Performers in Texas

After a scrumptious Texas dinner, sit back and enjoy the music at the Ball Ranch. The family has sung together with their children for over 20 years! You could say it was destiny for the family as Gary and Sue both came from a heritage of authentic western music! Gary's dad was a renowned guitar and fiddle player, playing the old western classics for over 50 years, passing his love of the harmonies and lyrics of these well-loved melodies to his son.

In 1986, Donnie Blanz was offered a staff writing position with Ed Bruce's publishing companies on music row in Nashville. Over the next 15 years, Donnie was schooled in the craft of songwriting by hit songwriters Ed Bruce, Ron Peterson, Glen Ray and others. The Donnie Blanz/Ed Bruce song, "You Just Can't See Him From The Road," was recorded by Chris LeDoux and was included on Chris's platinum selling album, "Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy."

Scott is a rancher, real estate broker, retired cop, grandpa, and professional storyteller. Scott has stories and will travel. Over the years he has performed thousands of times at events like the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, in schools and libraries performing for students, and has had a one-man show at the Galveston 1897 Grand Opera House. Scott has been a member of the Houston Rodeoýs Speakers Committee since 1990.

Teresa is a poet and native Texan that descends from an ancestry of farmers and ranchers of Oklahoma and Texas. This upbringing has given her empathy for the agricultural industry and the people who make their lives in it. Her material reflects a desire to preserve her heritage and to share a female’s perspective on living the western lifestyle. Most of Teresa’s poems are inspired by her personal experiences; therefore people are able to relate to them, and they reflect her personality and witty sense of humor.

J.R. Dunn’s band, “J.R. Dunn & the Ketchum Mountain Boys” includes his son Tanner on rhythm guitar and a host of other fantastic musicians that enjoy Texas Honky Tonk and Western Swing. In the works is a new CD “Ridin’ Backwards” with a release date set for sometime in 2008.

WMA Awards:
1997 Male Performer of the Year
1998 Male Performer of the Year
1999 Male performer of the Year
2001 Male performer of the Year
Nominated For:
2000 Male performer of the Year
2001 Entertainer of the Year

They really are brothers; Greg, Wes, Ray and Gerald English all born and raised in Texas. The brothers have been performing together in various combinations since the mid 1970s, bringing together finely-tuned vocal harmonies that only family members can achieve. The English Brothers Western Entertainers have partnered with Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Hill Country resort to create a memorable evening of mouth waterin' vittles and the best family friendly hand clappin', knee slappin' music and comedy in the Lone Star State.

Joe Green stirs it up with his own brand of cowboy poetry and western music. Joe’s popular Ten Gallon Records CD, BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS, plays on radio shows across the US, Canada, and Europe. The CD is riding high on the western charts. Joe writes it as he lives it and sees it. Throughout the West, Joe plays to enthusiastic crowds at cowboy gatherings, ranch parties, house concerts and other venues.

Dennis Jay is a singer, songwriter, guitarist who writes and performs original songs with roots in traditional country western, folk, blues, cowboy songs and Mexican ballads. He has spent years living, working, and traveling in the American West; from Arizona to Oregon, California to Kansas, Montana to New Mexico, North Dakota to Texas. He performs solo as well as with his find backup band, Lonesome Town.

Judy James, "The Lady Balladeer of Texas," is a singer/songwriter who lets you feel the West with every sound. Her songs take you back, as you listen and dream of the days gone by. Judy is a Mid-America Arts Alliance Touring Artist and a previous nominee for WMA Female Vocalist of the Year. Since 1997 she has had her own two-hour live Western Music radio show each Saturday morning, where she is "Keeping Our Western Heritage Alive."

Information Coming Soon!

Janet McBride has been singing as long as she can remember. Janet McBride has released seven CD's and a number of cassettes since she resumed recording in 1981. Her latest CD was released in January 2005. The album features McBride singing an original song, "A Cowgirl's Dream," which includes a clip of Patsy Montana's singing and yodeling that was taken from an undated demo tape found in Montana's house after her death. And what yodeler hasn't dreamed of singing with Patsy Montana?

Gene Butts, Alan Meyer, Paul Denton, Ken Butts, Leon Butts This mostly family group closely emulates the great sounds of the original Sons of the Pioneers with their wonderful harmony singing and yodeling, their characteristic instrumental accompaniment, and their extensive repertoire.

Virtually raised on horseback, Gary Prescott, writes from the heart and from experience about the American Cowboy of the past and present. His songs take you down to the brush country of South Texas and through the mountains of New Mexico.

Multiple award winner Jean Prescott is widely known for her rich melodious voice and vivacious personality. This Texas born singer/songwriter uses her music to weave tales of the cowboy way of life that come from the heart and linger forever in your memory. WMA Award:  1997 Entertainer of the Year

The Quebe Sisters Band is one of the most exciting new groups to come on the music scene in years. Formed in 2000, the Quebe Sisters Band (pronounced Kway-bee) performs a refreshing blend of western swing (Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys), hot jazz and swing standards (Benny Goodman), western (Sons of the Pioneers), vintage country and traditional Texas style fiddle tunes. The group features the intricate triple fiddles and vintage style 3-part harmony vocals.

His heritage as a forth generation Texas panhandle musician provided him the grand opportunity to literally "grow up" singing and playing. From his great grandfather's days of playing pioneer ranch dances, through the cowboy life of his grandfather and his dad's extraordinary fiddle playing, Keith has developed a rich talent and style. Whether performing as a solo artist, fiddle and guitar duo, with three part harmony or as a full stage band, Keith will present a solid professional show filled with authentic Western music.

Larry Reese carried a Roy Rogers lunch box to school, played with cap guns his father gave him and watched every single, black and white cowboy TV program that aired in the 1950's. These days (as a Born-Again-Texan), Larry plays guitar and sings the old familiar songs of his childhood heroes to the Western Music fans in and around Austin County, Texas.

Charlie is a New Mexico native and started singing, playing rhythm and steel guitar by age 13 and played in his first band in Hereford, Texas. He was inspired by Gene and Roy's Saturday afternoon matinees, and a live appearance by Tex Ritter. Charlie has worked in bands in New Mexico, Southern Colorado, and Texas with guest appearances on the Louisiana Hayride and the Big D Jamboree.

Singer/guitarist Ed Stabler is well-known to Western Music fans for his fine voice and finger-style guitar playing. Stabler has been a force in Western Music since 1990, when he retired from law enforcement in Colorado and became a full time performer. Stabler served a three-year term on the Western Music Association Board of Directors in the mid-1990s, holding the vice-presidency for two years. He has recorded several solo projects and has played on other performer's recordings.

Nominated For:
1997 Song of the Year ("The Wagon Tongue")

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, The Texas Trailhands have been making cowboy music SWING since 1997. They are past winners of the Academy of Western Artists ‘Western Group of the Year, three-time winners of WMA Western Swing Album of the Year, and are WMA 2004/05/06/07 Western Swing Group of the Year. Their repertoire is a collection of western movie classics, old West ballads in English and Spanish, contemporary and original western tunes.

"Robert Joe Vandygriff is one part Will Rogers, one part Gene Autry and one part Zig Ziglar."  Dallas Morning News

“R.J. is an extremely talented, exciting entertainer.  Anyone who has a chance to see his performance thoroughly enjoys the experience.  You're great my friend.  Keep spurrin'.  You're ridin' a good hoss.” 
RED  STEAGALL

Washtub Jerry is a recognized authority for building and playing the washtub bass. In 1999 he was named Instrumentalist of the Year by the Western Music Association. Jerry has performed with Patsy Montana, Yakov Smirnoff, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Riders In The Sky, Peter Yarrow, Johnny Gimble, and yes, Don, Waddie, Red, and R. W. (plus hundreds of other musicians!). He is a member of the International Society of Bassists.

Jim Wilson is a native Texan who was born in Austin and raised in San Antonio. For nearly 30 years, he served as a Texas Peace Officer in Denton and Crockett Counties. Jim Wilson performs across the country at western music festivals, house concerts, and ranch barbecues. He is an active supporter of the Western Music Association and served as vice-president for several years.