Judy Coder and Cowgirl Swing
I enjoy performing with a group. Judy Coder and Cowgirl Swing is the hottest news item in the western music world. And we’re just getting started. I had wanted to build an all-cowgirl band from the very beginning. The day after winning the 1999 Patsy Montana National Yodeling Championship in Pineville, MO, I was gobbling up all the cowgirl stories I could from Jane Frost, director of the Patsy Montana Museum and co-author of Patsy’s autobiography. Jane was just sure that’s what this country needed: a hot cowgirl band. I agreed. But at the time, I knew so few acoustic musicians. The ones I did know came from bluegrass roots, and that’s how JCPP was formed.
About a year ago, I got a chance to rethink things again. Knowing that JCPP was heading into retirement, I needed to move forward and build a band that would be completely different. A band as outstanding as JCPP would be hard to top, but if the new band was something completely different, comparisons would be unnecessary, and we could all relax and enjoy the new musical fun. A cowgirl band would indeed be different, and so much fun. But who did I know… who lived close enough for rehearsals, and who would be a good match? …who was already a good musician, and a cowgirl at heart?
All musicians worth their salt know that some of the best musical success stories come from new experiences. All musicians worth their salt are constantly busy with performances, and the only way to know if they’re interested in playing for you is to go ahead and ask. So I asked. Turns out all of us are really cowgirls at heart. This is gonna be fun.
Judy Coder and Cowgirl Swing features some of the finest musicians in the business. They all play several instruments, and sing excellent harmonies. I’ll keep singing lead and poundin’ out the rhythm on guitar. Diane Gillenwater will work her magic on the fiddle, while Patti Nance offers sweet sounds on her dobro. And playing bass, we’re pleased to feature Karla Campbell, the Midwest SPGMA Bass Player of the Year.
The calendar is filling up fast, so let us know when we can sing for you!
