Special Edition-All about the WMA!

 

Saddle Strings

11/14/10

by Raquel Buffham-Burgess

A blog written all about Les Buffham:
Cowboy poet, storyteller humorist
and sometimes an arrayer and portrayer
of melodic cowboy compositions.
Also a sometimes sort of a singer.
www.lesbuffham.com

a.k.a DAD

 

Hello! I am so excited to publish Saddle Strings this week as a Special Edition! The Western Music Association Showcase and Awards are coming! Beginning on Wednesday the 17th of November and continuing through Sunday the 21st of November with daily events and showcases! For a full event schedule, please check out the link by clicking here: Western Music Association

Also, WMA Bio and printable information- is a compilation of information taken from the WMA web site; you can print this for easy reference or save it to your hard drive! Included in this is a bio (as written by the WMA) and schedule of events as well as contact and membership information, I hope you find it useful.

My favorite link from the WMA web site is the one for “The Western Way”. The fall edition is outstanding with articles and information pertaining to the ‘Western Way’ of things, upcoming events, reviews, and chapter notes. What a wonderful publication. If you haven’t subscribed yet, you will want to after following this link!

The Western Way, Volume 20, Issue 4, Fall, 2010

And now to the heart of the matter-the Western Music Association Awards! I’m sure pretty much everyone is familiar with awards programs and how they work. The WMA is no different with categories that highlight the best of the best and honor not just the winners and nominees, but all who contribute to the continued effort to preserve the Western way of life through music, poetry, photography, discography, and the pursuit of all things western in any way. The entire membership of the Western Music Association benefits from the association and this annual event is the culmination of another year of absolutely amazing work by a wide variety of unique talent. Some categories are self-explanatory but there are a few that could use with some definition to understand the full import of the category so let’s take a moment to review.

I think these two categories merit a full display of past recipients; these categories are, to me, the foundation of the Western Music Association. I also feel the Bill Wiley Award and the Hall of Fame Inductees are so important to those who receive these accolades, they should all be mentioned.

The spirit, dedication, and respect for all things Western in which each of these individuals has contributed to the Western Music Association are such positive and influential movements of natural wonder and awe, creating moments that become memories. That’s the good stuff.

Bill Wiley Award-This award, named for the founder of the WMA, Bill Wiley, is a highly prestigious award, given to individuals who are not necessarily performers, but who have a love of the Western way of life with an interest in preserving and promoting the Western Music Association through their supreme efforts and support.

Past recipients of this award are:

1989 – Bill Wiley
1989 – Russ Wolfe
1990 – Bill Jacobson
1991 – Ken Griffis
1991 – Mary Roger
1993 – Al Krtil
1994 – O.J. Sikes
1995 – Alvin Davis
1996 – Voleta and Jack Hummel
1997 – Bobby Newton
1998 – Dick “Hopalong” Cassidy
1999 – Hal Spencer
2000 – Keith and Wilma Schooler
2001 – Lillian Turner
2002 – Fred Goodwin
2003 – Jeff and Debbie Pundt
2004 – Don Cusic
2004 – Rick Huff
2005 – Robert E. Fee
2006 – Stan and Alma Tussing
2007 – Margo Metegrano
2008 – Mary Ryland

2009 – Ray Amerine

Hall of Fame Inductees: Obviously, being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a tremendous honor and an acknowledgement of a dedication to the preservation and promotion of the Western life through past works.

Past inductees include:

1989

Roy Rogers
Dale Evans
Sons of the Pioneers
Rex Allen
Patsy Montana
Gene Autry
Tex Ritter
Marty Robbins

1990

Eddie Dean
Cindy Walker
Johnny Bond
Elton Britt

1991

Wilf Carter
Andy Parker and the Plainsmen
Jimmy Wakely
Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage

1993

Rosalie Allen
Hi Busse and the Frontiersmen
Riders In The Sky

1994

Bob Nolan
Tim Spencer

1995

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

1996

Ray Whitley
Cass County Boys

1997

Herb Jeffries
Stan Jones
Wesley Tuttle

1998

Billy Beeman
Smiley Burnett
The Reinsmen

1999

Stuart Hamblen
Billy Hill
Jim Bob Tinsley

2000

Slim Clark
The Beverly Hill Billies
Frankie Laine

2001

Johnny Western
Monte Hale
Carolina Cotton
Carson Robinson

2004

Rusty Richards
Dmitri Tiomkin
The Jimmy Wakely Trio
Michael Martin Murphey

2005

Don Edwards
Red Steagall
Ken Maynard
Jack Elliott

2006

Carl T. Sprague
Sons of the San Joaquin

2007

Fleming Allan
Rex Allen Jr.

2008

Bing Crosby
Tommy Doss
Lloyd Perryman
Dale Warren
Ian Tyson

2009

John Lomax

Rich O’Brien

Flying W Wranglers

The rest of the categories are available on the web site or by following this link:

Award Categories

I had a phone call from Dad this morning in which he told me how proud he was of me. He wanted me to know he gets a ‘warm and fuzzy’ feeling when someone comments to him that they have enjoyed my writing. Now he knows what I have been feeling all these years. And while I am very proud of Dad for his nominations by the WMA, ultimately, the final reward is that feeling; a warm and fuzzy feeling of having done good…er…well. It pleases me and justifies what I’ve been saying about the community of Western Artists being the best of the best to know the WMA has the same opinion of the work done by and within that special community. As a spokesperson for the WMA shared in “The Western Way”, “I believe that we will always find that good work created for the sake of doing good work is the kind of work that demonstrates the merit required for recognition by fans and peers alike.”-Jon Messenger, President, WMA, Western Way Fall 2010. I believe most of the folks I’ve been privileged enough to meet who belong to this elite community are just that way. Doing what they love and loving what they do. All of you are very special!

Of course, I would be remiss if I don’t brag on Dad just a bit; after all, this is a blog all about him and his shenanigans. I’m sure he will be expecting to get a few more kisses from all of the pretty ladies at the WMA and probably the ONLY reason he is truly going! This year, Dad is nominated in two categories:

Collaborative/Composite Album: Writes and Co-Writes, Volume 2

In 2009, Dad and Judy Coder won in the Best Collaboration category for “The Mourning Dove”. In 1997, Dad and Michael Fleming won Song of the Year with their collaboration on “Below the Kinney Rim”.

Outstanding Performer in Poetry, Storytelling, Spoken Word- Male

The closest category I can find to this is Male Poet of the year, which Dad won two years in a row: 2007 and 2008.

Every nominee is a winner as are all of the members of the WMA!

Instead of an excerpt from “Cleanin’ Up”, which I have blatantly ignored up to this point, I am very pleased to share with you a short, sweet, and best of all, totally true piece of work by Dad:

The Albuquerque news has been tawkin’ a lot lately about the body of an 80 something year old man that was found out in the desert. He was some distance from his car that was submerged in a wash. He was naked and they said he had suffered from dementia.

Makes me thankful that I am not troubled with such an affliction. Well– maybe a little bit.

My book writin’ pardner went to Amarillo to the ranch rodeo finals this weekend to see if he could sell some stuff. I agreed to feed his horse and cow herd while he was gone. After breakfast and chores this AM I went in to town to get gas, propane and a haircut. Stopped at the gas station first and found out I was missing my wallet. Drove back to camp and noticed a trough I forgot to top off when I did chores so turned the water on then went to the motor home to get my wallet. I noticed a note I had left myself tellin’ me to pay my truck insurance. I sat down and dialed ’em up. Then I decided I’d better check my bank balance so I booted up old ‘Puter’. That took a while. When my email came up I noticed I had a song a lady had sent me so I downloaded and listened to it a couple of times. I read the rest of my emails and shut ‘er down. Then remembered I didn’t check my bank balance so I booted her up again. That took a while.

I loaded back up in the truck and headed out for town again. As I passed the end of the house I noticed a fair sized lake in the horse corral where I had left the water running. I jumped out and shut ‘er off. I kinda took care of the dust problem in that pen for a while.

When I got to town I pulled up to the pump at the circle K and descovered I had left my card on my desk after payin my insurance. I drove back to camp and said, “To heck with it!”

They’re speculatin’ that feller died of exposure, which could have very well been seein’ how he was totally exposed! Now I aint felt like sheddin’ my clothes and headin’ off across the desert yet but it kinda makes me wonder—-.

What did I go to town for anyway?

Les Buffham, 2010

Let’s see ole A-10 draw a cartoon of that one! Ha ha! Or the time Dad went to the hot springs in T or C! No, no! No mental images please!

Well, thank you for hanging out with me for a bit, next week I will be ‘blogging’ live from the WMA’s and you can expect a few pictures as well. The following week I will take you on a follow up of the winners as well as start to focus on Writes and Co-Writes, Volume 3 and back to the book, “Cleanin’ Up”!

As always, there are several ways you can order your copy of “Cleanin’ Up”:

1.)   Send an email to Dad, lesbuffham@yahoo.com

2.)   Send an email to A-10, a-10@crayolacowboy.com

3.)   Soon you can go to A-10’s web site www.crayolacowboy.com, as well as Dad’s www.lesbuffham.com. Add them both to your favorites if you haven’t already!

To order or just listen to a sample of Dad’s albums: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LesBuffham

Follow this link for a free MP3 download of one of Dad’s songs: Cowboy Blessing-free MP3.

I am so looking forward to next week and being able to give you real time information and updates live from the WMA’s! Woot!

As always, please give me your feedback, questions, and comments!

Have a great week and don’t forget to tie those saddle strings, you don’t want to lose yer slicker! (or your Bushmill’s!)

Raquel



Cleanin’ Up and a Tribute…

Saddle Strings

10/31/10

by Raquel Buffham-Burgess

A blog written all about Les Buffham:
Cowboy poet, storyteller humorist
and sometimes an arrayer and portrayer
of melodic cowboy compositions.
Also a sometimes sort of a singer.
www.lesbuffham.com

a.k.a DAD

Hello! Another week has passed and autumn is fully upon us! There are so many things happening and going on its hard to know where to begin! Some exciting upcoming events in the Western Music World for November include the Heber City Cowboy Poetry Gathering & Buckaroo Fair November 1-7, in Heber City, Utah, Tombstone Western Music Festival November 5-7, Tombstone, AZ, and the highly anticipated WMA Showcase and Awards Show, November 17-21, Albuquerque, NM!

“Cleanin’ Up” will be well represented in Tombstone with copies available from Jack and Vo Hummel! Thank you to those two for doing that favor for Dad and A-10! Also in Tombstone, Kenny Wilcox of Trails and Rails, will have Dad’s album, Writes and Co-Writes, Volume II available along with Trails and Rails own album selections, so be sure to pick up an album and a signed copy of “Cleanin’ Up” if you are there! A-10 and Dad will both be at the WMA’s and just prior to that, A-10 will be at the Working Ranch Cowboys Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo, November 11-14, Amarillo, TX., the next stop for the book tour will be Calico Christmas Arts and Crafts Show November 26-27, Carlsbad, NM., also a special one day only event of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Convention, Dec. 2, Albuquerque, NM. The book “Cleanin’ Up” as well as A-10’s 2011 Calendar of Cowboy Cartoons will be available! As I write, Dad and A-10 are having their very own ‘Great Pizza Party & Book Signing’ in preparation for those coming events.

I had the honor of attending the Tombstone Western Music Festival in 2008 when the wonderful folks putting that show on deemed my father worthy of extreme honor and inviting the first non-singing/musical act to the show. Dad was given a plaque and a place in the spotlight. My brother Brandt drove out from California with his family for the event and we all had such a wonderful time! I loved the atmosphere of Tombstone and the wonderful shops up and down the main street with performers in every nook and cranny available. Especially sweet for me was receiving a gift from Mr. Lee Thompson in the spirit of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. You see, I had my eye on a pair of particularly fancy shoes that were just out of my budget, but oh, they were so very pretty. Those shoes became mine with some…encouragement from me about compensation for Dad being on the playbill. I cried tears of joy when that shoe box was set in my lap! I still look at those pretty shoes from time to time and think of Tombstone and the wonderful folks who put on the festival there with pure adoration and fondness, especially for the beloved and missed Mr. Lee Thompson, aka Singin’ Sandy, whom we lost recently to cancer.

This week’s Saddle Strings continues the equine theme with another excerpt from the book, “Cleanin’ Up” that is yet again a favorite of mine (oh heck, who am I kidding? I love them all!):

Equine Inclinations

Speaking of equine inclinations, I rarely go to the big picture show, watch TV, or spend much time on things of that nature; however, I made a promise to my eight year old daughter this summer to take her to see Secretariat when it came to the big screen in our tiny town. The movie was released on October 8 but just came to our one-picture-show-at-a-time movie theater. I highly recommend it to anyone, horse lover or otherwise, this movie is totally worth the price of admission. Let me know if you’ve seen it and what you think!

This leads me to a poignant equine story I’d like to share with you. The following is a tribute written by Dad to a horse named Nytemare. In my life, I’ve ridden quite a few horses; most of them are pretty well broke and useful. Some were pure nags and worthless for working anything. This horse was my mother’s from the time she was sixteen years old and the mare was just two. I remember watching my mother ride her, tall in the saddle, straight and true, performing in ways I could only dream of. The bond between the two was obvious and could not be ignored. My mother told me I could not ride that mare until I learned how to ride. I worked hard every day, in the ring, on the trail, listening to my mother and fathers instructions on how to handle a horse, both on and off of it. Finally, the day came and I was never so thrilled to sit upon a horse as I was on that one. I was twelve years old and named Queen of Cowgirl Days Rodeo, a title I had tried for and lost, two years running. I didn’t have to tell that mare what to do because she knew. I didn’t win that contest, Nytemare did it for me and I will never forget it. Please enjoy this tribute to her and if it doesn’t tug on your heartstrings, I don’t know what will. In this picture, I am wearing the belt buckle I won for that contest and my Dad engraved Nytmare’s name on the banner.

Nytemare, A Tribute

Don’t tell Dad but I’m trying to work it into my schedule to be in Albuquerque for the WMA’s, I’m not promising but I am sure going to give it a good ole Buffham try!

If you would like to order your very own copy of “Cleanin’ Up” there are several ways you can do so.

1.)   Send an email to Dad, lesbuffham@yahoo.com

2.)   Send an email to A-10, a-10@crayolacowboy.com

3.)   A-10’s web site www.crayolacowboy.com, as well as Dad’s www.lesbuffham.com. Add them both to your favorites if you haven’t already!

4.) Order from A-10′s website, print the order form and send it snail mail to:

PO Box 3713, T or C, NM 87901

To order or just listen to a sample of Dad’s albums: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LesBuffham.

Follow this link for a free MP3 download of one of Dad’s songs: Cowboy Blessing-free MP3.

As always, please give me your feedback, questions, and comments!

Have a great week and don’t forget to tie those saddle strings, you don’t want to lose yer slicker!

Raquel

“Cleanin’ Up” and more….

Saddle Strings

10/17/10

by Raquel Buffham-Burgess

A blog written all about Les Buffham:
Cowboy poet, storyteller humorist
and sometimes an arrayer and portrayer
of melodic cowboy compositions.
Also a sometimes sort of a singer.
www.lesbuffham.com

a.k.a DAD

 

Hello there! I would like to take a moment to say thank you for the support you have all given me and shown to Dad and A-10 for this book! The response and positive feedback has been far greater than I could have hoped for and you all inspire me to more and better posts! The best thing of all is that Dad says he is proud of me. The truth is….I’m proud of him. For everything he has accomplished and all that is yet to come, I know it will be fabulous!

Good news! Dad and A-10 had to go back to the printer for more books! That means there are plenty to go around for now. Get yours before they are all gone!

CowboyPoetry.com this week announced the release of “Cleanin’ Up” and had the following to say:

“It’s an inspired team, a nearly combustible mixture: the humorous poetry and stories of Les Buffham and the illustrations of popular cartoonist A-10 Etcheverry. Their new collaboration, Cleanin’ Up, is sure to delight their fans, who don’t need to worry about there having been any damaging “cleaning up” of Les Buffham’s signature hilarity. The book’s title was probably inspired by the cover photo by Lori Faith Merritt ( www.photographybyfaith.com). A-10 Etcheverry’s rich cartoons, which stand on their own, are full of action and expression, closer to cinema than drawings.

I am also so very pleased to tell you that immediately following this insightful information about the release of “Cleanin’ Up” there is a link back to this blog! What a moment that was to see it there and an honor for sure!

This week’s Saddle Strings is all about stinky, smelly, dirty cowboys and the results of the need for bathing. Inspired by some recent racy (add Dad as a friend if you dare!) Facebook status updates, here is your excerpt for the week:

THE SHOWER by Les Buffham

By the way…I called the Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and sure enough, the day after Dad was there, they tested the water; low and behold, they had to chemically treat it! I can’t decide if ‘birthday suit’ or ‘gee’ string is better….yikes! Don’t think about it! Quick, read on!

This week’s excerpt, “The Shower” (as well as my big brother Brandt), reminds me of a summer we spent working in cow camp up on Spring Creek Reservoir,  which is about 29 miles of dusty, bumpy, road with a few hair pin turns from Gunnison, CO. It was 1979 and I was 9 years old. I wore a cast on my left hand from a wreck with a horse trailer and an ornery appaloosa that bucked Dad off late in that summer (that horse was sold to a local stock contractor, but that’s actually a story for another time).

Mom washed our clothes in an old barrel Dad cut in half. Mom would build a fire under it, fill it with water from the creek, throw in some soap and we kids would take turns stirring it until the clothes were sufficiently clean. We kids also dug worms from the wet ground around the two story cabin. We would sort them by size; night crawlers went into empty fruit cans (they were the biggest ones we could find), medium sized worms went into vegetable cans, and the littlest into soup cans. We set up a placard board Dad built for us that said, “Worms for Sale”. When we rode out of camp we would kick the board over to indicate we were closed. We would leave a few cans of worms in various sizes, sitting out along with a can for people to leave their money in if we weren’t there. If there were worms gone, there was always money in the can.

The money we made took us into town for a drive-in movie once every 4-5 weeks. The trouble was, there were five of us: Mom, Dad, my two brothers and of course myself, and we had to get cleaned up for that trip to town. We were taking baths in an old washtub about once a week in the middle of the kitchen and with no running water except for the freezing cold creek, it was a chore to get everyone to the point we could stand to share the same space. Dad, being the brilliant man that he is, came up with a plan to rectify this smelly situation.

Dad set us kids to work gathering some of the aspen dead fall to use for poles, as there was plenty of it. He found some of that real thick plastic called ‘visquene’, some tubing, and another 55 gallon barrel. He made a tepee out of those poles we rounded up, built a platform up on top, mounted that barrel up there, stuck that wash tub inside it, and hooked up the hose to a shower head and viola! Brilliant! Except it didn’t work ha-ha! The water was so cold (there was only one morning frost wasn’t on the foot bridge over the small feeder creek in front of the cabin that whole summer) that even sitting in that barrel up on top of Dad’s shower contraption all day long, the water didn’t get warm. So we took a clue from the clothes washing method, heated water in the barrel, filled the washtub and we all took our baths out in that visquene hut. It was great. I don’t recall having a better summer, other than the wrecks I had. Thinking back on it now, I grew up in somewhat of an unusual manner, one a lot of folks don’t understand, but I wouldn’t trade it for any other way!

A special thank you to Nikki Gray, long time family friend for this photo. This is the two story cabin we lived in that summer. Notice the stairs to the second story (a one room space my brothers and I shared) are on the outside of the cabin.

Don’t forget you can get your copy of “Cleanin’ Up”, several ways-

Email: lesbuffham@yahoo.com

Facebook: facebook.com/les.buffham.

Or from A-10 Etcheverry-

Email: a-10@crayolacowboy.com

Website: www.crayolacowboy.com

A-10 Snail Mail: PO Box 3713, T or C, NM 87901 (go to his site, print the order form and use it for his 2011 calendar, the book, or anything in the general store!)

I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past, thanks for taking the trip with me! Next week we take a look at some ‘equine’ stories, with another excerpt from the book and a bonus piece (or two) Dad has done as tributes to horse flesh as well as some collaboration news on another favorite of mine…”Spin That Pony”. I can’t wait, I’m so excited, I’ve already started on it!

That’s all for now, have a great week and….don’t forget to tie those saddle strings, you don’t want to lose yer slicker!

Raquel

Saddle Strings 10.10.10

Saddle Strings

10/10/10

by Raquel Buffham-Burgess

A blog written all about Les Buffham:
Cowboy poet, storyteller humorist
and sometimes an arrayer and portrayer
of melodic cowboy compositions.
Also a sometimes sort of a singer.
www.lesbuffham.com

a.k.a DAD

For this week’s edition of Saddle Strings, I would like to take you to a unique and happy place; the world according to Dad and his good buddy, A-10 Etcheverry, illustrator of “Cleanin’ Up”. Our journey to this mysterious land begins with a conversation I had with A-10 and Dad, in which I discovered some very…uh…interesting things. A-10 and Dad were kind enough to answer some questions I had, as well as some both of their mutual fans asked me about. Imagine if you will…a kitchen table where A-10, Dad, and I are all sitting around, having a cup of coffee……….

Me: A-10, what the heck kind of name is that?

A-10: Well, that’s kind of a funny story. (Like we didn’t see that coming!) You see, I was traveling the rodeo circuit (team roping) with my buddy Keith Riley. When he would go to enter us, they would ask for our names. My name is Etienne (prn. eh-tea-en) so Riley gave his name, easy enough, then signing me up, he would say, “Partner is Etienne Etcheverry”, they would ask, “uh…how do you spell that?” and ole Keith said, “Heck, I don’t know, just put down A dash 10.” (My eight year old refers to him as 8-10.) That’s where A-10 came from.

Me: A-10, on the cover of your book with Dad, “Cleanin’ Up”, there are several critters with you. Will you tell me about them?

A-10: Well, that paint mare belongs to my son Ben, her name is Slinky and she is about 4 or 5 years old. That other mare is a Quarter Horse named Ruby May Red Dress and she is 6 years old. Kind of an interesting story how I got her, see, I traded her for a cartoon. There was a fellow helping out a stock contractor with cutting some 12-15 stud colts. Well, he got more than he bargained for in that deal and it turned into a real big wreck. He told me I could have that horse for a cartoon and that’s just what we did!

A-10’s faithful Keltie/Australian Shepard cross, Carlina, who is “just a good dog” is in the photo as well. A-10 also has a ‘Heinz-57’ dog named Sandy, who is “…old”.

Me: Dad, there are some folks who want to know if the stories in your book “Cleanin’ Up” are based on actual happenings?

Dad: Actually, most of ‘em are based on actual happenings, maybe with some embellishment thrown in. In the book there are about a dozen that are purely imagination.

Me: A-10, how long have you been drawing?

A-10: My mom would say, since I was big enough to hold on to a pencil (maybe she knows the secret to getting crayon off the walls?). I was drawin’ up to my first marriage and then I took about 10 years off. Once the divorce was final, my friends kept pushin’ me to start up again, wantin’ me to do a calendar.  I finally said yes, thinkin’ I’d do a few just to give away. Twenty one years ago I took 100 calendars to the very first Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium, they were all gone by the first day (a three day event). This year, I will be attending the 21^st Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium and I am taking 200 calendars with me, along with a few books. *I will also have order forms with me, just in case I run out early.

Me: Wow, very impressive! Do you have other talents we aren’t aware of?

A-10: Well, nah, not really…  Here is where Dad interrupts and says, “Hey now! He is a champion team roper!” A-10 explains he loves to team rope and does it every chance he gets. He reluctantly admits he is quite good at it and has been roping for a long time.

Me: Dad, do you have a favorite illustration in the book “Cleanin’ Up”?

Dad: If I had to pick one it would be the cartoon that goes with Judd and Cal. That was your momma’s Dad (Cal) and ole Judd Leffew (Champion Bull Rider Gary Leffew’s father) on that adventure.

Me: A-10, do you have a favorite story in the book?

A-10: I really like Snake Killer, Au Natural.

Me: Now, let me turn that around, Dad, do you have a favorite story? And A-10, do you have a favorite illustration?

Dad: No doubt, Batman’s Wife.

A-10: Well, here we go. Yer Dad won’t like my answer much, it would be Aunt Viv and the Backyard Dogs. I was having such a hard time with that one, did it over and over and it was just never…right. Then one day, I was riding back to the barn and it just came to me in a flash. I grabbed my notebook and rough sketched it out, went to the house, had a sandwich and a coke, then sat down and finished it pretty much in one sitting, which is unusual.

Me: Uh oh, why doesn’t Dad like it?

Dad: Well, A-10 knows why and I’m not gonna get into an argument over it again, he knows why. I just don’t like it much.

Me: A-10, I understand you are going to Ruidoso, New Mexico this weekend and taking a few copies of the book with you, what’s happening there?

A-10: The 21^st Annual Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium. It runs October 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th. I’m pretty excited to go, it’s a wonderful event. About 20 years ago I got a real treat. Some folks came to the booth and we were visiting when they said to me, “Say, you aren’t the only cowboy cartoonist here, that fellow Ace Reed is here too.” Well, it was pretty early the next day and just knowing Ace was there had me nervous as a cat, pretty soon he walks over to my booth. He stuck out his hand and said, “Hi, I’m Ace Reed. I’m lookin’ for my replacement.” I tried to convince him I might be his competition and nothin’ close to a replacement for him. He wasn’t accepting that though. Ace said, “No, I’ve seen your work.” He and I sat and talked for about an hour and a half, just talking toons and the business. It was the highlight of all the Symposiums I’ve been to.

When I was setting this interview up, I told Dad I would like to talk with both of them at the same time because I really feel like they feed off of each other and it might add some spark to the conversation. Dad’s response was, “Yer right, at least I feed off of A-10 all the time. Just the other day I got a piece of apple pie, and his wife Kathy fills my belly full of good stuff all the time!” Typical of Dad but still funny enough I had to share it with you.

Here is your link for this week’s excerpt. I remember this story from when I was maybe 7 or 8 years old, it was one of Dad’s early works and I am so very happy it made the cut for the book!

Sportin’ Cowboys by Les Buffham and A-10 Etcheverry

Dad encouraged me and I really wanted to get A-10 into this edition of Saddle Strings because, well, let’s face it, he is an integral part of the book as well as a major influence on Dad. I wanted to thank A-10 and his family for including Dad in their lives and looking out for him. It makes being so far away from Dad a little easier knowing he has such wonderful friends like A-10 and the rest of the western way of life elite. (If you don’t know what that means, read the first Saddle Strings.)

A-10 Etcheverry was born in 1950 in Fort Collins, CO. and is a renowned cowboy cartoonist and has many accolades to his name, if I miss a few, I apologize. A-10 has illustrated 40+ books, has won many awards, and is a member of the following: Cowboy Cartoonist International (CCI), Western Swing Music Society of the Southwest (WSMSS), Western Music Association (WMA), Academy of Western Artist (AWA), and the Cowtown Society of Western Music (CSWM).

A-10’s work has been acknowledged with the following awards and accolades:

1998-AWA, Cowboy Cartoonist of the Year

1999-elected to CCI

2000-CCI, Gold Medal Winner

2009-WSMSS, A-10 Etcheverry was honored with membership to the WSMSS Hall of fame and received the Creative Achievement of the Year Award

2010-Museum of the Big Bend, featured exhibitor

A-10 Etcheverry has done the artwork on 13-14 album covers for Time Warp Top Hands

I’m quoting Dad as he quoted Bobby Newton on A-10, “He’s ugly and all he can draw is flies.” Ha ha, I think I like that Bobby guy. J

I felt this was the perfect place to share with you a very important part of any book, the introduction and acknowledgements. After all, I keep talking about thanking all of you, (by now I hope faithful) readers, for the support and consideration you have shown Dad. Here is the introduction to the book, “Cleanin’ Up” and Dad’s official thank you along with A-10’s.

Introduction

“Cleanin’ Up” is a delightful collaboration between Les Buffham’s sense of humor and the clever drawings of A-10 Etcheverry in a wonderful combination which is guaranteed to entertain all of your senses. It is a book to be enjoyed over and over again, as each time you see something new in A-10’s cartoons and find something more amusing in the anecdotes and poetry of Les.

Bobby Newton, A Real Critic!

Les Buffham and A-10 Etcheverry are two bonafide craaaaazy guys – as evidenced by the pages of this book. It would be best to read this in a private setting. Chances are you will be asked to leave a fine restaurant should you be going through these pages while attempting to sip wine over your plate of Beef Wellington. Tut, tut – It isn’t nice to read and then spew your drink over fellow diners while laughing. Nor should you read it in a public library – sshhhhhhh – no loud guffawing and slapping of the knee allowed. And if you slip it into church to read when the sermon gets boring, you will be found out – ahem, what’s that disturbance on the back pew? In fact, anytime you’re reading this book, all those within the sound of your voice will know it because you simply will not be able to hold it in. This book is one hoot after another. Hang on, cuz these two slightly deranged cowboys are about to take you on a ride down the whoop-up trail that you won’t soon forget – even if you just like to look at the pictures. Unbelievable stories with unbelievable endings, all graphically illustrated to make sure you get the point, make this book a real tear-jerker – from laughing so hard.

Marvin O’Dell

Musikode Productions

www.musikode.com

We’ve been going down this cowboy poetry and music road for over twenty years and although there have been many changes along the way, one of the brightest spots has been Les Buffham with his stories, poems and songs. These have ranged from poignant to hilarious but have always been extraordinary. The only thing that could make them better would be to add the awesome cartoons of

award-winning A-10 Etcheverry. This book brings a whole new insight into cowboy life that only these two ol’ cowpoke geniuses could dream up together. What a treat!

Jack and Voleta Hummel

Acknowledgements

Les says: There are many I wish to thank who helped make this book possible. First and foremost many thanks to my old pardner Etienne “A-10” Etcheverry for throwing in with me on this project. Over the considerable span of time that we have pecked away at it, he has shown me to be not only one of the country’s most outstanding cowboy cartoonists but also a great friend.

To Scott and Stacy Blackwell at Legacy Media for allowing us to put the whole world on notice that this book was coming forth.

To longtime editor and founder of Rope Burns and organizer of the Academy of Western Artists, Mr. Bobby Newton, for being a great supporter even though he does rag on me a lot.

To Jack and Voleta Hummel for their hard work proofing and editing, all the while insisting that this book be as good as it could possibly be.

For the feedback and support from some other individuals for which I have the utmost admiration and respect; Jim Jones, Marvin O’Dell and Eddy Harrison.

A very special thank you to Ken and Darlene Wilcox for their encouragement and financial support. Without them we could not have pulled this off.

For a wonderful job of layout and design by Cheri Masters and printing by Starline Printing.

Another big one to my good friend and co-writer Dave Stamey who hammered, bitched and hollered at me for the past ten years to, “Get a book out!”

And a big thank you to Lori Faith Merritt of Photography by Faith for all the great images. She even made my belly not look so big!

To my three children for being there to inspire and believe in me. Brandt, Raquel and Cody. I love you “gize”!

And thank you, friends and fans, who have asked me for a book. You are all very special!

A-10 says: It has been a long, dusty, crooked and bumpy road from a little kid drawing on a big chief tablet to the publication of this book. When Les and I decided to embark on this adventure, my retirement fund was a lot smaller than it is now. Needless to say it has been a day or two. Now that this book has come to fruition, I can say that I am very proud and happy that the project is complete.

My appreciation goes out to all those folks that Les has already mentioned, who made the whole thing come together.

Les Buffham, thank you for the poems and prose that accompany my illustrations. Also for the bottles of Bushmills and Makers Mark that fueled some of the ideas.

To my wife, Kathy — what more can I say? She’s my #1 pardner who understands that when an idea for an illustration comes at 3:15 in the morning that it has to come out. She and my children, Ben and Tai, make sure that I am grounded in reality on occasion.

I would like to thank my friends and family for all of their support. Without their belief in me and what I do, it would be impossible to be creative.

**If you would like to order your very own copy of “Cleanin’ Up” there are several ways you can do so.

1.)   Send an email to Dad, lesbuffham@yahoo.com

2.)   Send an email to A-10, a-10@crayolacowboy.com

3.)   Soon you can go to A-10’s web site www.crayolacowboy.com, as well as Dad’s www.lesbuffham.com and place your order right there! Add them both to your favorites if you haven’t already!

To order or just listen to a sample of Dad’s albums: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/LesBuffham

*Update*-A-10 sold out at the Symposium on the first day of calendars and books!

**Update**-As I was editing this, Dad called and told me he spent some time in town (T or C, NM) visiting the hot springs! Yikes! He said for me not to tell because of that whole ‘gee string’ episode on Facebook. (If you missed it, it is truly worth your time to check out his page, facebook.com/les.buffham., check out the older posts, I guarantee to elicit emotional responses, repugnance or rib-splitting laughter) I shouldn’t tell but the general public should be warned and possibly a quarantine of the hot springs is in order! He never did get new swim trunks!

Well, if you’ve stuck it out this long I thank you. I realize this is a bit long but I had a great time putting this one together and I hope you got to know both Dad and A-10 Etcheverry a little better.

That’s all for this week. As always, please give me your feedback, questions, and comments!

Have a great week and don’t forget to tie those saddle strings, you don’t want to lose yer slicker!

Raquel