Issue
35
- February 25, 2010 - Page 2
of 3
A
Periodic
Newsletter
[ Please be patient while the photos load. ]
During a recent snow storm here at our
place, our neighbors Bud and
Karen Barton sent me a poem with the unusual title of "SnowKlahoma". It was written by
that most prolific of all writers, Anonymous. It is a parody of the
song, "Oklahoma!" and I thought it was pretty darn cute. So, after two or three tries at putting "SnowKlahoma" to the "Oklahoma!" melody I decided it was time to take the show on the road. I talked Peggy into videoing me as I went out in the storm and sang the poem. Her first response was, "You're going to do w-h-at ??" But she semi-warmed up to the idea and took the video. Then I posted it on my YouTube account [ just do a search for "Paregien" on YouTube and you'll see all my videos, including this one].
The responses to this impromtu snow-bound concert were short of amazing. Very short. Some wag said I needed voice lessons. Well, d-u-h? So far no one has yet to suggest that I give up my lucrative retirement and go to Hollywood.
However, my cowgirl pal Debra Coppinger Hill over Chelsea, Oklahoma way kinda made my day. She wrote, "Buffo! Inspiring! Touching! A real winner! Sure to tickle the funny bone! Cowboy Stan is the man!" I love her ability to understate things like this.
Debra, who is really quite a poet and stand-up comedian, added this note: "I sent this to all my friends on Facebook. It is funny, Stan. My kudos to your videographer and (I assume) your director and producer Peggy." She sure assumed right, at least that part about Peggy being my "director". Some would say she is my "keeper," but that is another story.
Anyway, Debra went on to say "I just laughed and giggled at your performance. My family is prone to impromtu performances such as yours and it warmed my heart to see you." That is so nice. Very sweet. Thank you Debra.
Then she added, "Please feel free to use my review to promote yourself as 'the singing SnowKlahoman'" And that, dear friends, is when I also began to laugh and giggle.
But, . . . hey, . . . wait a minute. Hmmmmm. "The Singing SnowKlahoman". Hmmmm. Has a ring to it, doesn't it? Stay tuned.
From Monte Jones, better known to many of us as "Biscuits O'Bryan," in San Angelo, Texas: "Someone just forwarded your cowboy directory newsletter and I would like to be on your e-mail list. I appreciate all you do to help those of us involved in cowboy entertainment. We just had a program last Saturday at Christmas at Old Fort Concho. We called it the Cowboy Christmas Serenade. I was MC and told stories. My compadres were Dennis Gaines, Jean Prescott, Ed Stabler and Kelly Henson. It was a fun evening that was well attended in spite of its being a cold West Texas night. The next morning, I did the cowboy church service at the fort, with Jean providing the music.
*****
McMahan
out in Bellvue, Colorado: "It was 25 below at the house this
morning and we’re covered up
with snow and snot (well.. your nose runs somethin’ fierce when you’re
out chorin’ at 25 below!). We’ve had more snow this year to date than
all of last year combined. So it’s lookin’ to be one of them long
winters."Just a gentle reminder kind folks that if you’ve got someone on your list you really like, and you know they like cowboy music, my CD’s and books make great stocking stuffers and fireside winter companions. (And if you don’t like what I do… well…everybody’s got a few relatives they can’t stand and have to buy something for anyhow and what could be better to torture the buggars than a lousy yodeling CD from someone you don’t think a whole lot of?)
Gary's imitation of Rudolph
"Also they want my new album “Goin’ My Way?” to be rated R for “Sax and Violins” and I don’t think it’s fair! Go to my new website: www.singingcowboy.com and listen to it and tell me what you think.
"I know you're used to a
trashy podunk outfit when your dealing
with me but you can now order right off the website using paypal and
your order will ship that same day! Or you can do it the old fashioned
way and send me a letter and a check. I can even sign ‘em and mail ‘em
wherever you want . . . .
"One last thing… if you are afraid to take a yodelin’ cowboy CD home with you, … THE TERRORISTS WIN!!"
That Gary McMahan is a
silver-tongued salesman if you ever heard one, right?
*****
From
Duke
Pennell, a short-story writer over in Arkansas: "I’m a computer guy by trade. Among other
things, I maintain web pages for several departments at the University
of Arkansas (http://precollege.uark.edu/pcp.html),
the
Ozarks Writers League (http://www.ozarkswritersleague.org),
and
the Northwest Arkansas Writers Group (http://www.nwawriters.org).
"I’ve just started an online magazine called Frontier Tales (http://www.frontiertales.com) and I think it might interest you. It’s primary thrust is Western fiction and stories dealing with the intersection of the frontier and civilization. It’s only been out for a couple of months, so growing pains are very much the order of the day and suggestions are welcome.
"Give it
a look-see. Let me know what you
think. If you think it appropriate, we could even trade links. It looks
like your site is a treasure-trove. I’m going to enjoy perusing it.
Good luck on being re-retired!"
If
you have an abition to write, this might be a good start for you. Be
sure to check out his web site, and tell Duke we sent ya.
The National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum (formerly the National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame) celebrates its ninth year of operation in February 2010. The 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization located in Fort Worth, Texas, was founded in 2001, by Fort Worth community activist husband and wife team of James (Jim) N. Austin and Gloria Reed Austin, with the primary mission to offer the visitor a true and complete historical perspective of the people and activities that built the unique culture of The American West.
The work of artists who documented the people and events of the time, journals, photographs, and other historical items are part of the museum's collection of long overlooked materials that tell, perhaps for the first time, the complete story. The American West of today still operates on many of the principles and cultural relationships begun so long ago. The hope of the museum is that its visitors will share in the enjoyment of a new vision and leave with awareness that today's West came into being through the struggles and triumphs of diversity.
The Movies
Recently I was pleasantly surprised by watching "The Baron" (1950) starring Vincent Price and the lovely Ellen Drew. It also has Ray Whitley in a bit part. Whitley was the star of some B-Western movies in the 1940's and was the author of the song, "Back in the Saddle Again" Anyway, "The Barron" features some interesting plot twists, as well as some pretty darned good acting and photography. The gist of it is that Price forges names on old Spanish land grants, nearly pulling off his plan to gain control of the entire territory of Arizona.
"Beer For My Horses" is a so-so movie featuring Oklahoma native and current resident Toby Keith, as well as 75-year-old Willie Nelson. However, my favorite actor in this flick was Barry Corbin, the pride of West Texas. Toby Keith plays a deputy sheriff. A Mexican drug lord kidnaps Keith's girlfriend and holds her in a small village deep in Mexico. Keith and a couple of his off-beat pals drive into the dusty little town and Keith says to them, "Now we have to try to blend in and be as inconspicuous as possible." Of course, he is driving a souped up, flashy Ford pickup and as they pull into the town square his custom horn goes off and loudly plays that most beloved of spiritual songs, "Boomer Sooner". Now that is real Oscar material!
Have you heard about the Morgans? If not, you don't watch TV much, right? That first sentence is actually the title of a movie starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker and Sam Elliott. It is a cute little movie and Sam Elliott does a great job of doing his imitation of Sam Elliott. Ol' Sam kinda reminds me of Oklahoma-born actor Ben Johnson, as Ben's acting pretty much was in imitating Ben Johnson. Now in this movie, Mary Steenburgen's role is certainly a bit different than anything I've seen her do before. The movie is about a separated couple who wind up in the federal witness protection program and are plopped down in "Ray, Wyoming". Most of the filming was done in Roy, New Mexico -- population 304, located in Harding County in far northeast New Mexico.
What do you see here?
A horse or a frog . . . or what?
Here is a research tool for tracking down Western writers: http://www.magicdragon.com/West-Index.html . They give only barebones information about each writer, but they list a lot of folks I'd never even heard of before.
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