I grew up in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma right outside of Tulsa. I remember hitching a ride into Tulsa on Saturday nights with my older brothers to go dancing at Cain's Ballroom on Archer Street at the tender age of 14. My mother always had KVOO radio tuned in when I was growing up and the western swing music filled the house. I was ranch manager for True Ranch, Broken Arrow, OK in the late 1980's booking Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn, Clint Black and The Turkey Mountain Troubadours among others for dances following the True Ranch Rodeos.

I was also co-owner, along with Joyce Miller, of Big Balls of Cowtown, a western swing nightclub in the Fort Worth Stockyards from 1997 to 2003. I booked all the greatest western swing bands I could, hoping to draw attention once again to western swing music.

I am co-founder, along with Joyce Miller, of Cowtown Society of Western Music and Hall of Fame Museum in Mineral Wells, Texas.

In 2002 I was named an Honorary Hero of CSWM.

I was a disc jockey, along with co-host, Joyce Miller, at KBEC in Bridgeport, Texas for two years doing radio show every Saturday from 1-5 called the Honky Tonk Therapy Show.

I am currently serving my second term as President and Board Member of Cowtown Society of Western Music.

I have always been interested in western music and memorabilia. Growing up in Muskogee, Oklahoma I remember Leon McAuliffe playing steel guitar on TV live from Tulsa.

I was co-owner along with Gary Beaver, of a western swing night club in the Fort Worth Stockyards called Big Balls of Cowtown for seven years until 2003. We booked some of the finest western swing and western music talent in the world at the club. In 1998, Gary Beaver and I co-founded Cowtown Society of Western Music to promote and preserve western music. The Society's mission is to educate the public about western music by organizing special events such as music festivals, dances, seminars, etc. We also started the Cowtown Society of Western Music Museum and Hall of Fame, orginally located in the Stockyards in Fort Worth, but currently presiding in Mineral Wells, Texas.

In 2002 I was named an Honorary Hero of CSWM.

For two years, Gary and I were disc jockeys of a radio program on KBEC in Bridgeport, Texas called the Honky Tonk Therapy Show that aired every Saturday from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. I am still very involved in promoting western music as Treasurer and Board Member of the Cowtown Society of Western Music.

Jerry Tatum

• Born and raised in West Texas Oil Patches of the 40's and 50's.
• Was influenced by Radio Cowboy Music and Western Swing Bands of the Pre-T.V. era. (Saw my first Hoyle Nix Concert at the Snyder, Texas VFW Hall in 1954.)
• Began my own performing in 1955 and retired from same in 1995 due to health reasons.
• After retiring from the City of Haltom City (1997), went to work for Craig's Music,Inc. in Weatherford, Texas, where I currently hold down the chair in the Acoustic Room.

Bob Bone: Professional Career Highlights

• 1963-64: Trinanon Ballroom, Oklahoma City, House Band Member
• 1965-67: Panther Hall, Ft. Worth, House Band Leader
• 1967-68: Tony Douglas and the Shrimpers, Band Member
• 1971: Bill Mac and the Midnight Cowboys, Band Leader
• 1972-76: Formed and led the Sundowners band
• 1976: Toured with Jerry Max Lane
• 1977-88: Toured with Dick Hammonds, former front man for Ray Price
• 1988-92: Cattle Baron Steak House, Ft. Worth, House Band Leader
• Current: Chuck Curtis’ Western Swing & More, Band Member
• Durwood Strube’s Best Texas Band, Member
• Texas Express Band, Member

• 2004 CSWM Disc jockey of the Year
• 2004 CSWM Hall of Fame
• 2004 Academy of Western Artists Disc Jockey of the Year
• 2007 WSMSS Western Swing Music Promoters Hall of Fame
• 2005-2007 Western Music Association - Board of Directors
• Artist Promotions: Backforty Bunkhouse Productions
• Artist CD Distribution: Backforty CD Chorale
• Publisher: Backforty Newsletter
• Website: www.BackfortyBunkhouse.com
• Hometown: Mineral Wells, Texas

Served as master of ceremonies for hundreds of events and festivals over the years. With his previous experience in media and promotions, Joe brings to the Cowtown Society of Western Music the know-how and positive creativity to make things happen. With his weekly Backforty Bunkhouse Show, which airs live on two 100,000 watt stations and covers all of New Mexico and West Texas, he plays only western swing, Texas honkytonk, cowboy music and poetry; it is his way of promoting and preserving our western culture. Joe's goal for the CSWM is to become "the" society for western music recognized throughout the world.

• Hometown - Big Spring, Texas
• 1964 graduate: Sul Ross State University with a degree in mathematics.
• 1958-1974, Played bass guitar in various bands.
• 1974-1992, Played bass guitar in Tommy Lucas' & the Desperados Band (Not to be confused with Ted Scanlon & the Desperados).
• Present Occupation: Mathematics teacher at Big Spring High School

Webmaster for the following artist's and organization's websites...

West Texas Country		Backforty Bunkhouse		CSWM
Brady Bowen		Johnny Johnson		Jody Nix
Dugg Collins		Gil Prather		Joe Johns
Jerry Webb		Trey Austin		J R Dunn
WSMBA		Lone Star Troubadours

With over 50 years experience as a country / western swing musician and his knowledge of computer technology/web design, Howard brings to CSWM a mixture of western music culture combined with 21st century technology. His goal is to continue his past work in preserving and promoting our western heritage by presenting CSWM to the Web Community in the most positive light possible.