to: Duke Davis 2000

This is an email from Gene in response to an email from Duke Davis. Gene makes a case for greater presence in the International Western Music Association (WMA). One of Davis’ emails is at the bottom of the message and was sent 22 June 2000.

Duke, 
    Thanks for your response.  I had never had any informtaion on your activities before, so I was completely unaware of your setup.
    I must say I am in complete agreement with your comments about the WMA.  I am and will, for various reasons, continue to be a performing member of the WMA, but I have many criticisms of the operation - some personal, some more objective.  As for the personal ones, I have done seminars on Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer's music for them three or four times, but when it comes to getting a spot anywhere other than some obscure stage among the half dozen they provide, I have never been able to get a shot on any of the big shows.  Quite frankly, I frequently sit there at the concerts growling in my head, "I know that I am better than (names shall not be mentioned)."  The reason given to me and several others who should have at least an occasional shot is that they only have room for the people who are nominated for awards.  And, of course, if you live in West Tennessee and are not on the regular poetry and music gatherings, no one knows who you are to nominate you.  I will blow my own horn here a moment just to let you know that there is at least SOME justification for my obvious egotism:
     For seven years, I performed, until last November, at the Casey Jones Village in Jackson, the village being one of the top ten tourist spots in the state, and sold enough CD's and tapes to make it worth the effort to make them.
     Johnny Western has frequently used some of my recordings - including some of my own compositions - on his world-wide show over the internet. (Matter of fact, I was seated next to Johnny last night at his induction into the Deejay Hall of Fame in Nashville.)
    Doug Green wanted to use one of my songs on the Riders' first Christmas tape, but he was outvoted (Heck, if Doug thinks it's good enough to go on one of their releases, who am I to argue?)
    Cindy Walker told me that my recording of DOWN IN OLD MATAMOROS, which, of course, she wrote, is her favorite recording of it.  (Old Tex recorded that one.)
   Sherry Bond, Johnny's daughter, has gone out of her way to encourage me because of her evaluation of what I do.
   I have worked Laughlin, Nevada as part of a back-up trio for Stan Corliss.
   I will stop this nonsense, because by now it has become indecently self-serving.  The only point I really wanted to make is that the only way I can figure the WMA's treatment of me is that I don't "politic" with them.  I do not in the least intend to imply that politics is the only way to be given a decent chance at the WMA.  If you are a well-known performer you are in.  If you can shamelessly promote yourself (which, despite what I wrote here, above, I simply am not cut out to do), you can get a hearing.
   So, I simply stick my toe in the water every now and then to see what venues there might be for a part-time performer whose university teaching schedule won't permit him to take off at the drop of a Stetson, but whose schedule does let him take off now and then if he knows far enough in advance.  My original inquiry was just another dip of the toe.  Thanks for your honesty.The show sounds like a really good one, and I know I would enjoy just being there.  I do have to save dates in the school year, however, for occasions when I will have an opportunity to perform.  
  All my best,
    Gene Davenport                                                                                                                                                                   At 04:17 PM 6/22/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>   Gene,   Sorry, we will resend the file in a different format. The 
>entertainment is already put together for the Cowboy Classic. This is our
>third  festival and we use the same rotation every year for this event with
>Don Edwards  and Waddie Mitchell headlining. Baxter Black has been here
>both years but can't  make it this year. Other than that, we have about
>fifteen other acts with few  changes. Me and my band, Buckshot, R.W.
>Hampton, the Desert Sons,  etc.    that competes in the rodeo,  and then we
>all do the show after the rodeo every night. This year the that  consists
>of me, Jesse Smith, Chuck Cusimano, Rod Taylor, Larry McWhorter and  Tater
>Paschal.     we never use more than two  stages.   Hope you can get a
>chance to join us. I'll have my office  resend the info soon.   Muchas
>Gracis,   Duke