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CIMARRON NAMED BAND OF THE YEAR |
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by Jeanne travisono WORDEN --- The Big Sky Country Music Association named Worden's own Cimarron its 1999 Band of the Year at its annual benefit and awards ceremony held on Mar. 5 at the Elks Club in Billings. Cimarron is made up of Andy and and Laura Wilson, who own Dinty's Bar and Grill in Worden, and Laura's brother, Ron Garritson. "We were kind of shocked... I didn't even know we were nominated," Andy said of the award. The band specializes in three-part harmony, a la Sons of the Pioneers. "People really go wild when we sing Tumblin' Tumble Weeds," he said. The benefit is put on jointly by the Big Sky CMA and the American Legion, Yellowstone Post #4. This was their sixth year of fundraising. Last year the event raised about $3000, and Maruric Deverill, Big Sky CMA president, expects this years event will top that. Proceeds from the benefits this year will go toward Nursing scholarships. Andy Wilson likens the Big Sky CMA awards to having a Grand Ole' Opre Billings-style. The event is held annually on the first Sunday of March. Numerous band were at the benefit, where a large crowd packed the club and danced from 1 to 8 pm. Deverill estimates attendance at over four hundred people. "Band come from all over for this. We had folks in from Helena, Big Timber, Wyoming, South Dakota," as well as all around the Yellowstone Valley said Deverill. Sitting in with Cimarron at the event were Shorty Spang on drums and Benny Milks on fiddle. The Wilsons' 6-year- old daughter Nicole also sang "Could I Have This Dance." She aspires to sing and play piano with her parents someday. Andy Wilson has had the band for twenty years, with wife Laura joining him sixteen years ago. Other bands on had at the event were Cooper and the Crowd Thinners, Wishbone Cutter, Southbound, Painted Dreams, and Old Betty's Bunch, among others. Other awards include Jimmy Goodman as Musician of the Year, on steel guitar; Jimmy Dressler as " Vocalist of the Year; Pappy Ellison and Vern Miller both received Hall of Fame awards; and the Pioneer Award went to Marlin Pain. Dinty's will be holding an open jam session this Sunday, March 12th from 4 to 10 pm. |
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