Dean West’s band will feature famous fiddler at the HUBB

Dean West and The Smokin’ Gun Band and guest artist Willie Wainwright will appear at the HUBB, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight, June 27 on the patio.

Wainwright has amassed a long list of credits from his fiddle playing. A few include appearing on stage with Willie Nelson, Earnest Tubb and the Texas Troubadours.

He played with Patty Loveless and Eddy Raven and performed at the White House for President George Bush Sr.

He has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, performed regularly on the Grand ol’ Opry’ and toured Western Europe, playing at major festivals.

West’s band is noted for playing classic and old country music such as Merle Haggard’s “I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink” and “Okie From Muskogee,” Waylon Jennings’ “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again,” Hank Williams Sr.’s “Jambalaya” and Hank William Jr.’s “Family Tradition,” West said.

“We play a lot of dance music. Slow dances and two step get a lot of people out on the floor. There’s going to be plenty of room on the patio.”

West is lead vocalist and plays lead and rhythm guitar. The other two band members play and sing. Tom Wright plays bass and Joe Willet is on drums. Wainwright will be singing as well.

West said, “Willie walked into the HUBB one Sunday at our regular jam session. I didn’t know who he was but I asked him what he had in the case. He said ‘it’s a fiddle.’ I invited him to come up and play. Was I surprised! The man’s a genius on that fiddle.”

Wainwright began playing the violin at the age of 9. He played in the high school orchestra all through school.

He shared, “Playing the violin didn’t make me all that popular. I wanted to play the kind of music that was popular at the time. When I graduated, I started calling my violin a fiddle and playing with local bands. When I converted to an electrified one, I was able to expand into lots of different genres.”

Wainwright continued, “I’ve had a long career. I’m retired from band work but I love to accept gigs here and there and sometimes just sit in. I perform at 15 different retirement homes in Las Vegas. I moved to Pahrump in September of 2013 so I’m playing around town as well.”

The HUBB is located at 3720 W. Bell Vista Road. For information call (775) 910-9575.

Contact Creag Rowland by emailing creag.pvtimes@gmail.com.