sam-mensch-and-the-bunkhouse-boys
Sam Mensch and the Bunkhouse Boys Sam and the Bunkhouse Boys have over one hundred and fifty years of combined experience playing county and western swing music. The Band consists of creator, front man and lead vocalist, Sam Mensch. Claremore’s own Bob Baker plays standup, non-pedal steel guitar. Dwayne Bowman, vocalist and lead guitarist has been a driving force in the country music scene for over four decades. In addition to leading his own band, he has played with the likes of Mel Tillis and Ray Price. Gary Hill plays bass and sings harmony vocals; he was also a member of Ray Price’s Cherokee Cowboys. The lineup is rounded out by 25 year Bunkhouse veteran Melvin Jackson on drums and champion fiddler Shawn Howe Sam Mensch Sam is a working cowboy with a love of good horses and good music. Born and raised in west Texas, Sam grew up in the saddle, working on ranches, surrounded by ranch life, and country and western music. With well over 25 years of experience behind a microphone Sam has performed all over Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. In 1986, like Bob Wills did 50 years before him, Sam made the move from Texas to Oklahoma. Sam says, “I grew up wanting to be a cowboy and a musician.” It looks like he has realized both of those dreams as he now leads Sam Mensch and the Bunkhouse Boys and owns and operates the Kissing S Ranch in Nowata County with his wife Sharon, and daughter Sammie. Bob Baker For his musical accomplishments, Bob was inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame in 2000. His 40 plus years as a professional musician has given him the opportunity to play with many remarkable musicians, including many of Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys. At 13 he began studying with Bob Wills’ legendary guitarist and arranger, Eldon Shamblin, and was a member of Leon McAuliffe’s last band, The New Cimarron Boys. In 1980, Bob and his brother Scott, founded The Baker Brothers Western Swing Band, and for a dozen years took western swing music to some of the largest music venues in the country. As a member of Cowjazz Western Swing he received two Academy of Western Artists, Will Rogers’ awards. Bob plays vintage music on his vintage, 1953 Fender, stand-up, steel guitar, and has played with Sam and The Bunkhouse Boys for 5 years. He and his wife Ann have called Claremore, OK home for 30 years.
1. Two Stepping Cowboy 2. Wine Me Up 3. I Never Go Around Mirrors 4. Time Changes Everything 5. Milk Cow Blues 6. Another Bridge To Burn 7. Undo The Right 8. Home In San Antone 9. Close Up The Honky Tonk 10. There Stands The Glass 11. Miles And Miles of Texas 12. Your Turn To Fall 13. Deep Water 14. Red Lips And Honky Tonks