected]; 805-551-7763 what any other IWMA Board of Directors have ever had to make. Our open discussions of these issues have been very professional and in the best GRAPHIC DESIGN Kim Tappan/Tappan Design interests of IWMA. And oI wantals to thank Marsha Short for her steadfast [email protected] loyalty to our membership. PRINTING And as Roy Rogers used to say, “Happy Trails, and may the good Lord Modern Litho, Jefferson City, MO take a likin’ to you”. 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 | Fall 2020 The WESTERN WAY __WW Fall 2020_Interior.indd 2 9/21/20 11:11 AM CONTENTS FEATURES 16 In The Crosshairs 6 Susie Knight 10 Guitars For Vets 12 Syd Masters ARTICLES, UPDATES & MORE 2 President’s Message 4 Editor’s Insight 24 5 From the Executive Director 10 Penned By Lantern Light Western Charts 11 Tales of the West 15 The Western World Tour 16 Chapter Update 18 In Memoriam 19 Ensuring The Legacy 20 In The Spotlight REVIEWS – CDs, DVDs & BOOKS 24 2020 Hall Of Fame Inductees 35 The Merle Travis 38 Hank Thompson 28 From the Trail Singles Collection 38 Tom Swearingen (Book) 30 Behind the Studio Door 35 Radio Shows Vol. 2 39 Tom & Becki Chambers 31 Chronicle Of The Old West 36 Tony Booth (Classic) 33 Buffham’s Buffoonery 36 Amber Digby & Friends 39 Montana Blue & 34 O.J. Sikes Musical Note and Reviews 36 Franke Miller The Big Sky Cowboys 36 Huff’s Best Of The West Reviews 37 Teresa Kay Orr (Classic) 39 Classic Reviews by Rick Huff 37 Bret Raper 42 Max Evans – Taos (Book) 42 Reed’s Reading – Book Reviews 37 Jim Schafer 43 Max Evans – Rounders 44 IWMA Lifetime Members (With Baxter Black) (Book) 45 Western Charts 38 Dennis Stroughmatt 46 Western Playlists’ Reporters 48 IWMA Membership Application Volume 30 Issue 4 Fall 2020 $5.95 THE ON THE COVER... The Official Publication of the International Western Music Association Multifaceted talent, Susie Knight, is an awarded western singer/songwriter, cowgirl poet, professional clown, and auctioneer (just GUITARS FOR VETS to name a few accomplishments). You can PAGE 12 ENSURING THE wrap-up Susie in one package and label it, Legacy THROUGH YOUTH PAGE 19 “Entertainer,” because when Susie performs, 2020 CROSSHAIRS: Susie entertains! Hall of Fame Inductees Susie PAGE 24 Knight Photo courtesy Leading Lady Photography MULTI-TALENTED ENTERTAINER PAGE 6 Content and opinions expressed in articles and reviews published in The Western Way are those of the authors and do not necessarily refl ect the view of the IWMA or The Western Way. The WESTERN WAY Fall 2020 | 3 __WW Fall 2020_Interior.indd 3 9/21/20 11:11 AM Editor’s Insight Making the Tough Call It is Personal I was recently privileged breathing issues. Like many of you, we did not know to sit in on a ZOOM® call what to expect and so we moved through each day, with 10-12 western event caring for each other, monitoring fevers, etc. As you can Theresa O’Dell Editor organizers. What an tell, we survived. And we did so without hospitalization interesting discussion and or medication other than over-the-counter drugs for each one shared the common thread – canceling their fever, cough and muscle pain. We slept a lot. Our illness scheduled event. e conversation included why the was milder than some and more intense than some decision was made and how to manage the process. ere others who have walked that path. were some disheartening looks on faces as I watched the We chose not to make public our experience while computer screen. going through it, except immediate family and a few About 20 minutes into the call, the tenor seemed friends who grocery shopped and even dropped off some to change as these dedicated folks began to share and meals. We faced it one day at a time. We didn’t know exchange ideas. ese ideas first ranged from what how long it would last. It differs for each individual. We factors mitigated making the tough call to cancel; to how also knew there was uncertainty in outcomes, but we to organize the whole process and details of canceling; weren’t fearful. Maybe we were naïve; maybe it was our to contacting performers and sponsors and vendors, and faith. We quarantined ourselves for 23 days, about 10 more. And then in what seemed like just a few minutes, days or so longer than necessary. Some have asked why the participants turned the call into a brainstorming think- quarantine longer than professionals say is required? tank, building on shared ideas such as using tents in the It was personal for us; we knew we didn’t want to open-air, drive-in theaters or other uncharted venues to infect others, some who might not be as fortunate as keep alive these gatherings. Each state and community we had been. will have its own restrictions, but I could see from I share the experience here because I saw the genuine these determined event organizers that they intend to concern coming from the event organizers as I sat in cowboy-up! on that call. Before that, I had heard the concern from It was refreshing to witness the enthusiasm at that the IWMA Board of Directors as they united to cancel ZOOM® meeting. I also noted that the primary goal was to the November convention this year.