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He was just going in to pay for gas (again) for the Caddy, he got a newspaper and went to the counter. Then it happened. He felt someone was watching him and when he looked over, sure enough, there she was. Their eyes locked, and she sheepishly smiled. "You don't know me, but I run the fan club for the West Texas Millionaires, I'm your biggest fan, have all your albums, been to every concert, and, well, you are the greatest.
"Why...thanks" he replied, trying not to be rude but had an appointment. "I saw you at those shows but was to shy to ask for an autograph. Would you please give me an autograph?" Dan started to sweat, but took the receipt from the cashier and gave her the autograph. "Oh thank you, thank you. Oh, can I take a picture of us together from my cell phone. It would really mean a lot." Dan started to squirm at the over 60 woman started to be clingy, but went ahead and asked the cashier to take the picture. "Now I really have to go" Dan told her. "Ok, I can't wait for your next show, I cry at some of your songs." she said starting to get misty. "I'll be looking for you!" Dan blurted on the way out the door. She held the receipt to her bosom and whispered, "What a cowboy, what a dear dear cowboy"...
Elmer didn't want to be tall, he was just born that way. In school the kids made fun of him, made him feel like some kind of freak. Girls avoided him like the plague, and few if any friends took the time to be kindly. So that left him with a lot of alone time which he spent writing poetry and reading the works of Edgar Allen Poe.
He was also an accomplished ballet dancer, and used his stature to perform the most amazing leaps and bounds. He gained the respect of Paul Taylor, who was a major contributor to the New York scene in the '50's and '60's.
But his real passion was for poking cattle on his Uvalde Texas ranch. He worked hard and loved every aspect of ranching. It was Elmer that gave Dan Simonis' dad a job back in the 1950's to support his wife and family. He made a short run in politics and had good report with Beauford H. Jester, governor of Texas, pictured with Elmer above. At the time, on Saturday nights, Dan's father would play guitar for dances that Elmer hosted. That is what got Dan interested in playing guitar himself, and by the age of 12 he was an accomplished six string strummer himself. In fact, it was Elmer that loaned him the money to get his first guitar, and he played it with all his heart.
Dan says he owes everything to Elmer for getting him started. "If it wasn't for Elmer, I don't think I would have bothered playing music" Dan states. And so it is, this tall Texan that helped our very own West Texas Millionaire, Dan Simonis, wax and wane the ballads that only a cowboy could master.
Well, a road trip would not be a road trip without a CHALLENGE!!
And so it was for the West Texas Millionaires when they were just outside of Raton, New Mexico, hometown to the Band "The Fireballs", who had a number one hit in 1963 with "Sugar Shack".
The Caddy started making "noises", and the hitch on the bus needed to be re-welded. All the while Dave Rose was on the job taking pictures for a piece to be featured in National Geographic entitled, "Why We Love Cumulus Clouds." So they made it into town to get repairs and had a look over of the town.
Dan's bill came to a whopping 2000.00, due in part to getting parts for a '57 Cadillac in a town located in the middle of nowhere with overnight shipping, and that the owner of the garage felt he was a king since he had a master mechanic certificate hanging on the wall with candles burning like he was Mother Mary or something.
Dan was not going to have a swell time if he did not recoup some of that money. Lucky for him, located in Raton is The Philmont Scout Ranch, which is the largest youth camp in the world by size and number of participants. Just his luck they were going to have a weenie roast that evening with a record 2300 young boys attending. He called the camp director and made arrangements to play that night. Dan played earnestly for 2 hours, at times making those little scouts cry and beg for mommy. Afterwards he took a love offering and brought in 3,486.00. "Those dear little boys" Dan said to himself and 4 seconds later left Raton in his rear view mirror.
You know how you get itchy feet and cabin fever (even in the summer) if you stay in one place too long? Willie Nelson knows, and hits the road even before that nagging starts. So it is with the West Texas Millionaires, as they were seen saddling up and getting it ready to go:
Cowboy 1: Mike Page gets the chuck wagon dieseled up and was the first to hit the trail, with the cupboards packed full of salt pork, pinto beans and...beverages...
Cowboy 2: Robert Page, acting as scout, heads out on his horse Astraia (it's a Bavarian girl's name), and is making good time.
Cowboy 3: Dan Simonis and his sidekick Dave Rose took the Albino Clydesdale Cadillac, and was seen at the ATM to get enough feed for the hungry mammoth's long journey:
If that proves to not be enough money, Dan will have to resort to getting out his guitar and start playing for tips at the gas pump. All in all, they should work up the trails and make it to the 70th anniversary Sturgis Rally 2010 festivities. There they will TAKE PICTURES and share with us all the serene beauty of the iron horse.
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