Saturday, April 30, 2011

Amazing New Musical Talent - The Ben Miller Band

The Ben Miller Band




I just found The Ben Miller Band on Amazon.com. last night.  They are a fresh new talent and their music resonates witht the music I grew up with in Deadwood SD and radio station KDSJ.  Listen to them and see what you think.  Make sure to download the free MP3 single "Cow Eyes" at the end of article.


The Ben Miller Band is made up of three very different musicians. Ben Miller (slide guitar, lead vocals) began his musical career on the streets of northern europe playing his distinctive delta-blues slide guitar for passers-by. He built an impressive collection of folk songs and original material as well as honing his distinctive performance style. Combine that with the home grown musical mad scientist Scott Leeper (washtub bass, backing vocals). He began his musical career at the age of ten, wowing audiences playing pop music in his family's band "The Leepers". Later he toured with delta-blues hero Lightnin' Boy Malcom, and also made a name for himself as a truly astounding one man band. To complete this trio of musicians comes Doug "Cap't Washboard" Dicharry (washboard, drums, trombone, backing vocals). As a air force brat growing up he assimilated an array of musical styles and attidudes. Moving every 4 years throughout the globe his one constant was music, from playing with punk, ska, and progressive noise bands to school marching bands. The three met in Joplin Missouri at open mic nights that Ben was running. The three naturally gravitated towards each other feeding off of their shared interests as well as their different influences. They have been relentlessly gigging 5 nights a week for over 3 years crafting a tight, dynamic yet amazingly original sound. At this time they have weekly gigs at: Blackthorn Pizza in Joplin on Tues.



This home grown, make shift instrument band with new raw talent will become famous in the future. 


Friday, April 8, 2011

Deadwood's Days of ’76 Committee to enter Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame


-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --
Deadwood's Days of ’76 Committee
to enter Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame

DEADWOOD (4/8/2011) - Deadwood’s Days of ’76 Rodeo award list continues to grow. This time, though, it’s an award that recognizes the work behind the scenes. The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame this week voted the Days of ’76 committee into its doors. The official induction ceremony will be held July 16 at Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Days of ’76, with its consecutive string of “Best Medium Outdoor Rodeo of the Year” awards, has been a staple of Deadwood’s summers for nearly 90 years. The committee members’ work in coordinating the five-day event, with both rodeos and parades, and their commitment to the sport of rodeo helped them make it into the Hall of Fame. The committee is also a 13-time winner of the Badlands Circuit Rodeo of the Year Award – annually since 1998 – and prize money has increased 600 percent over the last 20 years.

“This is definitely humbling. The Days of ’76 committee works year-long to bring the best event to Deadwood, and it is always nice to be recognized. But this is something we truly were not expecting, and it’s truly an honor to be selected into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame,” said Jon Mattson, a Days of ’76 committee for more than 30 years. “We continue to have a strong connection with professional rodeo, and when our new $5.5 million Days of ’76 Museum opens next year, we will have a PRCA Room to help us show it.”

With the Black Hills as a backdrop, the log grandstands, historic parades and Wild Bill Hickok pageantry that go with the rodeo, the Days of ‘76 Rodeo has been a favored destination for generations of rodeo contestants.

“This committee has worked tirelessly to improve, add more money and give the cowboys and fans the best show possible,” said Clint Johnson, four-time world champion saddle bronc rider and Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inductee.

The Days of ’76 Committee will be inducted during a ceremony on July 16 at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs. The 18-person Days of ’76 committee along with Deadwood dignitaries will be on hand for the celebration, which includes a Cowboy Ball, the Commissioner’s Classic Team Roping and a special rodeo.

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a committee of former contestants, PRCA officials and rodeo experts. More than 150 individuals are nominated each year, and selection is based on contributions to the sport of professional rodeo in any of seven categories: contestant, contract personnel, stock contractors, rodeo committees, livestock, media, notables and lifetime achievement.

Other inductees in 2011 include the late three-time World Champion cowboy Burel Mulkey, two-time World Champion Bareback Rider Lan LaJeunesse, PRCA Chairman of the Board and longtime San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Keith Martin and the late three-time PRCA Bucking Horse of the Year War Paint, trick rider/roper J.W. Stoker.

Including this year’s inductees, 221 people, 26 animals and 17 rodeo committees have been selected for enshrinement in Colorado Springs since the Hall opened in 1979.

More information on the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame can be found at  www.prorodeohalloffame.com.

-1876-

Media Contact:
Lee Harstad, Deadwood Chamber
(605) 578-1876
(605) 920-0537 (cell)
lee@deadwood.org

Deadwood City Library - 4/08/2011 USA Today "10 great places where libraries turn a page"

Forget stereotypes about libraries: You're now more likely to find art exhibits, lounge chairs and free Wi-Fi. Monday April 11, 2011 marks the start of National Library Week, but visitors don't need an excuse to visit. "It's a place where stuff happens," says Rebecca Miller of Library Journal magazine. She shares 10 favorite locations with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.

Deadwood, South Dakota

Deadwood City Library

Industrialist Andrew Carnegie financed thousands of public libraries in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many are still in use, like this building on the Western plains, which has a strong local history collection. "The main reason to go there is to step into an old classic library," Miller says. "It's an outpost for contemplation and quiet for a town that's pretty touristy and kind of wild still." 605-578-2821; web site dwdlib.sdln.net; email  dwd@sdln.net


See complete  USA Today Article

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Priceless Reunion Video of Patsy Cline "She Got You" ~ Contributor JanetT

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Doris Day and Howard Keel - The Black Hills Of Dakota

Man, just look at all of the Hilljacks** riding along in that wagon and singing their hearts out for the Black Hills of Dakota. Kinda makes you wish you had never left doesn't it?


Jim Hennen


Jim's Comment:


Glad you liked it, Dick. My little note that I wrote was intended for a couple of neat folks that came up here from Colorado about 16 months ago and found work here. They had owned a summer home here in our development for about 9 years and then made it their permanent home. He joked about his not being able to adjust to the Hilljacks** around here and they just did sell their home here and are moving back to CO. He is down there now at his new job and his wife is staying until her job is done in Rapid City. She is coming over for supper tomorrow night. We are sure going to hate to see them leave. Really nice people. He will be 65 years old this year but can't seem to settle down. I guess they move about every 5 years or so.

The blog looks great and I'm sure many of the old DHS folks around the country will get a kick out of it. I did send it to Kurt Machler just for fun.


**Hilljacks . . . an impoverished person living in a remote rural area; a hillbilly ; "with the hilljacks" -used to indicate a person who lives far away from his/her group of friends.



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