May 12, 2009 - Issue 31

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Note on Buying a Bra
An apology might not be the best way to start a newsletter, but . . . it is the cowboy way. I mistakenly attributed the poem "Buying a Bra" to Waddie Mitchell when, in fact, it was written by Bill Hirschi of Rexburg, Idaho (I got a nice note from Mike Puhallo, advising that it was Hirschi, not Mitchell, who wrote it. Andy Nelson was also kind enough to write and say that Bill wrote it.).

Someone sent the poem to us with it attributed to "Unknown Author," an attribution that is  really aggrevating for those of us who like to know who is writing what. And in an effort to correct that anonymous attribution, I reached back in my memory saddlebag and pulled out Waddie Mitchell as the person I recalled having personally witnessed performing that poem. Maybe so, but he did not write it. I'm beginning to believe that my memory is just not what it never was, if you catch my drift.

So I went looking online for the poem and, just as important, the name of the author. I found it posted on several web sites, and each time the poem was attributed to "Unknown Author" or that other prolific writer, "Anonymous". Finally, I found one web site the the poem posted with with Bill Hirschi as the author ( http://home.tiac.net/~cri/2004/bra.html ). So that settles it for me. Sorry about the cornfusion.

Les Gilliam Honored
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame treated our long-time friend Les Gilliam to a party on May 9, celebrating his 10th year as the official Oklahoma balladeer. The OMHF arranged for Gilliam and his Silver Lake Band to perform that evening at the OMHF Depot at 401 S Third Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Les Gilliam grew up in *Berwyn, Oklahoma (just north of Ardmore). He and thousands of vistors were there when Gene Autry--the "rock star" of his day--came to town and the city fathers had a ceremony changing the name of the town to Gene Autry.  CLICK HERE to read more facinating details of Les and his connection to Gene Autry the town and Gene Autry the movie star. [*Berwyn is also the birthplace of another notable Oklahoman, my paternal grandmother, Martha Alice Nolan.]

 

May 23 -24    
The 19th Annual Chuck Wagon Gathering and Children’s Cowboy Festival. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The festival runs from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday.On Memorial Day weekend, authentic chuck wagon crews prepare delicious cowboy favorites for folks to sample, like biscuits and stew, beans and cobblers. Stage entertainment ranges from a hilarious Old West Medicine Show to the sounds of acclaimed western singer Red Steagall and balladeer, Don Edwards.

May 29-31
5th Annual Canadian Rockies Cowboy Festival at the David Thompson Resort  at Nordegg, Alberta, Canada. Cowboy music and poetry by Mike Puhallo, Gary Fjellgaard, Larry & Dwain Sands, Joni Harms, 3 Musty Steers, Danny & Susan Gibson, Al Owchar, Eli Barsi, Perri Jacobson, Matt Robertson and Terri Mason.

June 12-14
Echoes of the Trail Festival at Fort Scott Community College, Fort Scott, Kansas. 620-223-0736 http://www.echoesofthetrail.com  Cowboy music and poetry featuring Arnold Schofield, Johnny Kendrick, Cliff Sexton, D.J. Fry, Donna Penley, Joe Lester, Jake White, Steve Spalding, Gerry Allen, Neal Torrey, Richard Dunlap, Ron Ratliff, Donna Penley and Harold Carpenter.  Cowboy church on Sunday morning.

        

       
    

        Dan Rather, former CBS News anchor, once said:

        "An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to

        the 'William Tell Overture' and not think of

        the Lone Ranger."

I just wanted to draw your attention to this Mexican cowboy entertainer. You may do a Google search and find out much more about him. We need to be reminded, now and then, of how many of our ranching traditions and language originated with our neighbors to the south.

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