Rodeo Cook-off this weekend

CROSBY – It’s time to rodeo and it all begins with the largest party anywhere nearby, the Crosby Fair & Rodeo Cook-off at the Fairgrounds this weekend.

The Cook-off is food, a parade, party and concerts Friday and Saturday nights.

The fun begins on Friday night at about 5:00 p.m. when the gates open for the Cook-off party and concert. The concerts will begin each night after dark or about 8:30 p.m.

Rides and a carnival atmosphere will be going on for the kids earlier and the cooking teams will be perparing delicious entries.

The Rodeo Parade is Saturday, June 7 at 10:00 a.m. It occurres when the Rodeo Cook-off is going on inside the fairgrounds. Bill Murff and family will be the Parade Marshals. Friends, Families, Representatives and Organizations of the community are encouraged to enter a float or vehicle in support of “Sticking to Our Roots.”

Line up at the Crosby Fair & Rodeo parking lot is at 9:30 a.m. The parade will go north on the CF&R property to Church St. Turn Left on Church St. turn right on 1st Street, turn right on Kernohan. Turn left on Crosby-Dayton Rd. Turn right onto Pecan St. Continue back to Church St. It goes to the Entrance of C.F.&R. Parking lot and enters C.F.&R. Property.

Hill Country Jane plays first for the Cook-off on June 6. The band leads for Johnny “Looking for Love” Lee.

Since 2005, Hill Country Jane has been steadily gaining momentum in the Texas/Red Dirt Music scene. Starting out as an acoustic trio in Austin, and now based in their native northeast Harris County, Hill Country Jane has evolved into a Texas Country Rockin’ Blues powerhouse.

In 2012 HCJ joining forces with long-time friends and collaborators Chip Oliphant, Dan Payne & Derek Wilson from the local Houston band Last House on the Left.

The 1980 top single, with “Lookin’ for Love,” has been the signature song for Johnny Lee. That fantastic hit not only spent three weeks at the top of the Billboard country singles chart in the second half of 1980 but also went to the Top 5 on the Pop charts, and Top 10 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary survey. He racked up a series of country hits in the early and mid-80s.

Johnny Lee, born John Lee Ham on July 3, 1946 in Alta Loma, Texas plays here Friday night. Since 1976 he has been making hits with the vocals that Americans love. He first became spotlighted with the movie “Urban Cowboy” after having worked with Mickey Giley for 10 years in Pasadena.

To this day at every local cook-out someone will break out “Cherokee Fiddle.” and play it for the whiskey. Lee had five songs reach the top of the Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart. “One in a Million” (1980); “Bet Your Heart on Me” (1981); “The Yellow Rose” (1984, a duet with Lane Brody and the theme song to the NBC TV-series of the same name); and “You Could Have Heard a Heartbreak” (1984). Major hits that are still being played are “Pickin’ Up Strangers” (1981), “Prisoner of Hope” (1981); “Sounds Like Love” and “Hey Bartender” (1983); and “Rollin’ Lonely” and “Save the Last Chance” (1985).

He still plays with the Urban Cowboy Band.

His cookbook Chef Boy ‘R’ Lee was a splash in 2006 and the website for the Texas Country Music Hall of Famer is www.johnnyleefanclub.com.

The following night, Saturday, June 7, the concert will headline Jason Boland and the Stragglers. A Central Texas lad that went off to Stillwater, Oklahoma to the Oklahoma State University with plans on going to the Seminary. He went to the OSU Fraternity instead and dropped out to become a musician in two years.

Texas born and bred singer, songwriter Abbi Walker Petkoff has been dubbed a Rockabilly songstress sort of a cross between Adele and Miranda Lambert. She will lead for Jason Boland and the Stragglers on Saturday, June 7, doubtless with songs her new single Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Daughter of a preacher, singing since she was 3 years old, she’s in love with not just singing, but songwriting and learning how to tell her story. Her songs are relatable. Abbi’s sound has many layers. Her fresh feisty lyrics hold deep Gospel soul and sweet harmonies mixed with gritty Southern Rock.