Other venues [in Los Angeles] continue to support the music of such Bakersfield disciples as Dale Watson, James Intveld and Larry Dean. A tip of the hat to Linda's Doll Hut, Jacks Sugar Shack, the Swallows Inn, the Blue Cafe for Friday's 5-9pm, the Cinnamon Cinder [currently Crazy Jacks], the Ash Grove and the Cowboy Palace.

How does Los Angeles fit into this growing Bakersfield Revolution? According to Ronnie Mack, it always has and will continue to fit in with whatever is going on in Bakersfield. The two communities are forever joined at the hip. Citing the fact that the west coast was recording C&W music at least 10 years before Nashville jumped on the bandwagon, Mack speaks specifically about Bakersfield-Los Angeles connection when he says, "So many of the L.A. bands have been influenced by the Bakersfield Sound and the intermingling continues. Buck, Merle, Rose, they still come here." Thoughtful for a moment, Mack continues, "But I think that the mentoring that is taking place now (Larry Dean/Roy Nichols, Michael Dart/Larry Dean, Cody Bryant/Red Simpson, Kathy Robertson/Bonnie Owens) is significant. Some of the biggest stars came to us through mentoring. It stopped during the '70's and '80's, but the younger guys (like Larry and Cody) are now preserving the older guys. Look at Dwight and his relationships with his heroes Ralph Stanley and Buck Owens. It's very healthy. I still see a lack of people who are big stars mentoring the next generation, however."

It can only continue to grow and prosper as more and more artists, fans and industry people find their way back to what is truly real country and western music. And, as Larry Dean once said, "If you persevere at something long enough, something is going to happen." And so it has.

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