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Dick Damron
3 October 2009
Calgary, Alberta


Credits:
Bentley Museum Society

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Entertainment
In early days it seems like many of the men were capable of playing the fiddle or the guitar and many of the women were able to play the piano and the organ. When the families got together there was always someone who would bring along a fiddle or guitar so they could sing and dance. These musicians made it possible for people to get together, and enjoy the music. This music accompanied with singing and dancing was a very important part of our early history. Life could be lonely during the long, cold winters and a house party or dance gave them a chance to socialize with their friends and neighbors.
Before power was installed, these buildings were lit with gas lamps hung from the ceiling and were heated with wood and coal heaters. Dances were popular weekend outings. People walked, rode horses or came in wagons as not many had cars. The roads weren’t the greatest for travelling. Music was usually provided by "pick-up" groups of local musicians.
At early dances, the local customs and protocol would see the ladies seated along one wall, while the gentlemen lounged along the opposite wall. When the music started, the gentlemen had to dance at least once with each lady in attendance. The only reason a lady would refuse to dance was if the apparent sobriety of the gentleman was questionable.
This may have depended on how much hospitality he had shared with friends out by the rig of transportation where a bottle or two had been stashed. There was no drinking inside the hall. After all, it was a family affair. Sleepy little ones rolled up in coats or blankets and bedded down up on the stage, out of harm’s way. On occasion it did happen that a bundled up sleeping babe arrived home in the wrong household. Panic ensued until mothers and babies were matched up again.
Entertainment wasn’t always within the hall. Arguments about almost anything could be settled by a good rousing fist fight with friend or foe; it didn’t usually matter. It may have been a disagreement over who was going to squire a pretty girl home, but when all was said and done, it was expected that the girl would "go home with the guy what brung her!"
You can’t talk about musicians in this area without talking about the Damrons. Mabel Damron (Mrs. N.T. Damron) was a pianist and organist. In the 1920’s she sometimes played background music for the silent movies. The pianist would be required to match the music to the movie, changing the tempo and volume as needed. Mabel also played the organ at church. At one time she was playing in three different churches every Sunday and going out for choir practices as well. Besides playing the organ in various churches Mabel taught piano lessons in this area for over twenty five years.
Mabel and N.T.’s sons, Dick and Bob formed a band. They played from the late 1940’s to the early 1960’s. Dick’s wife Martha accompanied them on the piano. Dick sang, played violin, steel guitar or rhythm guitar. Bob played the accordion. Howard Damron joined his brothers’ band in the 1950’s.
Bob remembers the very first time they played as a dance band. It was at Lockhart Hall. They earned a grand total of $6.00 and most of that went on expenses. At various times, Bobby Dye (lead guitar), Keith Bickerton (lead guitar) and Roger Dye (bass) played with the Damron Band. The Damron band played country music, but they could also mix it up with some of the popular music such as Elvis Presley songs.
Bob Damron recalls how the town of Bentley looked when there was a dance at the Community Hall. The streets were always crowded with vehicles and people. In later years when there were no dances the streets were quiet.
The time of local bands playing for low wages has passed. There are bands, but they are usually quite expensive. Sometimes a disc jockey is used instead. Some smaller bands and solo entertainers entertain in lounges.
Today in the Bentley area there are still musicians who often bring their guitars, fiddles or banjos along when there is a get-together, and entertain family and friends by playing and singing.
The brick building or the Wine building as we now now call it had a large hall on the west side that was used for chautauquas, dances,drama presentations, and other community activities. The Bentley Community Hall was built in 1947 and has served from the time it was built to present as a venue for different kinds of entertainmen.

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The Jones Family, ("Rose, James and Little Bando")
Bentley Museum Archives
The Bob Jones family came to the Bentley area in about 1895 (NW14-41-1W5). Rose (Mrs Fred Stevenson), Jimmie who became a chiropractor and Jobe (Little Bando). The family were great musicians and stage performers. They put on a play or a musical performance many times in Bentley, Lacombe and other towns.
The Jones’ family were stage people. Their daughter Emma, was a vaudeville performer with a stage name of "Rose Grieve". She was a wonderful musician. It is said that they had a room twelve feet square, filled with musical instruments, no two of which were the same.
When the farming did not do very well and finances were running low, Rose and her brother James would go to Edmonton and put on a few shows.
After they left Jones’Point, Rose opened a music studio in Great Falls Montana, and in Vancouver.
A Christmas Concert was held at Cummings Mill in 1900. Rose and her brothers Jobe and James put on the concert. They played very beautiful music on their violins, and in some numbers would cross bows and play on each other’s instrument. They played on tumblers of water, and did sleight of hand tricks. It was a show one might see in the heart of London, England but the audience at the mill were the most appreciative one in the world. This Christmas concert was talked about by the old timers of Bentley for years.
The Jones’ house was unoccupied for a few years. Folks going to the beach from Bentley used the house as a change room. The house was unique as inside the house was a toilet with a pit. Later a bachelor moved into the house and after a few years the house burnt down.

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Jubilee Band
The Bentley Jubilee Band began in August 1954, under the sponsorship of the Bentley Elks and the Bentley Board of Trade. There were originally about forty-five band members and five majorettes, under the leadership of the bandmaster, Jack Barrigan. They came from Bentley and other surrounding towns, villages and districts.
By 1956, the band was self-sufficient and paid its own way by charging a membership fee and marching in summer parades. By 1962 the band was able to buy uniforms. They won many awards in the parades they marched in.
The Jubilee Band took part in band festivals throughout central Alberta. The band received many honors, and many members, who competed as soloists also won awards.
In about 1971, due to declining members the Lacombe and Bentley Bands became one the Lacombe-Bentley Band.
In 1973, the Bentley Band folded.

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Kitchen Band
In the early 1950’s, the Kitchen Band was formed. Twenty-two years later some of these same ladies were still playing together. Ella Surratt played the piano but all the other instruments were home-made by ladies in the band
They performed on T.V. in Edmonton and Calgary and twice at the Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary. They also performed at hotels in Edmonton as well at many places in the Bentley area. They were even featured in an article in the ‘Family Herald’. Everywhere they went they were so well received it always gave them a new burst of enthusiasm. The band eventually disbanded but, they were still able to round up enough women to play for Bentley’s 75th Anniversary

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Dusty Lutwick
Dusty Lutwick has graduated from high school and is now employed.
During his years at Bentley School, Dusty was an active participant in many activities. He played and refereed hockey, did very well in track and field, skied, swam, curled and played horseshoes.
Although all these activities are very worthwhile, the people in Bentley really think of one thing when we hear the name, Dusty Lutwick – he can really play the fiddle!
Dusty started playing fiddle at a young age. He has entertained at many functions in the Bentley area and has competed in many ‘fiddlers’ competitions around the province.
Dusty part of the ‘Bow Fever’ band. This band consisted of Blaine Lutwick on keyboard, Randy Jones on fiddle and about eight young fiddlers between the ages of thirteen and nineteen. Bow Fever even went to Nova Scotia one summer and Dusty got to do some jam sessions with fiddlers from down east.
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Randy Jones & Blaine Lutwick
Randy Jones and Blaine Lutwick met at the Bentley Farmers Market, where Blaine was entertaining the crowd. Randy was asked to get his fiddle and join in, which he did. As they both shared a love for old time music, the two of them played together for many years. They formed a band called "The Soleshakers" which usually consisted of two or three other members. They played with so many other guitar players and drummers from all over Alberta, too numerous to mention. However, when "The Soleshakers" were booked for a function, you were sure to get Blaine and Randy.
Randy and Blaine organized the "Fiddlers Contest", which took place the weekend of the Bentley Fair and Rodeo. The "Fiddlers Contest" ran for about ten years.
As Randy Jones was teaching the fiddle, Blaine Lutwick was often used to back up young musicians when they competed. Randy and Blaine eventually got together with a group of these young fiddlers and formed a band called "Bow Fever".
Bow Fever became the main band for the Alberta Pattern Dances in Blackfalds, Alberta. It was a good union as the young fiddlers needed a place to play and the dance club needed old-time music to dance to. The band met every two weeks to practice. It involved learning new tunes, putting a program together for a show or practicing for old time dances.
The students in the band ranged in age from thirteen to nineteen. They performed for seniors, students, trade shows, fiddle contests, and dances. They played concerts in Edmonton and Calgary, performed at the Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer, and entertained at some of the Rebel’s hockey games. Bow Fever also released a CD in 2003. They mainly played Scottish, Irish, and Canadian music.
Bow Fever disbanded in 2004. The students began working or moved from the area. I’m sure they haven’t forgotten the fun they had with Blaine and Randy, as part of Bow Fever.
Blaine Lutwick still teaches piano and accompanies fiddlers when they compete in competitions. Randy Jones has moved from the area. Quite likely he is now teaching young fiddlers in another area of Alberta.

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Howard Morash
Howard started playing guitar at the age of twelve. When he was sixteen he played with a bluegrass band, and they entertained in bars.
Howard was born in Nova Scotia and in1987, Howard moved to Ontario and entertained there for seven years. From Ontario, he just kept heading west, singing and playing as he went.
When Howard first came to Bentley he played in a band called "Evening Shades". Recently Howard went on his own and is now "Just Howard". He also plays the harmonica and the banjo.

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Dick Damron
Dick Damron - you just have to mention his name in Bentley and folks pick up their ears and heads turn. Dick is Bentley’s "Pride and Joy", our "Hero". Some still see him as little Dickie, the grandson of N.T. Damron, who taught school in Bentley for years. A few remember Dick as the cute little guy that lugged a guitar to school (Grade II ) that was as big as he was.
Putting games and play aside Dick Damron was always a lover of music. Dick participated with a dozen different groups for country dances, barn dances and parties.
For awhile now, Dick has travelled to Mexico for the winters, but come summer, like the birds of Capistrano, he has been returning faithfully to us, the people of Bentley.
It has been an excellent bonus to us Bentley folk that he has remained so obliging to perform for our small town events, and he always seems so pleased to play and sing for us. So, keep your eyes open Dick will soon be back from the south, he always waves and says hello It is just like he has never left. We are always so glad to have him back.
Dick Damron has made a name for himself in wide circles, Canada, United States and many parts of the world. Dick is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and banjoist. He was heard early in his career in both country and rock bands, including the Musical Round-Up Gang (on CKRD radio in Red Deer) and the Nightriders. Dick experimented with many musical styles in the country field: ‘outlaw’, ‘hockey tonk’, and gospel. Over a recording career spanning thirty plus years he has recorded more than twenty-five albums, receiving numerous country music awards, and been inducted into the International Country Music Hall Of Fame, in Beaumont, Texas.
In addition to his music career Dick has two new books on the go and he has also published a novel and an autobiography.
Throughout the years Damron has performed at many notable shows and venues, including the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville (1972). He also toured Europe many times throughout the seventies and eighties, the highlight being a performance at the Wembley International Country Music Festival in London, England. Canadian performances include appearances on Canadian television, a concert at the Calgary Stampede, as well as numerous other performances in clubs, concerts, festivals and fairs.
Bentley’s Dick Damron is described by some as "Canada’s Legendary Country Music Gentleman Outlaw". EPS Entertainment, in association with "The Producers Limited, put together, "Countryfied" , a Tribute Concert for Dick Damron on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the Deerfoot Casino in Calgary, Alberta. One bus and a motorhome went down from Bentley. There were also many people who drove down in their own vehicles.
Entertainment was supplied by Charlie Pride, Ronnie Prophet, George Hamilton lV, Carroll Baker, Gary Fjellgaard, The Good Brothers, Michelle Wright, Joan Kennedy, Glory Anne Carriere, Patricia Conroy, Julian Austin, Beverly Mahood and of course Dick Damron, himself.
Dick Damron presented a new award -"The Dick Damron Award". It was presented to Chris LeBlanc. Chris said he felt honored to be the first recipient of this award.
Dick Damron, an Albertan who has won multiple awards across the globe - a man who has recorded thirty CD's written more than five hundred songs, some of which have been recorded by the biggest names in country music is very worthy of this special tribute.
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Wild West Willie
Wild West Willie is a quiet, well-mannered pet that belongs to Doug Rogers and his family who live in the Bentley Area. Willie however, isn't your average pet. He is a four-year-old cross-bred Brahma steer weighing in at about 2,200 pounds. Now that is a lot of pet! Doug purchased Wild West Willie from Tim Edwards of Vanscoy, Saskatchewan in October of 2004.
Prior to becoming an Albertan, Willie appeared in a TV movie called "Back to the West". It was filmed in Longview, Alberta in the fall of 2004. He also starred in a Ford TV commercial that same fall. Willie is trained to ride, drive and bow down.
Since Willie's arrival in Alberta he has been in a TV commercial for the Calgary Stampede. This aired on June 15, 2004. Willie and Doug won "Best Western Theme" in the Calgary Stampede Parade that same year and were viewed by about 400,000 along the parade route. Not only was Willie viewed by these people but by about 35 million more people when it aired on television worldwide. Willie was also in the Ponoka Stampede Parade, the Ponoka Stampede Rodeo Challenge for Handicapped Children and the Lacombe Daze Parade. In August of 2005, Daniel, Doug's son rode Wild West Willie in the Bentley Parade, accompanied by Doug.
In the Ponoka Parade, "Fat Cat" representing Community Savings Credit Union rode Willie. In order to prepare for this, for at least a week prior to the parade, Doug dressed as the" Fat Cat" each and every time he fed or worked with Willie. Willie took the new rider and handler all in stride.
Doug says Willie is a very calm and friendly guy. Doug and his family have a lot of fun with him and he really turns heads. They look forward to being in more parades and doing special advertising for companies and organizations.