Dolan Ellis

Dolan Ellis is Arizona's Official State Balladeer

Dolan Ellis has been Arizona’s Official State Balladeer since 1966. He has traveled more than a million miles throughout the length and breadth of our state, getting to know the unique people and out-of-the-way places most of us never see, then writing songs about these people and places. Along the way he has taken thousands of professional-quality photographs to illustrate his music. Come and hear just a few of the hundreds of ballads Dolan has written in his career as Arizona’s Balladeer "Arizona is more than a state...it's a state of mind".

Please consider donating to help save the Salt River wild horses.  The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) is a non-profit organization 501(c)3, dedicated to monitor, study and protect the Salt River wild horses in the Tonto National Forest, Arizona. We use all of our resources and connections to prevent harm from coming to the Salt River wild horses and ensure that they will be here for future generations to enjoy.
​There are links to donate on Dolan's website front page.

Click here for a YouTube video of Orphan of the Hills
Click here for a YouTube video of Dolan performing Magic Mountain

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Gary Allegretto

American Cowboy Magazine exclaims that Gary Allegretto is "Amazing. You've never seen — or heard anything like him." Indeed, he is quite simply one of the best harmonica players you'll ever witness. As if that wasn't enough, Gary is also a remarkable singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His jaw-dropping talents have earned him an Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award, a Best of the West Award, the Blues Foundation's prestigious KBA award, two GRAMMY and eight Western Music Association Award nominations. His captivating music has charted at very the top of the Western, Blues, and Roots music radio charts. He has performed on stages around the world and as been featured on soundtracks for television and major motion pictures from Johnny Depp to Disney blockbuster productions. Gary's unique brand of music draws heavily from the very roots of Western music and his imaginative and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny songs paint pictures from his diverse life experience (including work as a ranch hand, forest firefighter, and bouncer in a couple rough honky-tonks). Don't miss a rare opportunity to witness the world's top "Harmonicowboy"!

Click here for a video of Gary Allegretto and Ian Espinoza performing Bad Man (lyrics and music by Gary Allegretto).


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P.D. Ronstadt & The Co.

Peter Dalton Ronstadt, a fifth generation Ronstadt in Tucson, Son of late Michael J Ronstadt, nephew of Linda Ronstadt, and great grandson of Federico Jose Maria Ronstadt, aims to explore the musical heritage of his family while presenting new and original material. Along with his band of Tucsonans, ‘The Company’, Petie paints a musical picture of the American Southwest by presenting music from the region, music from Mexico, collected favorites, songs of his father, and new songs that draw inspiration from all the elements of his upbringing. With a lush tapestry of instruments along with unique arrangements, enjoy a moment in time while P.D. Ronstadt & The Company take you on a musical journey that will lift spirits and stir memories.




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Simple Gifts - The Sawyer Family


Four Sawyers, fabulous fiddles, tight harmony, great guitar, sizzling mandolin, and hot trumpet all combine to give life to this exciting group - Simple Gifts - The Sawyer Family Band. Fresh, new talent is intertwined with music that has crossed generations.  

Lead by David Sawyer with a finger picking guitar style that has been noted by guitar greats.  He has toured Japan and Europe playing bass and guitar and provides the solid foundation for his family.  You might also know him as Guy With the Guitar combining his unique artwork and acoustic guitar playing.  

Leah, current National Twin Fiddle Champion and 2017 Texas State Fiddle Champion in the freshman division, adds her fiddle playing and vocals to the group.  

Young David is the reigning Crescendo Award Winner (Rising Star) with the International Western Music Association.  His addition of mandolin and trumpet inspire this band to swing.  

Kathy’s experience with the international, musical group Up With People in combination with her years of public speaking provides the heartbeat of the band connecting the audience to these gifted musicians.  

The special chemistry this family brings to the stage will draw you into their Western Swing, Cowboy Tunes, Gospel Songs and original music.  Simple Gifts will provide a thrilling show while encouraging you to think about the special gift you might have to share.
 




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Jon Chandler

Jon Chandler is a three-time winner of the prestigious Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Linwood, his moody examination of Doc Holliday’s life won the Spur for Best Song in 2009, while his tribute to Wyoming’s Hole in the Wall country, Morning Star Moon, received the award in 2012.  His novel The Spanish Peaks received the WWA’s Medicine Pipe Bearer Award (Spur Award) for Best First Novel, and he was named True West Magazine’s Best Western Musician. Wyoming Wind, A Novel of Tom Horn, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award.  A seventh-generation Coloradan, Jon’s music and stories reflect his heritage, and his eight CDs, two novels, two non-fiction works and myriad short stories and nonfiction articles are collected by western lifestyle aficionados worldwide.  He hosts the iconic monthly concert series America’s Soul Live at the Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor in Arvada, Colorado.  Homage, his new recording of cover songs that have influenced his writing and singing, will be released in Summer 2019.

IWMA Youth Chapter Showcase

For the past two years, the Arizona Folklore Preserve has collected donations to support the International Western Music Association (IWMA) Youth Chapter. During that period we have given the group over $7,000 as well as a number of donated musical instruments. This year we hope to raise our total donations to over $12,000.

The IWMA Youth Chapter provides a valuable service to the Western music community by helping aspiring young Western music performers learn all the things they will need to know to become successful performers. The chapter assists these budding young performers by providing them with opportunities to get voice lessons, instrument lessons, song-writing lessons, and other instruction to provide them with the tools they need to pursue an entertainment career. It even supplies instruments to deserving young people who cannot afford to buy them.

Members of the IWMA Youth Chapter will be our performers this weekend. If you like Western music and want to keep the genre alive please support our donation drive.

Pete Ronstadt & Liz Cerepanya

About Liz & Pete
She's Liz, he's Pete, they are Liz & Pete. Liz Cerepanya and Peter Dalton Ronstadt join musical forces to explore material old and new. Liz's heartfelt voice with Pete's haunting harmonies and rich guitar arrangements captivate the mind and tug at the heart.

The History
After a few passing introductions in their shared music scene, Liz Cerepanya joined Peter Dalton Ronstadt on stage at Monterey Court in Tucson in the fall of 2019. They had had a brief opportunity to work up a couple of songs, including Rodney Crowell's Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight, and an instant musical match was realized. The  decision to make a record together was easy and quickly Liz & Pete began exploring material including the timeless songs of Alan Garr, songs of their favorite songwriters and singers, new and old compositions by Pete as well as classic songs from his father Michael Joseph Ronstadt's repertoire. Liz & Pete's natural element is just the two of them on stage accompanied by an acoustic guitar and the Pennsylvania Stompbox. But often you can find them also accompanied by Ronstadt Record's own The Co.




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Arvel Bird

Jean Prescott, Jon Messenger, and Michael Grande

Jean Prescott	Jon Messenger	Michael Grande