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•Entertainment•
 

Devon Dawson

Listen to a Special Invite by Miss Devon

Known as "MISS DEVON" (SASS #49096) of Fort Worth, Texas, has garnered top nominations nationally as "Female Performer of the Year" and "Songwriter of the Year" by The Western Music Association and The Academy of Western Artists. A founding member of the award-winning cowboy swing group, "The Texas Trailhands", Miss Devon`s vocals and lively guitar strumming bring to mind 'swingtime cowgirls' like Patsy Montana, Rosalie Allen, and Dale Evans.

She is also known as singin', yodelin' voice of "Jessie, the Yodelin' Cowgirl", of Toy Story 2 fame, as heard on the Grammy-winning CD, Woody's Roundup featuring Riders In the Sky, released by Walt Disney Records.

In the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Devon has made personal appearances as "Jessie" for Radio Disney, Imagination Celebration, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, and has occasionally joined Riders In the Sky onstage , as she did in March 2001, when she appeared on the Grand Old Opry in NashvilleTennessee.

The stage is nothing new to Devon .

As the daughter of jazz/western swing guitarist, Phil Ryan, she began performing with her father at an early age.

Devon 's lively rhythms and vocals recall the swing sounds of the "Golden Age" of American pop music. Her training as a rhythm guitarist began at age 9, with a Christmas gift from her Dad - a four string "Stella" guitar. Under his tutelage, she progressed to a six-string a year and a half later, and soon it became obvious that Phil had a budding rhythm guitarist in the family. The next step was obvious, as Phil formed a trio with his two daughters ( Devon 's sister, Tracy on percussion). For the next 6 years they performed extensively in Arizona, West Texas , and eastern New Mexico.

In 1975, Devon became a resident of Fort Worth, Texas , (aka "Where the West begins", and several years later, she began volunteering with Cowtown Opry. This non-profit organization promotes the performance of western heritage music in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where she serves as president & talent coordinator, emceeing the Sunday afternoon shows, and co-coordinating the CTO "Buckaroo Club", a mentoring program for youngsters interested in western music.

See www.cowtownopry.org

One young person she met while mentoring the Buckaroos, is young fiddle phenom,Jess Meador, of Decatur, Texas . The duo is often seen at events around North Central Texas, and beyond, as"Miss Devon & Jazzin' Jess".

Jess (aka 'EighterFrom Decatur' SASS #67938) has developed a keen interest in single action shooting, and is as fast and as sure with his firearms as with his fiddle.

He won the Texas State (Jr. Division) Fiddling Championship when he was just 9yrs. old. Now he's 15, tall as a post, and gunnin' fer the 'big guys'. He keeps those fiddle strings hot, so check out this western-swingin' Wise County youngster.

In July 2007, Devon released a CD, featuring songs she wrote and co-wrote, inspired by the lives of rodeo trick riders, Tad Lucas, VeldaTindall, Mitzi Lucas Riley, and GarleneTindall Parris.

In addition to those cowgirl personalities, the CD relates some history on Bill Pickett, the Cowtown Coliseum and the mighty Fort Worth Stockyards in it's hey-day, a lighthearted look at cowboy courtin', and western wear 'bling'.

With Jess Meador on the fiddle, her lively rhythms and vintage western vocals connect with audiences composed of her youngest fans to her senior saddle pals, as she kicks up her heels in this rootin', tootin' western roundup!

 

Jess Meador

Jess is a 14-year old fiddler from rural Wise County Texas . He began playing at the age of 7 with world champion fiddler and teacher, Dale Morris. At age 9, Jess won the prestigious title of Texas State Junior Fiddle Champion - the youngest to ever win this competition. For several years he was featured at the renowned Johnnie High Country Music Revue and now regularly appears in Johnnie's "Super Picker Band".

* Age 14 (fiddlin' for about 7 years)
* 2002 Texas State Junior Champion (youngest age to ever win this one!)br * 2005 Junior World Champion
* 2005 Junior World Champion, Crockett, TX
* 2005 & 2006 Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering Champion
* 2006 Rising Star Award – Cowtown Society of Western Music
* Session musician on the fiddle, mandolin & bass
* Some recent appearances:
Six Flags Over Texas, Texas State Fair, Billy Bob's of Texas
FM 95.9 The Ranch Radio, and the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.
* Numerous other competition wins across the Great State of Texas
* Been playing with several bands since age 10
* First Loves - Texas Swing & single action shootin'!

Jess has become one of the popular fiddlers with the area honky-tonk and dance crowds, and at his recent appearances at Six Flags Over Texas, the State Fair of Texas, Billy Bob's Texas, and Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas.

 

Joe Bowman

Joe Bowman bills himself as The Straight Shooter and Master of Triggernometry. And we have to admit, he does some of the dangdest stuff with a rifle and six-gun that you're ever likely to see. Appointed a Texas Ambassador of Good Will, Joe's skills go beyond firearms.  His infectious, warm manner, good humor and knowledge of the Old West make him an effective educator. His manual dexterity and lots of practice have made him an accomplished slight-of-hand artist. You just never know what Joe is going to include in his show. Joe Bowman has crossed paths with Glenn Ford, Roy Rogers, Jock Mahoney, Sammy Davis, Jr., John Wayne, Dan Blocker, Humphrey Bogart and a very long list of other notables.  He has performed at trade shows, conventions, banquets, parties, in television commercials and in the movies.
 

Lassiter

Tom Wildenauer demonstrates his skill at the art of fast draw with incredible ease. A many year "Thumbing" champion of fast draw events, He is not only an entertainer at Mule Camp, he is also a top level competitor,  gunsmith and practitioner of the Spirit of the Game.

 

 

 

Doc Henry Johnson

Doc Henry Johnson began his professional theater experience at the Highlands Playhouse in Highlands, North Carolina, where he served as stage and lighting designer for several years. Other credits include similar work with The Caldwell Playhouse in Miami, Florida and The Williamstown Theater Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He was associated with ABC, CBS and NBC in the production of several television specials and made for television films, including Deliverance and The Long Riders. He holds a master degree in theatrical design from the University of Georgia and currently works as Technical Support Supervisor in the Department of Conference and Event Services at The Georgia Center. Henry also performs as “Doc” Johnson, an old time traveling Medicine Salesman .
 

Jim Bowman

Jim Bowman will take you back to those thrilling days of yester-year." If you love nostalgia, Saturdays spent with Roy and Gene, you'll love to experience Jim Bowman. From the Western Fan Awards in LA to the Western Music Association's annual festival, thousands have been taken back in time by Jim's original cowboy music and poetry. Recently, a song written by Jim about his childhood hero was used in the American Movie Classic's documentary life story of film idol Roy Rogers. That led to a command performance where he sang the song for the "King of the cowboys." The Jim Bowman show also includes songs about Hopalong Cassidy and the Lone Ranger. Historically, there are songs about the Pony Express, the Wells Fargo stage line, and the great Indian chief Geronimo. It's fun! It's entertaining! It's educational. Let us invite you to experience Jim Bowman.  Jim is also the    winner of the SASS song  writing contest. 

James Dunham

Jim Dunham is a leading historian on the “old west” and “bad men” of the early days.  Gene Autry honored Dunham at a Golden Boots Awards in Hollywood saying Dunham’s guest star performance “was the best part of the evening.”  Dunham has     performed before thousands of groups across the United States in diverse settings—from night clubs to universities.  His programs on American Indian dance, music and culture are popular with universities and historical groups.