Death Valley '49ers Encampment Photos

Art Show    Costume Contest    Cowboy Poetry    Coyote Howl    Gospel Sing    Parade
Hootenanny Breakfast    Horseshoe Contest    Wagons Arrive    Pampered Pets
Wheelbarrow Race    Entertainers    Golf Tournament    4X4 Tours

Master of Ceremonies  Mr. Ken Graydon
Ken is a true desert orator, whether it's Death Valley songs, stories, cowboy or western poetry, Mr. Graydon is sure to bring back fond memories of an earlier time.     Ken, as well as his wife Phee, have their hearts firmly planted in the music & history of Death Valley, for both are Past Presidents of the Death Valley '49ers Organization.

Chaparral
Johnny  Blankenship,   Don  Richardson   &   Harvey  Walker, individually and collectively have performed with some of the biggest names in the music industry: Roy Rogers, Sons of the Pioneers, Riders in the Sky, Marty Robbins to name just a few. Their music has taken them from coast to coast and around the world. Death Valley & CHAPARRAL go together like sand & sun. listen

Sourdough Slim
Audiences will step back in time with an authentic vaudeville-style cowboy in the Will Rogers tradition. Sourdough Slim is a veritable “one-man Western extravaganza,” crooning Western classics, playing accordion, harmonica and guitar, dancing a jig, twirling a lariat and letting loose with award-winning yippee-ti-yi-yodeling. A favorite entertainer at cowboy gatherings and county fairs around the country, he’s also played the big time, wowing audiences at venues including Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. This show promises to be a rollicking good time that will simultaneously amaze and delight audiences of all ages. www.sourdoughslim.com or listen at cdbaby.com

Dave Stamey
Dave Stamey has been bucked off and stomped by many horses. He has been stepped on by mules and dragged around branding pens by cattle of many sizes. He's ridden in the rain, in the snow, in the rain some more, in  pretty nasty heat, and in feedlot pens where the air was thick and decidedly fragrant. He's even wrangled dudes.

He is an entertainer now, and makes his living inflicting himself upon innocent people at music festivals, agricultural banquets and backyard barbecues. He finds he prefers this. He has been voted Entertainer of the Year, Male Performer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year by the Western Music Association, and Male Vocalist of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists. www.davestamey.com or listen at cdbaby.com

Tom Leftwich

Tom has been entertaining at the Death Valley '49ers Encampments since 1983. He performs country & western songs, tells stories, and makes people smile no matter where he happens to be performing.

Tom, is a long time Death Valley '49er and is a  Director for the Organization.
 

Southcoast ~ Don Truby & Jean Pickard

Don is a DV'49er Advisor and Jean is a DV'49er Director and together take Americana music to the crossroads of bluegrass, blues, country and folk. Their songs are a varied collection of covers and originals filled with strong rhythms, tight vocal blends, and beautiful melodies.

South Coast has performed all over Southern California over the past 5 years; featured at the Oak Glenn Mountain Music Stage, Hesperia Days, Wrightwood Mountain Music Days, and the Fireside and Camarillo Café Concert Series to name a few. www.myspace.com/mysouthcoast

Kerry Christensen
Awesome, may just be an understatement where it comes to Kerry's talents. He has mesmerized audiences throughout the Encampment with his unique ability to sing & yodel western songs as well as many Bavarian styles.  Kerry did the yodeling for the "Bad Guy" in Walt Disney's Movie 'Home On The Range", where he rustled cattle by mesmerizing them with his yodel.

www.kerrychristensen.com or listen at cdbaby.com

The Jeppson's

If your fond of a whole lot of pickin' & grinin' and enjoy Bluegrass and Dixieland then this duo have just what you're a lookin' for. Jack & Jeanette Jeppson toured with Mr. Clayton Moore (The Lone Ranger)

Rod Erickson

Rod is an internationally known yodeler and singer who has performed  with many Country & Western greats such as Marty Robbins, Mel Tillis, George Jones and has been on many radio and  television shows.

www.roderickson.com