Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame celebrates local talent

Ryan Chrys spent 15 years backing other artists on guitar before stepping into the spotlight with his own band, the Rough Cuts.

“I was never a singer. I was just a guitar player writing songs,” Chrys said. “Fast-forward to finally starting the Rough Cuts, and now we’re driving all around playing outlaw country, rock’n’roll and supporting country music.”

Chrys’ passion extends beyond performing and releasing original albums. He’s committed to uplifting Colorado’s country music scene and championing the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame.

“The scene is amazing. There’s all flavors,” he said. “This community is really supportive. It’s just compliments and appreciation for being able to be a part of it.”

Board member Rachelle Heinecke regards Chrys as one of two “ambassadors of country music” who “bring more people together than anyone.”

On Sunday, the Hall of Fame celebrated its annual Awards Festival at Dougie G’s Bar at the VFW post in Thornton.

The venue was a sea of activity, with around 400 patrons and performers packing the space. As the room pulsed with the energy and excitement of live music and celebration, the dance floor came alive. Fans eagerly clapped and cheered for their favorite local country stars.

The event highlighted bands and musicians often overlooked outside their local clubs, celebrating their contributions to the Colorado country music scene.

“If we can get them together, nominate them, and induct them and give them awards, they get recognition they wouldn’t get by just playing club to club to club,” said President Rocky Hoery.

Chrys’ dedication to Colorado country music led him to collaborate with Eric Golden, earning them the Country Duo of the Year award.

“I’ve been a fan of Eric because he supports the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame and the scene,” he said.

Chrys was also nominated for Male Entertainer of the Year. “The fact that I get nominated or get an award means the whole world to me,” he added

Sandy Wells, honored as Female Vocalist of the Year and a nominee for Female Entertainer of the Year, echoed Chrys’ sentiment.

“It meant a lot to me because this is not an easy road,” said Wells, a veteran performer of over 20 years. “To know that people are seeing you and recognizing you, it’s huge.”

Kelsey Jo, who won Female Entertainer of the Year, tearfully accepted her award from board member Marla Downer, who admired her sleek black dress as it shimmered under the lights.

“I was not expecting this. I’m not a crier,” she said. “Thank you to the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame for putting this on.”

The Hall of Fame also celebrated the Ladies of Country Music All Star Showcase, which debuted this year.

“I’m so happy to see the females in country music digging it out,” Wells told The Denver Gazette. “I think we tend to be a little quieter and backstage to the guys. We’re starting to have a voice, and I really love that.”

Buckstein, named Male Entertainer of the Year and an inductee into the Class of 2024, expressed his amazement on-stage.

“This is incredible,” he said. “My name’s Buckstein, and I’m just doing the best I can.”

The 2024 inductees include Robb Candler, Todd Clayton, Mark Haddock, Doug Krause, Susan Phelan, Woodie Procell, Odis Sikes, Jim Trotter and Brian Wise.

Phelan, a familiar voice on Denver radio, plays bass for Chrys’ Rough Cuts.

“We’re recognizing the people who have been in the industry for 20 years or more,” Heinecke said. “This is our 26th year.”

Other awardees included Newcomer of the Year Kingpin Posse Band, Comeback Artist of the Year Ken Earl and a rare tie for Instrumentalist of the Year, Jeff Golden (lead guitar) and Jennifer Deann Scott (fiddle).

The inaugural Best Country Single Artist award went to Maverick Mike, who described the honor as “unreal.”

“Everyone here is just top-notch,” he told The Denver Gazette. “It’s great to see country music thrive in Colorado.”

Known for his tributes to classic country legends like Marty Robbins and Hank Williams, Maverick Mike appreciates the “urban cowboy era” of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings for elevating what his mother’s generation called “hillbilly music” into mainstream popularity.

“People just love music. They love to be entertained,” he said. “Dancing really is key.”

Michael Swett, Male Vocalist of the Year, similarly sees his role as “facilitating an evening.”

“There’s nothing better than when you’ve got a bunch of 19-year-old girls doing a line dance, and then you mix it up and throw in a waltz, and you’ve got a bunch of 80-year-old cowboys spinning their wives around the floor,” Swett said. “They’ll sit there ‘til the last song is played.”

Swett began his 27-year musical journey in rock and metal before returning to his country roots from North Carolina with his dad. Soon to retire from the Army after 22 years, he performs with the Colorado Springs-based Red Mountain Highway, featuring four active-duty bandmates from the Air Force Academy band.

Though he missed his award due to traffic, Swett wasn’t stressed. “I had stiff competition and no expectations of winning,” he said. “I really appreciate the opportunity to showcase our talent and our original Colorado country music.”

The core focus of the Country Music Hall of Fame is on those vibrant, live performances. With Heinecke and Downer serving as talent scouts, they seek out bands deserving more recognition.

“Part of my job is to find musicians that may not be heard by everyone,” Heinecke said. She travels from Fort Collins and Greeley to Pueblo and Colorado Springs, sometimes seeing three bands a night across Denver.

In interviews with The Denver Gazette, musicians repeatedly praised the Hall of Fame’s spirit of collaboration and support over cutthroat competition.

“Everybody lifts each other up rather than being overly competitive, trying to take gigs, things like that,” said board member Deejay Johnson, the 2019 Female Vocalist winner who fronts the energetic YoungHeart Band. “I think a lot of that is the tone that (founder) Rudy Grant set; he’s very outgoing and warm and inviting.”

“It’s an amazing community because there’s recognition that there’s room for us all,” added Wells. “There’s no competition. We’re all unique artists supporting each other, and it’s been that way for years.”

Audiences seem to feel the same way, often showing up in droves to support local talent.

“So many of these bands bring their own following with them,” Hoery said.

One such band is the Hillbilly Demons. Blending classic and outlaw country with a rock’n’roll and metal edge, they won the most rousing applause of the day when they were announced as Band of the Year.

“We, together, as a team, as a family — I think this is the best thing that’s ever happened,” drummer Eric Allwine told The Denver Gazette.

“I think the appeal behind this band is that we’re real, and we’re playing as individual souls in a collective, and it makes it what it is,” said co-founder and lead guitarist Danny Ramirez. “This band here is 1000% real. We are who we are, and that’s the best way to be.”

Hillbilly Demons’ other co-founder, bass player Matt Wheatley, admited they’re “really not super country people.” Decked out with piercings, tattoos, and black shirts and cowboy hats, they might not fit the traditional country mold.

“We jump around like a bunch of damn metalheads, we say the F-word, we smash crawdads on stage,” Wheatley said. “We’re not traditional, but we do respect everybody in here. We have the attitude, and we say bad words on stage, but we still have the values of country music like family, country, beer, Jägermeister — ain’t no Whiskey!”

The Band of the Year award reflects what they’ve built up over the years, the band felt, highlighting the crucial role of audience participation in their shows.

“We play metal bars as a redneck Hillbilly Demons country music band,” said acoustic guitarist Dusty Jensen. “It’s become like an unstoppable force. It’s just this reciprocal thing of authenticity with a self-created fanbase, and it’s something completely different than anything out there.”

Dougie G confirmed the band’s enthusiastic following, noting they “always bring a good crowd” to his club. Dozens of the band’s fans show up to the festival, enough to take group photos outside with their fans — and Dougie G, of course.

Dougie G’s Bar has been in the same place for 35 years — and it’s a hub for the country music community. Home to live music every weekend, the club was honored as the “Home of the Hall of Fame.”

“Dougie runs a 5-star country music club here,” said Hoery. “He does so much for us to have our festivals here and promote live country music throughout the year. This is our home.”

“I’m very proud to host this every year,” Dougie told The Denver Gazette. “I’ve been doing it now for at least 10 years. I love my country music and the organization that’s keeping good, old country music alive.”

For Dougie, both the Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame and his club are about spotlighting “awesome” local talent.

“We’re not talking people that travel our state, do their shows and move on,” he said. “These people live and spend their money right here in this state, and I love to support my community.”

Jimmy Sengenberger is a weekly columnist for The Denver Gazette, host of the “Blues Business” podcast, and leader of the Jimmy Junior Blues Band, where he plays harmonica under the moniker Jimmy Junior.