Most of the folks that know me know I grew up in the coldest city in America, International Falls, Minnesota.

Occasionally, I will run into a Minnesotan or other Midwest resident at my shows in Vegas, but the encounters are few and far between. All of that changed this past month, as I was flooded with great folks from the Midwest night after night in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. As I made my way across the valley, I met some of the nicest people in the RGV, even a few from my hometown. Who knew?

Every year, tens of thousands of folks from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, the Dakotas, and many from the Canadian provinces make their way to the RV parks and resorts near the Mexico border in the RGV to spend their winters in much better climes.

One RV resort was nearly filled with Minnesotans, and we commiserated together about the quick demise of the Minnesota Vikings this season. At another park and resort, many were still licking their wounds from the Super Bowl debacle of the Kansas City Chiefs.

I played one dance at a park that was mostly from Quebec, and I had to fumble around with rudimentary French to talk to them. They may not have understood some of my jokes, but they sure loved to line dance to the country songs I sang!

In the five plus weeks I was in the Valley, I sang requests from all over the musical spectrum including the expected Sinatra and Deano songs, Bobby Darin, all of the country superstars, 50’s and 60’s hits but was also surprised by many! “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah?” Sure! “How Much is That Doggie in The Window?” Why not? Metallica, AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Prince, Bruno Mars…let’s do it!

I finally put my foot down when I was requested to sing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” by Tiny Tim. I had to draw the line somewhere…even if he was from Minnesota. Now…on to Florida for another month!

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