SALINAS — Soledad resident Clem Albertoni led the 30th Annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering on July 16 at the Sherwood Hall. Albertoni has served as the master of ceremonies for the music and poetry gathering for about six years.
“I just like to go and make people laugh,” Albertoni said. “I enjoy it, the kids and the poetry contest. The entertainers are great and the people that I work with on the committee are like no other.”
He made his first appearance on the Cowboy Poetry stage by reading his poetry on stage in 1990. From there, Albertoni expanded his involvement when Donna Alonzo Vaughn took over the show and gave it a new format in 2008.
“Lydia (Miranda) and I have been chairing the event ever since Donna passed away four years ago,” Albertoni said.
When Vaughn came out with the spin for the Cowboy Poetry, “Cowboys and Cabernet,” the event expanded to become a wine-tasting event, and included tables with 10 seats per table.
This year Cowboy Poetry included the Youth Orchestra of Salinas (YOSAL), which played the “Star Spangled Banner” and “The Yellow Roads of Texas.” The winners of the three poetry categories received awards.
Proceeds for Cowboy Poetry go to the Monterey County Free Libraries and the California Rodeo Salinas.
Joining Albertoni in entertaining the crowd was South County’s band, the Los Vaqueros Hunting Club Traveling Band, including Randy and Terry Handley, Rich Casey and Roger Hill.
