Volume 37, Number 4 April 2019 “Running Out Of Time” Hall of Fame nomination submissions close May 31st.—Page 4 STEVE FRENCH JERRY MCCLENDON Inducted Oct. 7, 2018 Inducted October 2, 1983 Western Swing Society Hall of Fame Profile ~ Page 4 W H A T’ S I N S I D E Officials & Staff ............. 2 Barbara Martin AWA .... 9 GUEST BAND March. 3, 2019 Editor’s Letter ................ 2 Free Dance Lessons .............. 9 Jam Room Jammers ......... 2 Dance Photos ................ 10-11 HOF Profiles .................. 3 The Bands ............................. 12 Geoff Miller & the HOF Nominations Open..... 4 Album Review .................... 13 New Flyer Available ...... 5 Pictures Online ............. 13 Sactown Playboys Friends ............................ 5 Southwest HOF Info ........ 13 Upcoming Bands ............ 6 Mike Gross Top 10 ............. 14 1:00 to 3:00 pm Board Mtg Invitation .......... 6 Board Meeting Minutes ..... 14 Membership Report .............. 6 Followed by Winners ................................. 6 The Dry Creek Band Food Available ................... 6 3:00 to 5:00pm Membership Application. ... 6 Meet the Board-Rex Barnes 8 Olen on the Road ................... 9 WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS April 2019 - Page 2 The Western Swing Society Letter from The Editor JAM ROOM JAMMERS PO Box 2474 Carmichael, CA 95609 Shelley Elkan and Bite the Bullet As always the westernswingsociety.net proved that the “Show must go on” jam room was Facebook: SacramentoWesternSwingSociety at our March dance. Everybody in packed and Founded in 1981 by Loyd and Perry Jones the band was either recovering from swingin’! Par- to enable performance, preservation and a cold bug or had a cold bug. Really ticipating were: perpetuation of the unique American art hard for the singers. It’s hard for me form known as Western Swing Music. Dave Rietz - to critique the band because I’m part Officers: Fiddle, Mando- President, Rex Barnes (916) 704-1566 lin, Vocals Vice Pres, Jimmy Boehnke (530) 886-8375 Treasurer, Edward Burhans (916) 225-3645 Bill Enyeart; Lead Guitar & Vo- Secretary, Linda McCarley (916) 870-7463 cals, Bobby Giasson; Lead Guitar Other Directors: & Vocals, Joe Champion; Key- Tony Arana (775) 971-3070 board & Vocals, Bill Fortin, Bill Ronnie Elkan (916) 765-4345 Cornett & Tony Arana; Drums John James (916) 202-9251 Dave Rietz (916) 806-0520 of it so I will just say it’s an honor Chuck Webb; Bass, Tom Gunter- Jeff Tilton (916) 798-9377 and a lot of fun to play with this man; Fiddle & Vocals, Terry Staff and Committee Chairpersons: group of musicians. Shelley Elkan, Crouson; Lead Guitar & Vocals, Admissions Coordinator, John James our editor, sings lead and plays Bar Manager, Jimmy Boehnke Steve Kallal; Fiddle, Lenny Ser- Bartender, Cyndi Lee rhythm guitar. Rob Shotwell gives dahl; Lead Guitar, Grace Clark; Decorating Chair, Rex Barnes us vocals and lead guitar, Gary Rhythm Guitar & Vocals. Equipment and Staging, Gary Blodgett Blodgett plays lead guitar and sings. Historian, (open) Singers were Micheal Ray, Peggy Jam Room, Tony Arana Conrad Nelson plays bass guitar and Master of Ceremonies, Jimmy Boehnke sings. Steve French plays pedal steel Van der Brock, Eddie Burr, Victo- Membership Director, (open) guitar and sings. Olen Dillingham rian King Bowman, Linda Fortin Music Director, Ronnie Elkan and Don Spiker. Newsletter Team: Editor, Ronnie and and I played fiddle and mandolin Shelley Elkan, and joined in on the singing. We had a great crowd! Photographer, Donald deMars Public Relations Administrator, Jeff Tilton We had a special We’d like to have you write to us Raffle, Bob and Virginia Kuykendall guest on drums, about your experience if you play Slide Show, (open) Sound Engineer, Gary Blodgett Arron Smith. He in the jam room or go in to listen. Website, Dave Rietz sang for us also. We’ll share your comments here Youth Program, Edward Burhans Arron plays regu- in this column. Just send your larly for Buck Ford. thoughts to this email: Western Swing Society Music News [email protected] or send is published monthly by the Dry Creek Band came up to play next. This band is there for us every us a letter via snail mail. In the Western Swing Society meantime we’ll list the players Views and opinions expressed by contrib- uting authors are not necessarily those of the who joined us last month. editorial staff or the Society. Thanks gang. It was great!!!!!! Submitted articles, publicity notices and letters not relating directly to the Society or dance, rain or shine. Billy Smith, Tony Arana, Jam Room Host its members may be published at the discre- tion of the Editor, as space permits. The staff Bass; Lenny Serdahl, guitar and vo- reserves the right to edit any and all items cal; Jimmy Baughman, guitar and submitted for publication. vocal; Ralph Chase, keyboard and vocal; Bill Cornett, drums and vocal; Deadline for Submittals: Ronnie Elkan (me) on fiddle; John All items, photographs, articles, and Bush, harmonica. These guys work ad’s are due to the Editor no later than the 10th of the month. Continued on page 5 WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS April 2019 - Page 4 STEVE FRENCH JERRY MCCLENDON Inducted October 7, 2018 Inducted October 2, 1983 Steve French was born in San Jerry McClendon is a native of Diego, California on October Pendleton, Indiana. 11, 1950, to Hugh and Lor- In 1973, Raven Records, based raine French. His earliest rec- in Sacramento, California was ollection of music was hear- touting him as their latest artist ing the popular songs of the to sign with the label. day on the radio. He was a “night-owl” even as an infant, A 1973 article notes by 1973, and his mother tells stories of he had already had 12 years of hearing Steve hum various professional music experience, TV jingles and fragments of having traveled all over the popular songs as a very young child. All through the west coast, the northwest and into Canada. He 50s, Steve listened to and absorbed the songs of Elv- worked at such famed venues as the Golden Nugget is, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Eddy in Las Vegas, Nevada. Arnold and Patsy Cline. Personal appearances during that time included reg- Hugh and Lorraine divorced in 1958, and when Lor- ular stints at the Metro Club, 40 Grand Club, Mav- raine met Bob Alley in 1960, Steve’s musical direc- rick Club in Sacramento. He shared the stage with tion was set. Bob was born in Georgia in 1929, to a such artists as Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, dirt-poor farming family. Growing up, he and his George Jones, Sammi Smith,Freddie Hart, Rose seven siblings all played instruments and listened to Maddox, Jerry Wallace and Buddy Allen and many the “Grand Ole Opry every Saturday night”. The many more. Navy took Bob to San Diego in 1947, and when he Jerry was known as a versatile musician as well, got out of the Navy he started working the night playing the lead guitar, piano, fiddle, sax, harmoni- clubs and honky-tonks around town. ca, bass guitar and drums. When Steve first heard Bob play guitar, he was en- He also wrote and arranged some of the tunes on his tranced. Bob and Lorraine married in 1962, and by recording sessions. One session was at Bradley's that time, Steve had many times heard Bob play Barn in Nashville, Tennessee. Another recording around the house and family gatherings. Bob played session was at the Buck Owens studios in Bakers- the hits of Bob Wills, Hank Thompson, and other field, California. country artists of that time. Steve heard and loved songs like “Choo Choo Ch-Boogie,” “House of Blue Credits & Sources Lights,” Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy,” Smoke, Country Music Reporter; Vol. 4 No. 1; January Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette,” Won’t You Ride in 1973; Country Music, Inc.; 2401 East Lancaster; My Little Red Wagon,” and dozens of others. “Bob Fort Worth, TX was a chord guy,” says Steve, “one of those rhythm guitar players who could pound out 4 chords to the Country Music Reporter; Vol. 4 No. 2; February bar on that cool swing stuff. Sure, he could do hot 1973; Country Music, Inc.; 2401 East Lancaster; single-string leads, but he loved pounding out those Fort Worth, TX chords.” Billboard Magazine 1974 / 76 Naturally, Steve wanted to learn to play like his dad. Lloyd Hickeys 40 Grand Country Jamboree Weekly Bob showed him some chords, and Steve took off. TV Show All through the 60s, Steve played around the house Easy Livin' Country TV channel 3 Show and jammed with friends, combining the popular hits of the day in both rock and country music. N.C.C.M.A 1980 male vocalist of the year Continued on page 7 WESTERN SWING SOCIETY MUSIC NEWS April 2019 - Page 3 HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS THE TIMING January 1—May 31st: Submissions of nominees Nominate a musician or exceptional for consideration accepted from a member in volunteer for this year’s Hall of Fame good standing Time is running out. May 31st is the last date to sub- June: Hall of Fame Selection Committee reviews mit your nominations for our Hall of Fame celebra- and chooses 12 nominees to be inducted in the tion! Hall of Fame. Nominations must adhere to the Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a BIG rules and be complete in order to be consid- HONOR, so submit a nomination and make ered. Any submissions not chosen roll forward someone’s day! to the next year for consideration 1. The name, address, phone and email of member July: Board signs off on the chosen inductees. submitting the nomination Inductees are notified and told about our Hall 2.