Celebrate cowboy poetry and music at 22nd annual Rhymers Rodeer

Staff Reports

The 22nd Annual Rhymers Rodeer is Nov. 6-7 in the Carson Valley Inn's Shannon Ballroom with cowboy poetry, music, tales of the trail, stretch-the-truth yarns and good old-fashioned cowboy culture. Performing are cowboy poets Walt "Bimbo" Cheney, Rod McQueary and Janice Gilbertson. The Rush Creek Quartet provides the music and the event is hosted by McAvoy Layne as Mark Twain.

The Rhymers Rodeer weekend includes a cocktail show on Friday, an open mic session on Saturday morning and a dinner show Saturday night. The Friday show is $25 with no-host cocktails at 6:30 p.m. and the show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday dinner show is $50 with no-host cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:15 p.m. and show time at 7:45 p.m. An open mic session is 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Rhymers Rodeer ticket and hotel reservation information available at www.cvinn.com or through the Carson Valley Inn Sales Department, 783-6679. Advance ticket purchases advised.

Performers in the 22nd annual Rhymers Rodeer

Host and emcee. McAvoy Layne is known throughout the western states for presenting the wit and wisdom of Mark Twain, the wild humorist of the Pacific slope. McAvoy's satire and humor complement the poetry and songs of the other performers.

Cowboy poets:

Janice Gilbertson is a three-time performer at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko and was recently awarded a Spur Finalist Award from the Western Writers of America for her poem "Sometimes in the Lucias." Her poem, "Maybe It's Your Callin'" is displayed in the May/June issue of I M Cowgirl Magazine. Gilbertson has been riding horses all her life and currently rides for a mounted search and rescue unit, takes reining lessons and trail rides wherever she can.

Walt "Bimbo" Cheney began writing poetry 40 years ago, behind bucking chutes in rodeos. Almost 30 years ago, when he and other cowboys had a day off, they would gather at a park in Elko and tell each other their poems. He has been a part of all 25 National Cowboy Poetry gatherings in Elko and has recited and performed throughout the country. A poet, a philosopher, and a Western storyteller, Bimbo's poems transcend their settings, relating to people of all ages and all walks of life. His poem "Quakie Braille," which he wrote after visiting the scene in a recurring dream, is fast becoming a cowboy poetry standard - written by a cowboy, with a cowboy setting, it illustrates the universal appeal of cowboy poetry.

Rod McQueary is best known for his wry humor and was once a featured cowboy poet on the Johnny Carson Show. He is most proud of his collaboration with fellow Vietnam vet Bill Jones and their volume of poems, "Blood Trails." McQueary has worked on music videos and a film called "Cowboy Stories." He wrote a syndicated newspaper column, his poems have been included in many anthologies, and he toured Great Britain in 1995 with three other poets (including his wife) as the U.K. Year of Literature and Writing.

Cowboy music by Rush Creek. The band is Randy Pollard, John McLain, Paul Carelli and Charlie Edsall.

Randy Pollard has been thrilling crowds with his championship fiddling around Sierra campfires or on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for more than three decades. Polland twice earned the title of Grand Masters Champion in Nashville, a feat only three others have achieved, which earned him two appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Pollard's titles include the 1986 Grand National Champion, 5-time California State Champion, and 4-time Nevada State Champion.

John McLain sings and plays from the heart. With his yodeling and smooth as Tennessee whiskey voice, he sings you a story and you'd hear sitting around a campfire. In 1992, McLain and Pollard began playing as a duo in the Reno, Carson City and Lake Tahoe. Previously, McLain sang lead for the Nevada Band and performed for events including the Governor's Inaugural Ball and Nevada Day chili feeds.

Paul Carelli excels with guitars, shotguns and Navy jets. Carelli taught himself to play guitar in 1977 and has performed with many bands, on land and at sea. Carelli spends much of his time flying Navy jets, teaching other aviators how to fly and guiding pilots to a safe landing on a "floating postage stamp," aka aircraft carrier.

Charlie Edsall began playing guitar at the age 9 and also plays bass and banjo. As a writer, his "Cold Virginia Rain" is on "Bluegrass Prime Cuts, Vol. 69" from Pinecastle Records, and has been recorded by Josh Williams and performed by Rhonda Vincent & The Rage on the Grand Ole Opry. Edsall performed and toured with Feather River, High Strung and Ron Spears & Within Tradition.