Whispers of the West : North, South, East, West ~ The Spirits of the West Whisper on the Wind

Whispers of the West
North, South, East, West ~ The Spirits of the West Whisper on the Wind

Hearts are strengthened by the Friends We Make Along The Way

Jon Messenger

Bringing a unique approach to today’s Cowboy and Western Music, Jon’s vocal and acoustic guitar stylings blend together to bring to all his audiences a haunting and authentic portrait of cowboy life, past and present. Interspersed with the fine Western Music are some wonderful selections of Cowboy Poetry, some by traditional authors, and some original poems from Jon’s pen.

An accomplished songwriter, Jon’s original Western tunes have been well received by audiences at festivals and gatherings throughout the West, and these songs reflect Jon’s love of the West and the American Cowboy. Jon’s writing has been favorably compared to the works of such notable Western artists as Bob Wagoner, Don Edwards, Jack Hannah, Michael Fleming, Rusty Richards, and Riders in the Sky. Jon served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Western Music Association for four years,and for three years as the President of the WMA Board of Directors. He is currently a member of the Board of Advisors of that organization. In addition, Jon is also listed as a performer on the Artist’s Roster of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. With an eye on the future, Jon’s presentations of Western song and verse are dedicated to the fierce spirit of liberty exemplified by the ranching community and the love of self-sufficient freedom.

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Jean Prescott

A native of West Texas, Jean Prescott is known as the songbird of the prairie. Her grandfather, a cowboy for the famous JA ranch and the other ranches in the panhandle of Texas had a direct influence on Jean and the direction her life would take. She wears her western heritage as comfortably as a well broken in pair of boots. From the warm glow of a campfire to the birth light to the concert stage, Jean delights her audiences with songs about the west, the people who made it what it is today and those who are dedicated to preserving the western lifestyle.

Dedicated to preserving their western heritage. Jean and singer/songwriter husband, Gary Prescott, make their home an a small ranch south of Abilene, Texas where they raise paint and quarter horses and continue to write and sing about the cowboy way of life.

Gary Prescott

Artists throughout the United States and Canada have recorded Gary's songs. His songs have been nominated for numerous awards and he is considered to be one of the top contemporary writers of cowboy songs today. Rough Country, Wild Cattle, Gary's third album was nominated for the 1999 Album of the Year with the Academy of Western Artists and the title cut off the album was one of the top five songs of year.

Raised on the family ranch near Bryan, Texas, Gary Prescott has plenty of personal experiences on which to base the cowboy songs that he writes and sings. A singer/songwriter, Gary educates and entertains folks of all ages with traditional and contemporary cowboy songs.

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TEXAS TRAILHANDS

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, THE TEXAS TRAILHANDS have been making cowboy music SWING since 1997. The members are 'HOOT AL’, and ‘MISS DEVON’ (all vocalizing and comprising the rhythm section), with ‘RODEO KATE' and CHUCKWAGON CHUCK taking the instrumentalists' chores.

They are past winners of the Academy of Western Artists ‘Western Group of the Year’, two-time winners of WMA ‘Western Swing Album of the Year’, and are WMA 2004 Western Swing Group of the Year. In 2004, TTT kicked up dust with ‘San Antonio Waltz’, another CD garnering top nominations, and Rodeo Kate, the well-known Texas Trailhands’ fiddler, was nominated for “Instrumentalist of the Year’.

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Jay Snider

Jay Snider was born and raised in southwest Oklahoma and calls Cyril, Oklahoma home. Born to a ranching and rodeo family, his dad was a top roper and rodeo cowboy and his granddad a brand inspector for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. He rodeoed throughout most of his early years and now stays busy raising ranch horses, cattle, and team roping. Jay continues to judge a few amateur rodeos around home and hosts the annual Invitational Rafter S Ranch Cowboy Reunion.

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Charlie LeSueur

Author, actor, performer, singer, teacher. These are just a few of the ways Charlie LeSueur occupies his time. Charlie's childhood heroes were the cowboys that graced the silver screen. In his first book, "The Legends Live On" he shares his memories and interviews with the cowboy greats. Now his Second Book "Riding the Hollywood Trail" Tales of the Silver Screen Cowboys, has recently been released and ready for you to enjoy.

Charlie has released some old standards such as Walk the Dog and Jambalaya which are receiving airplay in Europe. He is a regular interviewer at Festival of the West in Scottsdale and has interviewed many Cowboy Greats including Dale Evans, Buck Taylor and Herb Jefferies. He acts as Master of Ceremonies for Whispers of the West.

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CACTUS COWBOY CORRAL

Members of the Cactus Cowboy Corral Youth Trick Roping Troupe are available to accompany Whispers of the West, for an additional fee. These youngsters are chaperoned by CCC sponsors at all times and must adhere to a strict code of conduct and dress. They perform Will Rogers style trick roping and are consumate performers. They are well versed in the intricacies of trick roping and display excellent skills in dealing with crowds young and old.

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Kip Calahan

Whether from her tours of the United States and Japan, or the airplay she has received on XM Satellite Radio, or her chart action in Germany and France, people around the globe are coming around to this feisty, vivacious Western singer and songwriter! Despite having cut (and then gnashed) her teeth in Nashville, her genre of choice is the music that reflects her love for the cowboy and the Western way of life . . . HER life as she spends it with her husband/foreman Richard and daughter Kyli on the Diamond A (formerly Gray) Ranch in southwestern New Mexico. Kip Calahan renders her music very, VERY well! In concerts, at fairs, rodeos, cowboy gatherings and many other venues, Kip provides both high energy professionalism and authenticity – a distinctly precious rarity.

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Bette Wolf Duncan

One of the things that is often said about cowboys is that there isn't anything they can't get done. Bette Wolf Duncan is a Montana cowboy who embodies that CAN DO attitude. She has worked as an usherette, a long distance operator, Medical Technologist, Prosecutor for the Polk County Attorney, Director of the Regulatory Division and legal counsel for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and, in the final eight years before her retirement, as an Administrative Law Judge. However, our paths crossed because of her writings. Bette Wolf Duncan cut her teeth on Cowboy Poetry as a small child igniting a passion that has lasted a lifetime. Check out her websites.

Charlie Russell's Stage coach

The Range Writers

I know you will enjoy the poetry and the history that you will find there!

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DENNIS JAY

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 fine back up band, Lonesome Town. Dennis has finally realized his dream and relocated to La Vernia, Texas. Welcome home, Cowboy!

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PALO DURO

Palo Duro is a Western music trio dedicated to authentic western entertainment, performing traditional Cowboy & Western classics as well as some of their own original material. Featuring (L-R) lead singer/poet/bass player Cody Anderson, vocal/fiddle player Teresa Zimmerman, and "elder statesman" singer/songwriter/poet/guitarist Jim Anderson.