Country Music’s Little Texas Headlines 21st Gold Dust Gala on April 16
March 04, 2011
Santa Paula News
Little Texas, “America’s Favorite Rockin’ Country Band,” whose 12 Billboard Top 20 singles include “My Love,” a No. 1 hit in 1993, as well as the catchy anthem of the Lone Star State, “God Blessed Texas,” will headline the 21st annual Gold Dust Gala at Ventura County Fairgrounds in the San Miguel Hall on Saturday, April 16.
The Gold Dust Gala, sponsored by the Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation, begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails, a silent auction, raffle and tribute tree where you can honor a loved one. A dinner featuring a variety of fine Italian cuisine and dancing will follow at 6:30 p.m., with Little Texas taking the stage at 8:30 p.m.
For more information please visit www.golddustgala.org. Tickets and sponsorship packages may be purchased online at www.golddustgala.org or call the Foundation office at 805-667-2881.
Proceeds from the Gold Dust Gala are used for breast cancer detection and treatment, cervical cancer screening and vaccines, and needed diagnostic equipment benefitting women in our community who lack access to life-saving exams. These services are provided by Community Memorial Health System.
In 2010, CMHS’s Healthy Women’s Program also sponsored five free public breast cancer screening days that assisted 154 women. Also, last year, 127 women received breast cancer treatments ranging from mammography exams to biopsies and surgical interventions at the Breast Center at Community Memorial Hospital. Another 43 women received cervical cancer screenings and vaccines.
Formed in 1988, Little Texas enjoyed its greatest success in the 1990s with a string of Top 10 hits. In addition to “My Love” and “God Blessed Texas,” they include: “What Might Have Been,” No. 2 in 1993; “Amy’s Back in Austin,” No. 4 in 1995; “You and Forever Me,” No. 5 in 1992; “Kick A Little,” No. 5 in 1992; “Life Goes On,” No. 5 in 1995; and “Some Guys Have All the Love,” No. 8 in 1992.
Little Texas also was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for “Amy’s Back in Austin” in the “Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group” category.
Little Texas disbanded in 1997 but four of its five members - Duane Propes, Del Gray, Porter Howell and Dwayne O’Brien - reunited in 2004.
Duane Propes (bass guitar), Del Gray (drums), Porter Howell (lead guitar and lead vocals), and Dwayne O’Brien (rhythm guitar and background vocals) decided to reunite Little Texas in 2004. In 2007, the band released a live album, “The Very Best of Little Texas: Live and Loud.” The live album was followed one month later by the studio album “Missing Years” that has produced three singles - “Missing Years,” “Your Woman” and “Party Life.”
Community Memorial Hospital is a member of Community Memorial Health System, a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and nine family-practice health centers entitled Centers for Family Health. The health system is located in Ventura County, California.
