Western music show slated for Friday

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By Linda Parker

Special to The PREVIEW

The Community United Methodist Church will host a western music show tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. The program will be held in the church sanctuary. The show will feature locals Beth and Bill Filliowich and is guaranteed to get your feet tappin’ and your hands a-clappin’.

“So, what is western music?” you ask.

At one time, the phrase “country and western” was used to describe a type of popular music of the day that was accompanied with guitars, steel guitars and a bass. However, in 1961, western music broke away from country music, becoming its own music genre. Western music is the music of the land and the settlers who came west to make a new life for themselves. It is the folk music of the western lifestyle and the early songs were, for the most part, by and about cowboys. Many people who hear western music for the first time comment that they love it because they can understand the words and the music makes them want to sing along. As luck would have it, there will be two sing-along sections for the audience.

This wonderful evening of the music of our western heritage will bring the audience back to their roots, reminding them of the pioneers who forged their way to the west and, in doing so, brought with them a wealth of music that still touches our hearts today. Familiar tunes such as “Shenandoah,” “I’ve Got Spurs that Jingle, Jangle, Jingle” and “Happy Trails” will put a smile on everyone. The music will remind us of a way of life that contributed to the development of our state, which, in many ways, has not changed. There are those among us who still live the “cowboy way” and live by the “code of the West,” the unwritten rules that center on hospitality, fair play, loyalty and respect for the land.

So grab your hat, put your boots on and join us tomorrow night for this unforgettable musical evening. Admission to the show is free, but your donations will be gratefully accepted.