Jay Snider

Lanny Joe Burnett, Jane Morton, Dick Morton, Doug Keller,  Michael Robinson, Phil Kennington,
Jay Snider, Byrd Woodword

Rex Allen Jr, Johnny Western

Michael Robinson, Jay Snider, Lanny Joe Burnett, Dick Morton, Jane Morton, Phil Kennington, Doug Keller

Yvonne Hollenbeck, Linda Kirkpatrick, Lanny Joe Burnett, Jeri Dobrowski, Margo Metegrano

Andy Nelson

Curley Musgrave & Belinda Gail

Curley Musgrave and the Ladies of the Longbranch

Aubree Brian

17th Annual Western Legends Round-up
by Linda Kirkpatrick

KANAB,UTAH-Surrounded by the Vermillion Cliffs, the little town of Kanab,
Utah came alive with poets, musicians and stars of the past and present in
late August.  Fifty years ago the much watched western series of Gunsmoke
made its debut on the television screen.  The Western Legends Round-up
celebrated this series with its theme," Fifty Years of Gunsmoke." Clips from
this, the longest running television dramatic series, were shown through out
the event.

This year's night show headliners were Baxter Black, Sons of the San Joaquin
and Curly Musgrave & Belinda Gail.  Baxter Black is the best selling cowboy
poet in the world.  He is a poet, an author, a syndicated columnist, radio
commentator and a right funny "feller" who has been there and done that!  He
continues the cowboy tradition from his ranch in Arizona.

The Sons of the San Joaquin hail from the Great Central Valley of
California.  Lon Hannah, plus his father and uncle, Jack Hannah and Joe
Hannah were invited to Elko in 1989.  It was then that they joined up with
Michael Martin Murphey.  They performed on his "Cowboy Songs" album and have
not stopped since.  The blend of their harmony adds a wonderful sound to
cowboy music.

The melding of the voices of Curly Musgrave and Belinda Gail is a wonder to
behold.  These two have individually and as a duo been honored with many
awards. After you have hear them sing songs like Daddy's Hat, Cowboy
Sweetheart or Cowboy True there is not a doubt in anyone's mind as to their
ability and popularity.  Together they not only sing a beautiful melody but
they also write many of the great songs that they perform.  They are a group
that is not to be missed.

Last year the crowd was entertained by the Ranch Wife Fashion Show.  The
Ranch Wife Fashion Show was the inspiration of poet Yvonne Hollenbeck. 
Models for the attire of the typical or not so typical ranch wife were local
dignitaries and actors.  Oh and did I say that they were all men?  Well,
following in this tradition and in keeping with the theme of this year's
event, The Ladies of the Longbranch made a special appearance on Thursday
night.  Once upon a time and long, long ago these were the beautiful assets
of the Longbranch but time most definitely has taken its toll on these one
time beauties.  The audience was somewhat surprised to see the results that
time or something dealt these special girls.  It was even difficult for
Curly to honor them by crooning, "You Are So Beautiful!"  These guys really
brought the house down.

Johnny Western, Rex Allen Jr., Duke Davis and Sean Blackburn also added
their singing talents to the night shows.  The night shows were emceed by
the hilarious Andy Nelson.  Andy and his brother Jim add their antics to
their Clear Out West radio show which can be heard on their website at
www.clearoutwest.com.

The Young Poets of Utah, organized by Jo Lynne Kirkwood, graced the stage on
Friday night.  The youngest poet was cute as a button in her cowboy hat and
jeans, three-year-old Aubree Brian.  It was then up to renowned poet,
humorist and entertainer Baxter Black to bring the house down and that he
did with ease and grace.  Baxter's ability to say just one word and get a
laugh is so amazing.  If he needs a rhyming word and there is not one to be
found he will just make one up which I am quite sure would have driven Mr.
Webster crazy.   There is hardly a subject in the west that Baxter cannot
address in one way or the other no matter if it is just a rope or something
as complicated duck hunters.

The Saturday night show was opened by the Paria River Band.  This local band
was very well received.  Curly Musgrave and Belinda Gail sang a wonderful
rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

The winners of the Cowboy Poetry Rodeo received their buckles, awards and
prize money during the Saturday night show.  Lanny Joe Burnett, Jane Morton,
Dick Morton and Doug Keller were first place winners in the Rising Star
division.  In the Silver Buckle division, Mike Robinson, Phil Kennington and
Jay Snider were the top winners, with Jay winning two events.  Read more
about these folks in the Cowboy Poetry Rodeo column.

The Western Legends Walk of Fame Honorees for 2005 are James Drury, Buck
Taylor, L. Q. Jones, Penny Edwards, Johnny Western and Morgan Woodward. 
These folks have done much to preserve our western culture and heritage. 
The Walk Of Fame is Kanab's way of paying tribute to the actors and
actresses who appeared in movies and TV shows filmed in the Kanab area.

Along with workshops, Dutch oven cooking, quilting and other events it is
easy to say that this was another successful Western Legends Roundup.  For
more information check out the Western Legends site at:
www.westernlegendsroundup.com