Western Swing Society celebrates 21 years
by Norma-Lee
A son's gift to his father has turned into twenty-one years of music
history. That's how the Sacramento Western Swing Society got started
right here in Rio Linda, If you're from the Sacramento/Rio Linda area
and over the age of 40 you probably remember dancing to the live music
of Loyd Jones Dance Band. From the 50's through the 70's, Loyd's brand
of Western Swing music was very popular and he was very busy. But as
the 70's progressed, the jobs became fewer and farther between. It
seemed the time for his music had passed.
One of the most popular country nightclubs in the area at that time was
"Tex's Saloon" on Watt Avenue and Loyd's son, Perry Jones, was the
Music Director there. It saddened Perry that his father's music was
slowly being silenced by progress and he wanted to preserve it so he
came up with an idea. Why not have a free concert every month where
Loyd and his friends could perform and, hopefully, perpetuate the style
of music first popularized by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys. After
first gaining the approval of his mother, Bonnie, and other family
members, Perry approached the owners of Tex's Saloon who were amenable
to the idea. The first concert of "The Western Swing Society" was held
there in the spring of 1981.
The concept proved successful
and soon Perry was looking for ways to
expand the concerts. The "Hall of Fame" came to be as a way of enticing
some of the more famous musicians of the day to come out and
participate. Once again, Perry's instincts proved correct as to date,
nearly 500 outstanding musicians and supporters of music have been
inducted into the Sacramento Hall of Fame.
Perry had succeeded in his original goal of preserving his father's
music but now his concern was how to perpetuate this truly American
music. Of course, the only solution could lie in getting young people
to appreciate and study the music; hence the scholarship program was
born. The monthly concert/dances were generating revenue for Tex's
Saloon so the owners began to donate a portion back to the Society.
This money was used to help deserving and needy local children continue
their musical studies at higher levels. That program is still in place
today.
The Society underwent the usual growing pains of any successful
endeavor including its incorporation in the mid 80's. Tex's Saloon
ceased operations as a nightclub in the late 80's so a move was made
first to the Candlerock Lounge at the Country Club Bowling Alley and
later, upstairs at the Skyroom. A few years were spent at the VFW in
South Sacramento but the Society has now returned to the Skyroom.
By this time, the Society had
become very well known and was signing up
new members at a rapid pace (well over 1,400 to date). It was also
actually making enough money to put on bigger and better Hall of Fame
celebrations. From the one-day event in 1981, this year the Society
will host live music and dancing from Thursday, October 3rd through the
evening of Sunday, October 6th with the induction ceremony taking place
on Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people are expected to join in
honoring the twenty inductees at this year's event. They will be
travelling from several states and as far away as western Canada.
Today, there are a multitude of satellite groups in Texas,
Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Canada, as far away
as England and Australia, and many right here in California. The music
is alive, well and growing in popularity, as such artists as George
Strait, Clint Black, and many more of today's performers claim to have
been greatly influenced by Bob Wills.
What started as a son's gift to his father has now become his legacy
enjoyed by thousands.
Thank you, Perry!
.