Winter Texan Times - Activities & Entertainment: Parks Calendar

Valley Star Awards highlights Valley’s own ‘Little Nashville’

Photos and Story by Henry Miller

Winter Texans have a gold mine in front of them, a virtual underground music scene that the remainder of the Valley only gets a glimpse of, at most.

The Ninth Annual Valley Star Awards highlighted much of that elite entertainment at Mission Bell Resort in Mission last week and Helen Russell and Company came out the biggest of the winners. Helen and her husband Elvis were named not only Individual/Small Band/Variety Act of the Year, but also came away with the Entertainer of the Year title as well.

Valley Star Awards deadline next week

You have seven more days to cast your vote for your favorite Wintertainers™. Your vote determines the winners for this year’s valley Star Awards. The deadline to turn in your ballot, or fill one out online, is 5 p.m., Wednesday, February 12.

Each year we ask the Winter Texans to help us choose the top Wintertainers™ who perform in the Winter Texan resorts in the Rio Grande Valley. This is your chance to decide who will receive the top awards at the annual Valley Star Awards Show, hosted by the Winter Texan Times and Robert and Billie Ferguson.

We will tally the votes and have them ready for the February 19 event that will be held at Mission Bell Resort, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Valley Star Wards offers great lineup of entertainment

20200129 VSA desert polynesia Every year, the Valley Star Awards offers a great lineup of entertainment – and this year is no different. The lineup includes some of the best Wintertainers™ performing in the Winter Texan parks and resorts during the Winter months. This year’s lineup includes Rick McEwen, Dave and Daphne, Tom Wurth, Desert Polynesia, Maggie Mae and Dan Smith, and Absolutely Country, Definitely Gospel.

Rick McEwen performs classic rock, classic country, rhythm and blues and soul music. He is a member of the Traditional Country Hall of Fame. He has performed with greats such as Earl Suggs, Webb Pierce and The Dillards. He has opened for Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Dottie West and other county legends.

Dave Salyer has toured the world with Barbara Mandrell, performed for presidents at the White House and has appeared on countless TV shows. Daphne Anderson has toured with some of the greatest Southern Gospel Groups and has been described as a cross between Shania Twain and Patsy Cline. Together, they perform country music and Daphne yodels.

It’s time to vote for your favorite entertainers

2020122 Dave Daphne promo pic Shows and dances hosted by mobile home and RV parks and resorts are attended in numbers by the Winter Texans that spend their winters here in the Rio Grande Valley. The parks and resorts spend a lot of effort getting popular wintertainers to perform at their venues. Each year, the Valley Star Awards, hosted by Robert Ferguson and the Winter Texan Times, presents awards to the Rio Grande Valley’s top Winter Texan entertainers – are as we call them, “Wintertainers™.”

This year’s Valley Star Awards will be held on Wednesday, February 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort. Lunch will be available from 12 to 1 p.m.
So now it’s time to vote for your favorite Wintertainers™ - and the Entertainer of the Year for 2020.

Valley Star Awards honors Valleys top Wintertainers™

Dave & Daphne named Entertainers of the Year

Music, comedy and an afternoon of entertainment by six of the Valley’s best entertainers highlighted the 2019 Valley Star Awards, presented by the Winter Texan Times and Robert and Billie Ferguson at Mission Bell Resort.

Winter Texans voted for entertainers in 11 different categories and the entertainer of the year awards were announced a la Oscar style in front of a full house of Winter Texans from across the Rio Grande Valley.

Valley Star Awards Show is Feb. 20

2019 Williamson Branch 1 The 2019 Valley Star Awards Show will feature a lineup of six of the top entertainers who are performing this season in the Rio Grande Valley parks and resorts. This year’s show features performances by Rusty Rierson, Helen Russell & Company, Tavie Spivey & Shake Rattle & Roll, Kai, Gene Turner (aka Mr. Pickpocket) and the Williamson Branch. All six performers are nominees for this year’s Valley Star Awards selections.

Valley Star Awards deadline nears

Rusty Rierson 2 You have just six more days to cast your vote for your favorite entertainers as your votes determine the winners of the Valley Star Awards. The deadline to turn in your ballot is Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Each year we ask Winter Texans to help us choose the top entertainers who perform in the Winter Texan resorts in the Rio Grande Valley.

Now is your chance to decide who will receive the top awards at the annual Valley Star Awards Show, hosted by the Winter Texan Times and Robert and Billie Ferguson.

We will tally your votes and announce the winners at this year’s Valley Star Awards Show. The show will be held Feb. 20, from 1-4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort.

Who will be Entertainer of the Year?

Many of our Winter Texan readers enjoy the shows and dances hosted by the mobile home and RV parks and resorts where their favorite bands and entertainers perform. Each year the Valley Star Awards, hosted by Robert Ferguson and the Winter Texan Times, presents awards to the Rio Grande Valley’s top Winter Texan entertainers – or as we call them, “Wintertainers™.”

This year’s Valley Star Awards Show will be held Wednesday, Feb. 20, from 1-4 p.m. at Mission Bell Resort. So now it’s time for you to vote for your favorite entertainers – and Entertainer of the Year for 2019.

There are some new names on this year’s list of nominees for the Valley Star Awards, which includes Entertainer or Group of the Year overall, Male Vocalist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and eight other awards. The ballot appears in the Jan. 23 edition of the Winter Texan Times, or simply click here to see the ballot online. Some of the newer nominees include the Kody Norris Band, Rusty Rierson, Rick McEwen, Shake Rattle & Roll, Texas Wheels, Sweetwater, Kelli Marie and more.

Valley Star Award winner Helen Russell returns

20190102 Helen Russell promo12 The 2018 winner of the Valley Star Awards “Best Small Band Variety Show,” Helen Russell and Company, is in demand with a very full schedule of shows at the RV resorts in the Rio Grande Valley this season.

From country to bluegrass to classic rock to gospel, Helen Russell said she strives to make sure the audience enjoys their show. She said they pride themselves in “giving 100 percent, whether there are 50 people in the audience or 300.”

Regarding being voted “Best Small Band Variety Show” last season, Russell said, “That was only our second year and we didn't think we had a following big enough to win that award. We felt really honored, especially since we had only been here one season prior. It has been awesome. It's more and more like coming home every year.”

Valley’s Top Entertainers named at Valley Star Awards

20180222 ValleyStarAwards GU IMG 8415 If the goal of entertainers is to make an audience laugh, cry, ponder or feel emotion and become fully engaged, then the Valley Star Awards achieved its goal in spades.

Each year, Winter Texans vote for their favorite entertainers in several categories leading up to the overall Entertainer of the Year. The event is organized by producer Robert Ferguson along with the Winter Texan Times.

Top entertainers to perform at Valley Star Awards Saturday

20160220 Valley Star Awards LG WEB Those attending the 2018 Valley Star Awards Show are in store for a delightful evening of entertainment by some of the Rio Grande Valley’s best performers. Performing at this year’s Valley Star Awards are Dave & Daphne, Lindley Creek, Jason Whorlow, 4 His Glory, Kellie Marie, and Vance Greek.

This year’s Valley Star Awards is being held at a new location and a new time. The show will held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17 at Casa Del Valle in Alamo.