FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
THE GENE AUTRY 99TH BIRTHDAY PARTY GROWS "TOO BIG FOR TIOGA, TEXAS"
Gene Autry, America's Favorite Singing Cowboy was born in 1907 in the tiny Texas town of Tioga, just a few miles from the Red River. From humble beginnings, he became, arguably, one of the most influential Western myth makers of the 20th century. As an entertainer, he preformed in 93 Western films, cut over 600 recordings, wrote or co-wrote over 300 songs and built an entertainment empire that included radio and television stations, a movie studio, a record label, theaters, and a major league baseball team (the Angels). At the height of his career he was voted the most popular entertainer in America, receiving more than 25,000 fan letters a month. His horse, Champion, received 1,000. He is the only performer with 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for each Radio, Recording, Motion pictures, Television and Live Theater Performance.
He was a Marine officer during World War II and the only officer permitted to wear cowboy boots with his uniform.
His birthday has been celebrated for the past 5 years in his home town of Tioga but, this year, according to Char Brown, a long time friend of Autry, "His party has just gotten too big for Tioga. We are expecting 30,000 people this year. Already, Gene Autry fans from Alabama, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma have made reservations to come. We even have folks from England, Ireland, Germany, Japan and Sweden calling and planning to join us".
It looks like it could become one of the great classic western festivals.
The Festival starts Friday, October 6 2006 at 9 AM with the start of the NATIONAL POLOCROSSE FINALS, with over 80 teams from across the country competing for the championship. Friday at 6:00 PM
will be A $100 PER PERSON opening night GALA, DINNER AUCTION CONCERT AND DANCE, featuring Country Music Hall of Fame member RAY PRICE and
Texas Music Hall of Fame member Gary P. Nunn and MC'ed by Will Roberts, a nationally known Will Rogers impersonator.
Saturday the festivities will continue with more POLOCROSSE eliminations. A beautiful village setting of hand painted tipis from Reese tipis of Colorado will provide a background for Indian Singers and Dancers representing 4 different tribes and a demonstration of military maneuvers of the period, by the 1870's Horse Cavalry Unit from Fort Hood, Texas. The Tioga Bulldog Band will play the "National
Anthem" for the flag raising ceremony at noon.
COWBOYS OF COLOR, the largest multicultural Rodeo tour in the country, highlights the important contributions of African-Americans, Asians, Hispanic and Native Americans to the sport of Rodeo and the settling of the American west. Hall of Fame member, CLEO HEARN, roping and TIMMY BROOKS, a Bill Picket style bulldogger will be featured along with the BUFFALO SOLDIERS.
The SAN ANTONIO CHARRO ASSOCIATION, the oldest of it's kind in the US, will present highlights of a Mexican Rodeo, featuring Sergio Avila, champion fancy roper from Mexico City. Side saddle riding young girls, dressed in traditional "Adelita" costumes from the from the1917 Mexican Revolution, will ride "escaramouz" military drills.
Horse whisperer, JODY CUNNINGHAM, will work his magic with horses. There will be team roping, CUTTING HORSE demonstrations, working sheep dog demonstrations, dog agility competitions, Washer tossing, Gunfighters, Stage coach riders, and precision and trick riding from Weatherford, Texas's COWGIRL CHICKS.
100 juried ARTIST and CRAFTSMEN from the Texas Arts and Crafts Foundation (recognized as one of the finest in the nation) and the world renown, TULSA INDIAN MARKET, will offer their unique creations for sale.
There will be continuous music and dance from the 3 stages starring true country legends like RAY PRICE, GARY P. NUNN, RAY WYLIE HUBBARD, HANK THOMPSON and the BRAZOS VALLEY BOYS, DARRYL McCALL, JOHNNY BUSH, JUSTIN TREVINO, THE LONE STAR BLUEGRASS BAND,
the legions of fans of THE SONS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN and DON EDWARDS will be delighted to hear they will be preforming on both Saturday and Sunday during the festival along with KR WOOD'S Chuck wagon Review and Oklahoma yodeler, Paul Ballinger.
Three new performers who are receiving RAVE reviews are JAMES HAND, just back from his triumphant European tour, a WILLIE NELSON discovery, PAULINE REESE, and fresh from the GRAND OLE OPRY and the LINCOLN CENTER,
"the Belles of Burleson, Texas", the QUEBE SISTERS, with a sound described as a cross between Bob Wills and the Andrew Sisters.
MARIACHI AGUILAR and the FOLKLORIC DANCERS from north Texas University and TWU will
preform daily.
A CHUCK WAGON cook-off representing 10 local ranches will prepare a meal fit for a king to allow festival to experience the true flavor of Texas.
The CHILDREN'S AREA will feature agricultural and educational exhibits, a petting zoo, pony rides, games and a birthday party with cup cakes to decorate and the singing of " Happy birthday Gene Autry".
Sunday's festivities will begin with an authentic "Cowboy Church" service at 9 AM until noon with great Gospel music. In addition there will be a limited number of commercial exhibits, displays of cows, Bulls, horses and sheep. The SOUTHFORK RANCH will abound with plenty of photo opportunities. Visitors will even be able to have their picture taken on a gentle longhorn steer named "BUCKWHEAT".
Admission to The Gene Autry 99th Birthday Festival is $10, Children 12 and under FREE
