Wednesday Night
Opening night shines spotlight on family

Newsboy photo/Charles Kerr THREE FOUNDING MEMBERS of the Tailor Made Band, all from Jasper, are known as "the next generation in Texas and western swing. " They will be recording a new CD live the first night of the Lions Club Rodeo, May 9, family night. Left to right: Derek Billingsley, drums;Will 'Ringo' Lewis, lead guitar; Cody Wood, upright bass.

The first night of the Jasper Lions Club Rodeo this year will once again feature the theme of "Family Night" as it will be dedicated to an old-fashioned night of family fun.

"This the night that we roll back ticket prices and we have the school vouchers for all the schools in the county to come out and enjoy a night at the rodeo," said Scott Burton, Lions Club rodeo chairman. "It's a night that is more conducive for families. We're trying to make this event for the entire family and give back more to the community. I think having a night out with your family is important and we are trying our best to do that this year."

A stick horse parade will follow the parade at the rodeo grounds at 6:30 p.m. for children ages one through eight. The stick horses will be available at Baskins and judging of the entrants will be held at the rodeo grounds.

Jasper's own Texas Swing group, the Tailor Made Band, will be recording a live CD during their opening night performance at the Lions Club Rodeo May 9.

The three founding members have played together for more than 10 years. Will "Ringo" Lewis plays lead guitar, Derek Billingsley plays drums and Cody Wood plays upright bass.

Wednesday night they will be joined by Link Davis Jr. on saxophone, Ricky Turpin with his fiddle and Robbie Primm from Shreveport playing steel guitar.

When the band played the "Spirit of the West" convention for the Western Fairs Association (WFA) in Reno, NV, in January, they were the only group out of 28 bands to earn a standing ovation and roars for encores.

"You do a show like that," Lewis said, "and you never know where it may lead." He said lots of big name musicians like Johnny Cash started out playing the WFA.

In February the group lent their talents to the Jasper County tent at Houston Livestock Rodeo and last month they played at the Diamond Jack Casino in Shreveport.

"We're the youngest Texas swing band out there," Lewis said, "so we try to put a little more drive into it to appeal to a younger crowd."

The Tailor Made Band has won five Academy of Western Artists nominations including Western Swing group of the year, album of the year, male vocalist of the year and instrumentalist of the year.