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It could be one of DeLeon’s best-kept
secrets. Each Monday night, at 7 p.m., the DeLeon City Hall auditorium
is alive with music and laughter as the “Dance Band” hosts yet another
Monday night dance.
Although it was known for years as the “Senior Citizen Dance” -- and
still attracts mostly seniors -- dance organizer Gene Williams said
that people of any age are welcome.
“Everybody’s welcome,” Williams said.
“And if you don’t have a partner, just come on. A lot of single people
come.” When asked about the people who may be reluctant because
they’re not polished dancers, Williams said, “Come on, we’ll teach
you.”
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DANCERS. Grace (Sharp) Corry, of DeLeon, and Hubert Black, of
Comanche, were among the more than 50 people who enjoyed the dance
Monday night at the DeLeon City Hall auditorium. Gene Williams,
event organizer, said he and his wife, Quata, have been hosting a
Monday night dance in DeLeon for more than six years. On most
nights, more than 100 dancers attend, but rainy weather was
suspected to have caused a drop in participation. |
Williams, a Dublin resident, and his wife
of 50 years, Quata, have run the DeLeon dance for the past six years.
Williams began his professional music career in 1959 with a gig at the
Cowtown Jubilee in Fort Worth.
Along with Williams, who plays guitar and
provides vocals, band members include: C.B. Sutton, of Stephenville,
on vocals and bass guitar; Randall Cox, of Stephenville, on piano;
Bruce McNutt, of Sidney, on drums; and James Roberson, of Cleburne, on
fiddle. “And Ray Adams sometimes plays steele guitar for us,” Williams
said.
Sutton is also known for his work as
“C.B. Sutton and the Outkast Band,” and Gene Williams is known for his
work with “Wheels.” Both Williams and Sutton have CDs available for
purchase.
The music is described as “classic
country” and some of the more popular tunes include Faded Love, Milk
Cow Blues and Remember Me.
Some of the regular dancers -- usually
around 100 -- come from San Saba, Gustine, Comanche, Fort Worth,
Breckenridge, Brownwood, Desdemona, Dublin, Stephenville, Ranger,
Proctor, Hamilton, Gatesville, and Goldthwaite -- and there are a few
from DeLeon.
“There’s very few,” Williams said, “We
won’t have more than two or three here tonight from DeLeon.” Williams
went on to say that he didn’t think many people in DeLeon even knew
about the dance.
“But it sure brings in people -- and
money -- from other areas,” he said. “Some people go out to eat at
Hwy. 6 before the dance, or they might go to Dairy Queen afterwards.
And they’ll buy gas.”
The dance is alcohol and smoke free, and
Williams describes it as a “family atmosphere.”
Lena Like, 86, travels from Gustine to
DeLeon each week to the dance. “Sometimes I come with friends,” Like
said, this past Monday night, “and sometimes I come by myself. It’s
about the only thing for seniors to do. And it’s good music. I like to
listen to the music and watch them dance.” Grace (Sharp) Corry, one of
the few DeLeon dancers, said she thoroughly enjoys the dances.
“I like to dance, I like to travel and I
like to go out to eat,” Corry said, “My doctor said it was healthy to
dance, so that’s what I do.”
Corry, who went to school in Desdemona,
didn’t want to give her age. “Mother said if you’ll tell that, you’ll
tell anything,” she laughed. “But let’s just say I’m old enough.”
Corry then introduced her friend, Geneva Thompson, who is one of the
dancers from Gustine. She also pointed out her friend, Hubert Black.
“He takes me to every dance I go to,” she said. Within just a few
minutes Corry and Black hit the dance floor.
Margaret Rogers is another of the dancers
from DeLeon.
“I really enjoy the music,” Rogers said.
“What impresses me most about this band is that they are very
versatile. And everyone is so friendly.”
The next DeLeon Dance is scheduled for
Monday, September 17, at 7 p.m. at City Hall. |
