By BOBBIE GREEN
The Progress
This 16th annual Western Roundup, held in Mesquite last weekend was as popular as ever. Friday night’s performance was close to a complete sellout, with a very enthusiastic audience.
Under the Direction of Russ Westwood, the event’s lineup was well worthy of admiration.
A genuine western charmer, known as “America’s Western Sweetheart” was Belinda Gail. Raised in the Sierra Nevada foothills, her love of western music comes as natural as her beautiful voice. Her singing was full of personality and yodeling, that makes her a favorite. Yet she chose to open her act with “Shenandoah,” sung a capella. Gail ended her second act singing “Amazing Grace” also a capella to a very impressed audience.
A newcomer to the roundup, Robin Arnold, offered a treat to the audience. He has been singing and playing music for 45 years. He intrigued the crowd with his renditions of silver-screen cowboy songs. Arnold also did impressions of artists such as Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, even Elvis.
Arnold is now a Mesquite snowbird. Hopefully we will see and hear more of him.
“I hope to be back in the Western Roundup,” Arnold assured. “This is a well-arranged show.”
Cowboy poets Russ Westwood, Kathy Smith, Steve Campbell, Jim Parsons, Bruce Bugland, Farrel Bott, and Robin Arnold captivated their audience with tales of cowboy wisdom, and down-home humor.
We will not soon forget Steve Campbell’s recitation of “The Outhouse;” nor Farrel Bott’s “Oysters.”
Kathy Smith based her poems on true life characters she has known.
“The show captured the old west beautifully,” said attendee Rhonda Hardcastle who came with her husband Kip.
Lynda Ferreira said, “I have enjoyed every one of these entertainers.”
The show’s Master of Ceremonies was Ron Miller. He reminded the audience of Westwood’s hard work getting the roundup together and the sponsors who made it possible. These included Desert Gold Realty and Eureka Casino Resort. He also added praise and thanks to all the stage hands, theater workers and the Mesquite Showgirls.
