BIGGER COWBOY CHRISTMAS BALL TAKES ITS RANGE POETRY, SONGS TO NEW LOCATION.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

Cowboy music and poetry, dancing, and spending time with family and friends will be the focus of the sixth annual Cowboy Christmas Ball at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20.

The event, organized by the Palmdale Playhouse, will feature original cowboy songs as well as poetry and Christmas songs performed by singer-songwriter artist Michael Martin Murphey.

Dancing lessons, attendants dressed in classic western wear, old west style food and a silent auction will also be apart of the holiday event.

``People can dance or chat or just have a good time watching the concert,'' said Palmdale Playhouse theatre manager Dea McAllister. ``It's a family event that takes people back to when barn dances were an everyday thing. It's a lot of fun for everybody.''

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. with Murphey performing some of his original hits and reading selections of cowboy poetry dating from the 1800s.

Murphey first emerged on the music scene with such hits as ``Geronimo's Cadillac'' and ``Wildfire'' in the '70s. As a member of a maverick breed of Austin, Texas-based songwriters and poets of that time, he counted people like John Denver, Jimmy Buffet and Dan Fogelberg as good friends.

Murphey's songs have been recorded by John Denver, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Kenny Rogers, Lyle Lovett, Jeff Walker and The Monkees. His most recent release, ``Cowboy Songs Four,'' is the first to be released on his own label.

Before the concert, guests can get free dance lessons in the two step, waltz and polka.

The meal will be a buffet style dinner catered by Schooners restaurant beginning at 7 p.m. The menu features sliced prime tri-tip; barbecued chicken; a rice and baked potato bar; assorted salads; assorted steamed vegetables and a desert bar.

The silent auction will be held during the dinner and concert.

``It was inevitable that we would have to move it to a larger area,'' said McAllister. ``The other site was cozy, but we have more people attending each year and we also wanted to have it in a barn style setting. The atmosphere is going to be great.''

The first ball attracted between 50 and 75 people, and this year, organizers are expecting to fill every chair in the 400-seat capacity tent.

To add to the Wild West theme, Wells Fargo will place its trademark stage coach outside the tent for people to view and take pictures with.

A portion of the proceeds will go to support South Antelope Valley Emergency Services, a nonprofit food bank. Last year, the benefit raised more than $14,000 for the food bank and collected more than 225 pounds of food.

``It's about the season,'' said McAllister. ``We help each other in this community and this is our way of doing that.''

Tickets are $50 per person and patrons are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the benefit. Tickets may be purchased at the playhouse box office or by calling [phone].

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PHOTO (color) Michael Martin Murphy