The 24th Annual Montana Cowboy Gathering & Western Music Rendezvous
Lewistown, Montana
August 14-16 2009
Now, this is how entertainers should be treated!  Lewistown sure knows how to put on a bash.

"Put yer name down here if you wanna give an example of your work tonight", Lloyd McKenna said as he passed a list to Owen Badgett who was sitting next to me.

Owen laughed and said, "I put down your name, Mike" and he passed the board to Mike Logan who gave it back and pointed to me. "Give these Canadian folks a chance at it".

So I put my name down. Then I passed it over to Lloyd Dolen who signed up for Double Diamond and then passed it on to Ken Blacklock who signed up before the Montcrieffs signed.

I figgered that if I'm gonna make a splash down here I best hit the stage with all guns blazing (some advise Doris Daley gave me the first time we were down there) and I hit'em with the "Mule and the French Horn" story.

Well, now that brought that crowd to its senses and they was wiping tears from their eyes and trying to catch their breath while asking each other, "He calls himself Ol' What??"

Now the MC is on his feet and asking, "Now, who would want to try to follow that?"

Ha, little did they know that Jim Peace, Graham Allen, and Lloyd Dolen had their instruments loaded and primed. Before they were done the crowd knew they had some real musicians in the program this year. They were an instant hit.

But we weren't finished. Babbette and Clayton Montcrieff give em another lesson in old time western music and the cry was going up that the Canadians was in town. But they still had Ken Blacklock to closed 'er out for us and he showed them a slice of his quick draw poetry. That had that crowd buzzin' for sure.

It never stopped. All weekend it was go, go, go!

Even though Ken wasn't on the program the organizers gave him spots and though I only caught fleeting glimpse of him he seemed as happy as I've seen him this year . . . as a smatter of fact this is the first time I have seen him this year. Ken where have you been???? You'll have to get that story from him, but he sure has been getting an education in this entertainment business.

I only saw a few glimpses of Double Diamond, but I did get a good look at their picture on the front page of the "Lewistown News-Argus". Yah, our very own members of the ACPA was front page news!

But I was kinda busy myself with three shows on Friday and then one on Saturday. But that one on Saturday sure threw me into a bit of a dither. Those fans don't beat around the bush.

I sat up close to the front and I was talking to Steve Hughes from the High Line of Montana and not paying attention to what was happening behind me. The MC got on the stage and he started explaining his song and a fella in the audience yell, "Don't be going on, Tom. Sing your damn song because we never came to see you, we came to see that Ol' Ugly fella from Canada".

Tom just moved over and said, "I've been told. Get at 'er Ol' Ugly".

I did and when I turned around the dang room was packed. I told them I was a member of the ACPA. They listened polite like but one of them started fidgetin' with his gun. I think he thought I was one of them Liberals trying to sell them on medicare. But I got them straightened out. They said tell us the "Mule" story. So I did then I told them about "Aunt Tilley" and then about "Emma". Then they said. Okay Tom you can play your mouth organ now.

Talk about performing under pressure!!!

On Sunday when I was checking out of the hotel, Ken was still around somewhere. I think I saw him talking to a couple of guys in the restaurant. Double Diamond was long gone for Canada and work.

The hostess asked my name and I told her, but said, "They just call me Ol' Ugly".

The cowboy standing there said, "I might as well not even brought my books to that book store this year because the customers had eyes only for your CDs". He stuck out his hand and said, "Howdy, my name is Wallace McRae". Wallace McRae!!! He wrote that poem "Reincarnation", "Boot Shopping", and "Urban Daughter". He's famous and he's talking to me!!!

Then he says, "What did you think of Baxter Black last night?"

I said. "I love watching and listening to guys like Baxter Black. Guys like Baxter Black set the bar high and say jump fer it, "He's a real entertainer".

Wallace said, "So are you!" and a hand patted me on the back and a voice said, "You bet you are!" I turned around and there was Baxter Black ... with his hand on my shoulder. Baxter Black!!!

My wife said, "John, clean the fog off your glasses; close your mouth and smile cause I want a picture of you three together. And she did take it.

My wife said I was so high in the clouds that I didn't even realize we drove through a violent thunder storm coming across the Judith Basin. Yes, I did because that is the first time in my life that I saw four jolts of chain lightning side by side take up the whole view in front of me. I'm not fussy about seeing it again.

Then the great news was waiting there when I got home. Jim Peace emailed me to tell me they received a call from Lewistown inviting them back to be the opening act for the night show!! Main Stage!! Man, how do you spell perfect!!!

Though I tell this story in my own way, all the facts and the people I talk about are true. We were treated very well in Lewistown and we met many people who will become friends in the long run.

by Ol' Ugly