The Balladeer Turns 40

Special 40th Anniversary Pages

On Sunday, February 12th, 2006, in a concert at Arizona State University's Kerr Cultural Center, Dolan Ellis officially kicked off his year-long celebration of his 40th Anniversary as Arizona's Official State Balladeer.

Several times during his "Statehood Day" show with Marshall Trimble, Arizona's Official State Historian, Dolan talked about his Balladeer career. 

What Dolan did not know was that everyone in the audience had been invited to a surprise celebration, sponsored by a group calling themselves "Friends of the Balladeer."  We handed out invitations during intermission, and not a single soul in the house said anything to Dolan.  Yeah!

Some elements of the surprise:

• A "champagne and cake" reception on the beautiful courtyard patio at the nearby Scottsdale Renaissance Hotel   (Photo of the cake courtesy of Kathy Collins)
  
  
• Sons Doug (right, from San Diego) and Chad (center, from Tucson) made a surprise appearance to wish their dad their best (in case anyone who was there did not hear Dolan's introduction of the sons, they were the two walking around with "Bob" nametags--must have picked up a sense of humor from their dad). (Photo below of Dolan with his sons courtesy of Kathy Collins)

• Instrumental music provided by renowned Tucson artist, Tim Weidenkeller (Dolan thought Tim was on a camping trip with his kids--and he was.  But Tim took a few hours off the camping trip to come in and be part of the suprirse)  (Photo courtesy of Kathy Collins)

• Friends too numerous to mention (without inadvertently missing some) were there.  The gathering included many musicians Dolan has worked with over the years.

• Marshall Trimble emceed the formal presentation, which included 1) a letter from Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, whose father, Sam Goddard, first appointed Dolan as Balladeer in 1966, 2) a certificate signed by Governor Napolitano, and 3) presentation of a special gift from "Friends of the Balladeer."  (Photo below of Dolan and Marshall courtesy of Kathy Collins)

• "FOTB" had several of Dolan's slides printed, matted, and framed, and these were placed on easels or hung throughout the patio.

Pages for a "memory book" were filled in by many of the guests.  These pages, along with others submitted the previous week during the Cochise Cowboy & Poetry Gathering, will be posted to this site.  We also have received many messages via email and will continue accepting and posting them throughout the year.