Carolyn’s Blog
A state permitting clear perception and understanding; the area that may be seen distinctly or resolved into a clear image.

Hello everyone! Glad you stopped by!

carolyn
This blog is one of my favorite things about our Web site because it’s a way for me to talk to you like you were right here. Visit here often for the latest updates on what’s going on with 3RF Arts and Three Rivers Ballroom.

What’s New

If you haven’t checked this blog recently, you haven’t seen the new look of our website and this page. Expect to see more changes soon and news and pictures from Bob Wills’ festivities in Turkey the last week of April. Yes, I was there to promote Three Rivers Ballroom events. This week I’m in Wichita Falls at Gloria Miers’ “Legends of Western Swing” musical festival in Wichita Falls, Texas. It’s one of the best parts of my job — going places to see friends and promote all the great things we’re doing here in Quanah, not just with events but also with our wonderful historic buildings. Things are just getting better and better. More to come . . .

Wichita Falls “Legends of Western Swing”

DSC01512Legends of Western Swing was a wonderful event as usual — great bands, great musicians, great dancers and wonderful friends. A tribute to fiddler Bobby Boatright was a touching moment for everyone. We were sorry Ray Price was unable to perform due to health reasons. Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys graciously stepped in and gave an excellent performance Thursday night. Legends producer Gloria Meiers was outstanding as usual. She and her family are all truly involved in this event. No wonder it’s always such a success.

The Three Rivers Ballroom booth, located in our usual place — next to the dance floor — drew a lot of Western Swing fans interested in our events in Quanah. Fans of Bobby Flores are especially excited about his third appearance in Quanah, the 2009 Three Rivers Cowboy Ball on Saturday, Dec. 5. The crowd in Wichita Falls really enjoyed Bobby’s time on stage there. Comments were that Bobby and his Yellow Rose Band put on exceptionally good performances in Wichita Falls. Bobby’s devotion to his fans was evident from the time he spent signing albums and posing for snapshots with admirers. Following tradition, the last day of the festival Eddy McIlvain and the Mavericks performed their customary tribute to our veterans, always an emotional moment on the last day.

This year Joel Jimenez, commander of the Disabled American Vetertans, worked in conjunction with Sheppard Air Force Base to bring busloads of young military service men and women to the event, including an honor guard to present the colors. It was a great opportunity to introduce those young people from all over the United States to Western Swing. When they volunteered for the activity, they thought they were going to help chaperone a high school dance! It didn’t take long for some of the seasoned dancers to draw all of the men and women in Air Force blue onto the dance floor.

I taught one young man how to waltz and two-step. He said, “I’m getting to where I really like this music. The only music I ever listen to is rap music.” Another one told my husband Dink that when they got back on base the others were going to be really sorry they didn’t volunteer. About 2,000 people attended the three-day Legends event. See our photo albums section for pictures. Look for Three Rivers to be back next year in Wichita Falls, and don’t miss us at the Lincoln County Cowboy Symposium at Ruidoso Downs, N. M., the second week in October.